Home	Strange Wonderful Things Rare and exotic plants & seeds

Tropaeolum tricolor

Bolivian Nasturtium

  You may plant your tuber now, but do not give it any water until September. Or you may store it until the fall in a paper bag.  If you see a shoot emerge though, it is time to plant it (the shoot is the leaf stem, not the root).

  When you plant it, i recommend dusting it with Rootone powder, which contains a fungicide. This is not necessary, but it helps reduce the chance of rot.  You can buy Rootone at most garden centers. Be careful not to breathe or touch the powder. Wear gloves and a dust mask, and then dip a small paint brush into the powder and dab it on the tuber.  It doesn't matter which way you plant the tuber, by the way.

  A 1 gallon pot (4 liters) is a good size for 1 tuber, and 3 gallons will hold 3 tubers.  For soil, i use about 3 parts potting soil to 1 part horticultural sand and 1 part perlite. Plant the tuber 2" deep (5 cm) and sandwich it in 1/4" (6 mm) of perlite. In other words, lay down 1/4" of perlite, put the tuber on it, lay another 1/4" of perlite over the tuber, then continue filling with soil.  In September, water the pot just enough so the soil is lightly moist throughout, and don't let it get any wetter until the leaves appear.

  Once it sprouts, you may increase the watering.  Give it sun, with some protection from hot afternoon sun.

2-3 weeks after the first shoot appears, begin feeding every 4-6 weeks with 1/2 strength fertilizer.

For more tips on growing it, see here.

If you have any questions, please email me.

Enjoy your plant!

Strange Wonderful Things