Fwd: Arisaema sikokianum
Tim Eck (Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:22:35 PDT)

I believe the potting soil drying is not due to drying per se, but rather a
root tropism designed to deal with rocks.
Since all potting soils are very loose, many native soils can appear to be
rocks in comparison (especially clays). The root growth then tries to avoid
the rock and ends up circling the hole without breaking into the native
soil. In pots, this is called 'spin' because the roots circle the perimeter
of the pot. Out in the ground, this will not show as a problem in rainy
weather but after a couple of weeks without rain, the roots absorb all the
moisture in the potting soil and then the plant dehydrates and dies.

I got your recent message, maybe it was the potting soil drying, I'll try

that. I

plant most other things with potting soil and have not had a problem as

far as

I know.
Should I wait until they are fully up or bareroot them now and plant

them.

They are up about 1 - 1 1/2 inches right now but in a cold frame. Perhaps

I

should bareroot them, plant them and protect them from frost if we get it.
That seems like the better approach.
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