Taro? Experiences?

[darkmuse]

Just getting some info toward getting a taro this summer. Anyone have experience with this plant?

[j.w]

Just getting some info toward getting a taro this summer. Anyone have experience with this plant?

I had Taro and it grew nice in pots. I had it outdoors in the warm months but then had to bring it inside during the winter and it grew so big there was no room for it. I found for me it was too much trouble and I only like plants now that are hardy here and can stay out all year. Depends on where you live as if you have warm temps for it and it will not die than that would be good. I have heard something about bringing just the bulbs or roots whatever they have that you can keep them in a cool garage wrapped in paper or something. Not sure tho, maybe someone else will know more.

[brokensword]

Just getting some info toward getting a taro this summer. Anyone have experience with this plant?

I've had one almost since the beginning and like j.w says, you have to overwinter if you're in a snow and cold location! The first couple years, it barely made it, hardly surviving until I put it back in the bog when spring settled in for good. Now, I have 4' high stalks and probably 15 leaves of 12" or less, in my turtle over-winter pool. Sort of surprises it's doing so well this year but I won't complain! When outside, it takes a bit to re-establish and by mid-late summer, I'll have 7' stalks and 24-30" leaves! You have to put it in the back or it's going to shade everything underneath! Mine is the black taro and they have others, but I've never grown them.

[rubyduby]

I’m not sure where you live but here in Florida it grows very well…

[j.w]

Yep @rubyduby you have the perfect growing things climate!
All your plants and fish look like they love it there and you don't even need a net to protect them from critters!

[rubyduby]

If it weren't for the giant Live Oak over the pond I would have to net...But so far nothing has spotted the pond from above...I also have a pretty solid fence around a small backyard which makes it difficult for birds to have room to land...So far so good...but first thing every morning I look to see if anything has been disturbed because I know that good luck doesn't last forever:(

[Gemma]

Just getting some info toward getting a taro this summer. Anyone have experience with this plant?

I love my Black Taro and it's a must have in my pond. I winterize the roots every year and bring it back out in Spring...but if you live in warmer climate, keep in mind it can be invasive

[j.w]

How do you winterize your Black Taro @Gemma ?

[Gemma]

How do you winterize your Black Taro @Gemma ?

I've done it in different ways, I've either pulled, dried and stored in plastic bag with pine shavings, or potted and kept as houseplant. stored dormant will save it but the plants start out much smaller, the ones I kept as houseplants got larger and larger

[j.w]

How do you winterize your Black Taro @Gemma ?

I've done it in different ways, I've either pulled, dried and stored in plastic bag with pine shavings, or potted and kept as houseplant. stored dormant will save it but the plants start out much smaller, the ones I kept as houseplants got larger and larger

Very pretty Black Taro! Like I said, I tried the keeping them in a big pot indoors and they got way too big and were in the way. But like you say if you do that they are so big and beautiful when you haul them outdoors each year. Then one year when I had them out on the back deck the raccoons came and destroyed them all and made a huge mud mess! I suppose I could have saved some w/the big bulbs but I decided to end it.

[brokensword]

s but I decided to end it.

rah roh, lil Queenie hath done committed tarocide!

[Gemma]

Speaking of Taro I just bought a new one that I had never seen before and it's so shiny and beautiful...it's like a black velvet drawing on shiny foil ok I suck at explaining, here's the pic



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