Black magic taro

[pimen]

So after some conversation and research, I decided to try black magic taro,
I bought it online, the seller grew this taro in dirt before
I try to make it to adapt in boggie /water&gravel set up.
After 1 day, the taro arrived in my home,
when I open the package, the plant was alittle bit dying, so I put them in my small temporary aquaponic set up with clayball etc and also put the dirt on the their roots in clayball

the seller thought me to give them a time to get healthier and avoiding rain water and direct sunlight, just put them in shady area , so i put them in my shady area that dont get direct sunlight at all..,
the seller said just wait until the plant has new shot n it permitted to be placed in area that get direct sunlight

The seller give me 30-50 cm plant, and the plant has around 4 bulbs
theres also small little bulb on it,
i cut it and try to grow the very little bulb
i just want to try a very small new born bulb in water set up, to make it adapting water since the very beginning stage with no dirt at all,(I separate the little bulb with the rest and put it in my aquarium top filter that I already filled with clayball too)
after 2 days the bulb grow well and made a shot, but suddenly become weird as the photos i have attached in just a day
the first photo showed that it seems the little baby plant grow well but after several hours become like in the 2nd photo
the rest of the plant are doing well..
but this baby just become like this.
what happen ?

 

[Lisak1]

It does look like it's dying - not enough nutrients in the water would be my guess. It does look good in the first photo, but sprouting and growing are two different processes.

 

[MitchM]

Check the PH of the water that the taro is in. Expanded clay (which is what you have) can raise the PH.
If it's too high (above 7.5), the taro won't be able to absorb the nutrients.

 

[sissy]

I had mine in my waterfall filter and my ph is always around 8 or above and I only feed my fish 3 or 4 times a week if they are lucky .I planted mine but also had some bare root

 

[pimen]

@Lisak1 @MitchM @sissy Im really confuse, suddenly it growing well again, look at the photo...
so after 2 days, the bulb grew well, in the 3rd day experienced like weakening n seems dying, but in 4th day..this morning, it comeback again?!
wth is goin on ? is this kind of nature habit in taro or what ?

 

[Lisak1]

Could it be morning vs nighttime? Maybe it closes up at night? I'm not aware of any taro that do this, but it does appear to be happening.

 

[sissy]

Also black taro does not like a lot of sun and leaves will look wilted .Does not like cool temperatures either .If the roots get to cold it will effect the whole plant

 

[pimen]

@Lisak1 it seems like that, this is already 2 days in a row the baby plant look like dying in the afternoon to night and comeback stronger, higher with bigger leaf every morning
This is on 5th day I grow this black taro from small bulb with no leaf, stem or sprout at all, no dirt just water and clayball..

@sissy thanks for the advice, noted..

 

[brokensword]

Also black taro does not like a lot of sun and leaves will look wilted .Does not like cool temperatures either .If the roots get to cold it will effect the whole plant

sissy; I found when I put my black taro in my bog, full sun, it grew to over 7' and had leaves 2' in length. So, from my experience, I'd say black taro are just fine in the sun.

 

[Lisak1]

sissy; I found when I put my black taro in my bog, full sun, it grew to over 7' and had leaves 2' in length. So, from my experience, I'd say black taro are just fine in the sun.

I have experienced that with other plants that are typically grown in soil - in the big they do just fine in full sun. Impatiens for example - they are finicky in the ground in full sun but do great if the roots are constantly in the water.

 

[sissy]

I have some in semi full sun but the leaves do not stay black and need the ground wet also .I was lucky because my whole house water filter dumps out there every morning to clean it .Seems that in full sun I do notice they go into like a sleep mode at night .I see you have a sprout coming up on the side there .But are you sure it is black taro .Plus there is a mini black taro that does not get as big as the other ones .Just like the regular taro there are different sizes they grow too

 

[pimen]

I have some in semi full sun but the leaves do not stay black and need the ground wet also .I was lucky because my whole house water filter dumps out there every morning to clean it .Seems that in full sun I do notice they go into like a sleep mode at night .I see you have a sprout coming up on the side there .But are you sure it is black taro .Plus there is a mini black taro that does not get as big as the other ones .Just like the regular taro there are different sizes they grow too View attachment 107150

I think urs is imperial taro not black magic?
mine is black magic
the mother plant has burgundy colour on the whole part of the plant from leaf and foliage
the taro that I talk about here is the taro I grow by cutting from the mother plant, and just for experiment....

 

[sissy]

That is one of 4 varieties that I grow .I like the mini one because it does not get very tall .All my other elephant ears are bigger ones

 

[brokensword]

sissy; here's pics of my black taro, grown in the bog and full sun. Note the size of one leaf vs the 12" hanging planter, which btw, hangs above my head. Each stalk at the base was about 4" in diameter when I cut it all down in the fall.

 

[sissy]

mine are usually lots taller but this year they did not grow as big .The 3rd pic is called a giant elephant ear but this was the first year for it .The ones by the front porch are usually over the top of the rails on my front porch which is 6 feet off the ground .The banana plants grew better this year at a height of 12 feet .The ones I planted by the back decks towered over the new pergolas .The first part of the season really effects the growth of some plants Taros can be fussy plants or be east to grow ,I found a little miracle grow or those little plant sticks they sell at dollar stores really help them grow .I donated over 60 banana plants for resale by my local animal shelter and the child birthing center .If a elephant ear is not growing well then it is not getting enough nutrients