Planting the bulb
When to plant -- Plant your tuber promptly when you receive it. Getting started -- You can grow it in a 3-4 inch (8-10 cm) pot. Fill the pot with a well-draining soil mix. A typical mix is 3 parts potting soil to 2 parts perlite. The rounder, smoother side of the tuber is the bottom. Bury the tuber so it is barely covered with soil. If it has an erect growth point, keep it exposed. Add just enough water so the soil is lightly moist throughout, and keep it this moist until it sprouts. Don't fully saturate the soil, but don't let it dry out completely. You can place it in a container to maintain moisture - just leave it open slightly for fresh air. Until it sprouts, try to keep it between about 65 and 80 degrees F (18-27°C). It may take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months to sprout, depending on when it went dormant. Once it sprouts, keep the soil evenly moist (but not constantly saturated). Growing onward - This forest plant enjoys bright, filtered light. It can handle weaker sun, but it might need some protection from strong sun. (See: "Growing indoors with LED lights"). During growth, keep it above 55⁰F (13⁰C), and preferably above the low 60s (17⁰C). Over about 40% humidity is a good idea. Feed it 1-2 weeks after it sprouts, and again 2-3 months later. Use an all-purpose fertilizer that contains micronutrients, following the dosage on the package. Since the root system is small, i prefer to use liquid hydroponic fertilizer (General Hydroponics Flora). Dormancy -- When the leaf dies back, give just enough water to keep the soil slightly moist until it emerges from dormancy. I repot the bulb into fresh soil each year. During dormancy, feel free to separate any baby bulbs that have formed. If you choose to keep them together in the same pot, they might need a bigger pot. Pests -- Watch for any pests that can affect your other plants. Contact me if you have questions. Have fun growing it! - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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