I have some air potato bulbs and I'm just wondering if they will grow indoors? I live in Louisiana.
If so, how do I start them? Can I just put them in a dish with some water?
Thanks,
Ty
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tyler anice
- Full Member
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:00 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Hi Ty,
You could put it in a jar of water like you would an avocado pit or put in a pot with potting soil. It may take a couple of months or more to sprout. They like humidity, so keeping it in a kitchen or bathroom with lots of light would be important. They are extremely invasive so don't plant it in the ground in your area.
The Herberiam of Louisiana State University has a map that shows the parishes where they have found it growing wild and smothering trees and native plants.
https://www.herbarium.lsu.edu/search.php?searchtype=parish&category=monocot&majorarea=&family=Dioscoreaceae&genus=Dioscorea&sp1=bulbifera
Newt
You could put it in a jar of water like you would an avocado pit or put in a pot with potting soil. It may take a couple of months or more to sprout. They like humidity, so keeping it in a kitchen or bathroom with lots of light would be important. They are extremely invasive so don't plant it in the ground in your area.
The Herberiam of Louisiana State University has a map that shows the parishes where they have found it growing wild and smothering trees and native plants.
https://www.herbarium.lsu.edu/search.php?searchtype=parish&category=monocot&majorarea=&family=Dioscoreaceae&genus=Dioscorea&sp1=bulbifera
Newt
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tyler anice
- Full Member
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:00 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Thanks, Newt! I am so dumb when it comes to plants so obvious answers to some people never occur to me. I guess I wanted a method that would sprout quickly but I need to learn patience.
And thanks for the advice. I've read a lot about how much people hate these non-native plants and I completely understand. I live in New Orleans with no grass in my whole neighborhood...an old neighborhood where everyone cemented their yards decades back. I think the cement will keep them from becoming a problem anywhere.
My landlord planted them on the iron-work out front and I liked them but I would never put them in the ground because they can be such a problem. I have the bulbs because I pull them off so they don't roll under houses and grow over pipes and into foundations, etc.
I think I will eventually remove them from outside all together but, in the meantime, thought they would look great hanging down from the fireplaces inside. I'll see if they will work indoors.
Thanks for the help.
Ty
And thanks for the advice. I've read a lot about how much people hate these non-native plants and I completely understand. I live in New Orleans with no grass in my whole neighborhood...an old neighborhood where everyone cemented their yards decades back. I think the cement will keep them from becoming a problem anywhere.
My landlord planted them on the iron-work out front and I liked them but I would never put them in the ground because they can be such a problem. I have the bulbs because I pull them off so they don't roll under houses and grow over pipes and into foundations, etc.
I think I will eventually remove them from outside all together but, in the meantime, thought they would look great hanging down from the fireplaces inside. I'll see if they will work indoors.
Thanks for the help.
Ty
Ty, you are so very welcome!! I am very familiar with where you live as I've been there a few times since Katrina to do animal rescue. I've even had the 'pleasure' of crawling under those houses! 
Maybe a clematis or native honeysuckle would look great on the iron work. The native honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens will bloom on and off all spring, summer and fall, bring the hummingbirds and feed the birds berries in the winter. Lonicera sempervirens 'Blanche Sandman'
https://ronrothman.com/gallery/home/IMG_6667cr
https://www.tanglebank.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=7.778.450
https://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/66315/
https://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B934
or Lonicera sempervirens 'Alabama Crimson' would be lovely.
https://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B913
https://www.gardensoyvey.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_8&products_id=324&osCsid=967b4170cbc4b6a5b5c1768ea82aa717
Newt
Maybe a clematis or native honeysuckle would look great on the iron work. The native honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens will bloom on and off all spring, summer and fall, bring the hummingbirds and feed the birds berries in the winter. Lonicera sempervirens 'Blanche Sandman' https://ronrothman.com/gallery/home/IMG_6667cr
https://www.tanglebank.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=7.778.450
https://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/66315/
https://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B934
or Lonicera sempervirens 'Alabama Crimson' would be lovely.
https://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B913
https://www.gardensoyvey.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_8&products_id=324&osCsid=967b4170cbc4b6a5b5c1768ea82aa717
Newt
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tyler anice
- Full Member
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:00 pm
- Location: Louisiana
Hey, Thanks Newt! And more importantly, thanks for doing animal rescue, especially here and especially now! I actually have a rescue dog and he's the greatest ever!
And it's so funny that you mentioned honeysuckle and clematis because I have both in the back from this past summer. They are both taking their time growing though - bought the clematis in bulb/seed form (however it comes) and bought a coral honeysuckle from a plant nursery. I hope they make it through the winter and take off next year.
Thanks so much for all of your suggestions...glad I found this forum.
~Ty
And it's so funny that you mentioned honeysuckle and clematis because I have both in the back from this past summer. They are both taking their time growing though - bought the clematis in bulb/seed form (however it comes) and bought a coral honeysuckle from a plant nursery. I hope they make it through the winter and take off next year.
Thanks so much for all of your suggestions...glad I found this forum.
~Ty
Ty, you are so very welcome! My last visit to NOLA was in February to do food and water drops for the homeless animals. They are desperate for help, so if you can spare even one day a month, or know anyone who can, let me know and I'll get the info to you. I long to return and spend at least a week doing the drops. I'm so happy to hear that you have a rescue dog. There are so very many that need homes. If you know of anyone who would like a pet I can help with that too. Many people are returning to the area and can't keep their pets so they are surrendering them. It's so sad. As you can see, I'm still very involved with animal rescue, including NOLA.
Back to your plants. The honeysuckle and clematis tend to take a couple of years to establish their roots before they take off and start putting out the top growth and flowers, so patience is definately called for. Don't give up on them. With your mild winters they should be just fine. Clematis are rooted cuttings and aren't a bulb or tuber. The honeysuckle is the same. When I was there in February there were hibiscus and iris blooming. I couldn't believe my eyes as there was snow on the ground when I returned to Maryland.
Glad you found us too!
Newt
Back to your plants. The honeysuckle and clematis tend to take a couple of years to establish their roots before they take off and start putting out the top growth and flowers, so patience is definately called for. Don't give up on them. With your mild winters they should be just fine. Clematis are rooted cuttings and aren't a bulb or tuber. The honeysuckle is the same. When I was there in February there were hibiscus and iris blooming. I couldn't believe my eyes as there was snow on the ground when I returned to Maryland.
Glad you found us too!
Newt