Wonderful Blooming Cactus Flower

The Amorphophallus Titanum

The Amorphophallus Titanum, more commonly famous as the corpse flower, blooming process can take up to 10 years, and the bloom only lasts 24-36 hours. The corpse flower is one of the rarest and largest flowers in the world, not to mention one of the only flowers that emit the smell of rotting flesh. The flower, named "Rosie", is bloom produce small reddish fruit that will take six months to ripen. Amorphophallus titanum, also recognized as the titan arum, is a flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. The titan arum's inflorescence is not as large as that of the talipot palm, Corypha umbraculifera, but the inflorescence of the talipot palm is branched rather than unbranched. The scent is a deception device that tricks pollinators into thinking the plant is rotting organic matter.

When it blooms, it emits a repulsive odor of rotting flesh, but it's amusing to some insects.  The smell attracts beetles and flies that the plant needs for pollination. Once the fruit ripens, Tucson Botanical Gardens will take the seeds out and sow them to try to grow some smaller Amorphophallus Titanums or share seeds with other botanical gardens. The corpse flower named “Rosie” is located at the Cox Butterfly and Orchid Pavilion exhibit. Amorphophallus titanium, translates as "giant misshapen penis" holds the record for the world's largest unbranched inflorescence (flowering structure).

This mesmerizing species is a tropical rainforest plant can grow in a container. The retail-size plants that we sell are 1-2 yr old seedlings that will grow to about 24 inches tall in their first year. So you should start with a 6" or 8" container. As the tuber gets larger, you should pot it up (be careful not to bruise or nick the tuber during transplanting or else it could rot). Although the flower is naturally found only in Indonesia, since 1889 they have been successfully cultivated in botanical gardens around the world including Kew Gardens in London and the University of Washington, Seattle.

 

How to Grow Philodendron

The name “philodendron” means “tree loving” inspired by the tree climbing habit of many of these South and Central American jungles plants. Some species are not so jungle plants. Philodendron is a large genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. Some species are not so vining in their habit, however forming new growth at the base, branching and creeping along the ground; these are known as the “self heading” types. Philodendrons may seem like rather mundane pants simply because they are so common because they are so easy to grow. Further, Philodendron houseplants are quite often perplexed with pothos plants. Whereas the leaves of these two plants are alike in shape, pothos plants are more often than not variegated with splotches of yellow or white color. Because, pothos is a much smaller plant as well and is often sold in hanging baskets.

 

Anyone can grow a philodendron. But they can be used in interesting ways cascading from indoors balconies, for instance. And there are many species and cultivars you have probably never heard of but might like to grow once you start to explore them. The most familiar philodendron, a vining plant with smooth, heart-shaped leaves, is sometimes called “heart leaf” and is known by three Latin names; Philodendron scandens, P. oxycardium and P. cordatum. You also might try the vinnin P. bipennifolium, or fiddle-leaved philodendron, which has large, violin shaped leaves when full grown. Usually, however, philodendrons germinate on trees.

 

Like many vining plants it is often grown on a bark-covered support (usually a piece of wood). P. selloum, sadle-leaved philodendron, has deeply lobed leaves and is a self-heading type, as is P. wendlandii, which looks something like a bird’s nest fern. There are also philodendrons, varieties with brightly colored or variegated leaves. If you want to grow philodendrons then give bright light if possible, they will tolerate low light but don’t like strong, direct sun. Philodendrons have both aerial and subterranean roots. Nothing like most houseplants, philodendrons don’t experience as much stress when moving from indoor to outdoor settings.

 

Moreover, average warmth and humidity are fine, though they prefer quite humid air, and the variegated ones like it pretty warm. Keep the soil evenly moist but not too wet, and feed about once a month with a liquid houseplant fertilizer. Feed less in winter, a bit more in spring and summer. They like an average potting soil with organic matter and should be repotted only when very root bound. Pinch straggly, vining specimens if you want them bushier. They are propagated very easily from stem cuttings tip cutting for vining types.