Identification Help: Calocasia Esidenta (Black Taro)

Kim · #1 August 28th, 2005, 10:01 AM

I have recently bought this lovely tender pond plant. Calocia Esidenta (Black Taro) It is in a container pond on my back deck. It is in shade part of the day but when it gets sun - for about 5 - 6 hours it is HOT!
I plan to bring it in for winter months at sit it in a sunny room that is often only 10C at night and will heat up duirng the day to about 15C -20C

Questions - is the south facing hot sun too harsh for this plant now and will it be OK inside for the winter - or do I need to give it a dormant spell. If so where should I put it?

Any other info you have about this plant would be appreciated as I can find no reference to it.

Thank you

**growest** · #2 August 28th, 2005, 10:42 AM

Kim--I got several taros from a local enthusiast along with his advice for this plant.

The more sun the better, leaf colour and speed of growth are better with lots of sun. I'm not growing mine in a pond, but yours will obviously have all the water it needs. Fertilize as much as you dare, he says it's impossible to overfeed a taro and his are enormous.

I will try to get back with overwintering info, but I will be keeping my tubers dormant over winter like dahlias. Not sure how they do growing thru the winter, I suspect they may get weak and ugly with low light and humidity indoors. Also, mine have attracted some spider mites even during the summer, I would be worried about a full blown mite attack indoors in winter.

I sure do love the taros, they have been #1 attractions around the patio this summer. We are growing black stem, black magic and chicago harlequin, all very nice!

Glen

**growest** · #3 August 29th, 2005, 09:37 AM

Kim--my taro "guru" gave his thoughts on overwintering.

Apparently they do poorly kept as a dry bulb like a dahlia. Some growers here just leave them in a well drained spot well mulched right in the ground. Indeed, almost all my dahlias just stay outside like that and have come back last few springs.

My taros are too precious to take a chance on tho. He suggested your cool sunny room might be the best spot. However, like me he cautions against spider mites, they will be there so keep after them!

Glen

**Carol Ja** · #4 September 6th, 2005, 06:14 PM

Do you have any photos of your taro plants, I was thinking of growing them in my school greenhouse for fun. What do you do about the spider mites?
Carol Ja

**Ron B** · #5 September 6th, 2005, 10:19 PM

Spellcheck: esculenta.

**growest** · #6 September 7th, 2005, 08:09 AM

Carol and all--this will be my first winter with the taros, and I'm not prepared for spider mites. All I know is they hate humidity and water mist/spray in general, so keep a spray bottle at hand and mist the leaves whenever you think of it.

I have had very little experience with mites, apparently I'm asking for some by getting into taros now! I hope somebody has the definite solution to them, esp. indoors (less poisonous).

Glen