Tropaeolum notes..... and tubers cutting
studio pozzi taubert (Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:24:20 PST)

Jane McGary wrote:

the tuber (which looks like a little potato).

Rodger Whitlock wrote:

........... (something like removing an eye from a potato you are
going to eat for dinner), washing the wound with alcohol to remove
the slime exuded by the tuber, packing the wound with sulfur, and
replanting the tuber.

I may confirm it works well with many species of Arisaema tubers.

Cutting a tuber in many parts ( remember to sterilize the knife
before each cutting ),

leaving at least two buds (eyes) on each portion, saving the centre
with another bud attached.

I never washed with alcohol but always covered the wounds with
sulphure powder

and stored the cuttings for some days in dry conditions to let them
dry well on wounded surfaces.

Then I planted the cuttings and got a growing rate about 80% with
Candidissimum ( and other species

of section franchetiana ), lower rates (about 50%) with Nepenthoides.

I was pushed to try by a friend who propagates them by cuttings in
U.K. and forced to do so

when I found some tubers with small wounds or rotting points when
lifted from ground,

it usually happened in Autumn this the reason why I didn't
immediately replant the cuttings.

By the way Zantedeschia tubers don't need cutting with a blade but it
is enough to brake by hands

the tubers ( coloured and hybrids ) or rizhomes ( aethiopica ) and
let them dry in cold dry place with

rich flow and change of air to avoid mushes. This works better here
in late February 15 days before replanting in

full ground.

Giorgio

Northern Italy, zone 7/7,5 ( going to zone 8 )