Planting the tuber
Getting started -- Rinse the tuber off with water before planting it. Use a pot at least 2 inches (5 cm) tall and wide. For soil, use a well draining mix high in organic matter. A typical mix is 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite or coarse sand. An alternate mix is 1 part perlite to 1 part coir fiber, with some all-purpose fertilizer mixed in. Fill the pot with soil, place the tuber on the surface, and bury it so the top of the tuber is at the soil surface and partly exposed. Add water until the soil is evenly moist (but not fully saturated). Until it sprouts, ensure that the surface soil stays moist. If you enclose it a plastic dome or bag to maintain moisture, leave it open a slightly to allow some fresh air in. Keep the pot between 65 to 78 degrees F (18-26°C). Avoid letting them get warmer than this, but a little cooler at night is ok. I recommend placing a minimum/maximum thermometer near the pot. Place the pot in a bright spot out of direct sun.
An LED or fluorescent lamp kept 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount
of light (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights"). Growing onward... Watering -- Aim to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Never let it dry out completely. You may use a moisture meter probe to monitor the moisture levels down in the root zone.
Fertilizing -- Feed a week after it sprouts, and then about every 2
months. Use an all-purpose fertilizer that contains micronutrients. Over about 40-45% humidity is best.
If it seems to suffer from low humidity indoors, consider using an ultrasonic room humidifier,
sold at
home improvement stores and some thrift shops. - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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