The arum thrives with magnificent foliage and deep red berries in shady locations that other perennials shy away from. If the high toxic content does not represent an insurmountable hurdle, the plant provides decorative accents in beds and pots all year round. If you are still struggling with unanswered questions about cultivation, you can find competent answers here.
How do I cultivate an arum correctly?
The arum is a poisonous, decorative plant that thrives in moist, nutrient-rich and shady locations. Cultivation takes place by planting the tuber in well-loosened soil enriched with compost. Care includes regular watering, fertilizing and pruning after wilting.
Planting arum correctly
Wherever there is no Egyptian darkness and the soil is both moist and nutrient-rich, the arum feels at home. Loosen the soil well and enrich it with compost. The depth of the planting pit is twice the height of the tuber. Place these horizontally in the soil with the buds facing upwards and water with soft water.
Care tips
Not least due to its extreme toxicity, arum is surrounded by a mystical-occult aura. The perennial, on the other hand, is less mysterious in its care. Well protected with gloves and skin-covering clothing, give the arum plant these gardening attentions:
- Water abundantly and regularly in spring without causing waterlogging
- Reduce watering during the summer if there is no rain
- Fertilize organically every 2 weeks from April to August
- Only cut off the leaves when they have completely wilted
The decorative berry clusters should be cut off early if seeding is not desired. Alternatively, the bright red fruit cluster adorns the winter garden, only to be cut off in late winter - at the same time as the leaves. An evergreen arum plant receives winter protection by protecting it from moisture and intense winter sun with leaves and brushwood. Arum in the bucket or balcony box moves to the frost-free, not too dark winter quarters.
Which location is suitable?
Aronstab is the ideal plant for adding greenery to semi-shady to shady areas in the garden. If you plant the arum under deciduous trees, the plant will receive the spring moisture it needs. A spot along the pond bank is also welcome, as long as it is not waterlogged. If there is a short period of dryness under the dense canopy of leaves in summer, this circumstance doesn't bother a wintergreen arum and can be quickly remedied on the deciduous arum with a sip of water.
The correct planting distance
So that an arum can perfectly fulfill its role as a magnificent foliage plant, the planting distance should be generous. Place the plant at a distance of 40 cm from the neighbor. To green a larger area with arum, we recommend an arrangement of 6 specimens per square meter.
What soil does the plant need?
So that the arum plant can present its decorative foliage, pretty flowers and spectacular fruiting, the soil should be nutrient-rich, humus-rich and moist without waterlogging. If the plant sets its impressive accents in a pot or balcony box, choose a high-quality compost-based potted plant soil as a substrate in order to meet all the requirements of an arum. As a typical plant of alluvial forests, the arum prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH value.
What is the best time to plant?
Autumn is considered the ideal planting time for a tuberous plant such as arum. However, you are free to plant the arum plant in the ground on any other day during the gardening season. As long as it doesn't freeze, the plant will root vigorously and quickly.
When is flowering time?
The flowering period of the native spotted arum extends from April to June with rather inconspicuous, greenish-white bracts around the flower spadix. While the deciduous foliage gradually fades in autumn, this species boasts of its bright red and extremely poisonous berries. The veined arum works in a similar way, but its leaves only emerge in autumn to decorate the garden throughout the winter. This arum plant blooms in March with calla-like bracts in subtle white.
Cut arum correctly
Only cut off the foliage close to the ground when it has completely wilted. Until then, the underground tuber extracts the remaining nutrients from the leaves in order to create reserves for the next season. If you do not want the plant to self-sow, cut off the berry stand before it can release its seeds. Of course, in this case you are depriving the winter garden of its colorful decoration with bright red berries. Carry out any cutting work on an arum plant with gloves and long-sleeved clothing, as even slight touching of the plant can lead to symptoms of poisoning. Dispose of any clippings in household waste or in the municipal composting facility.
Watering Arum
Water arum in the bed abundantly and regularly, especially in spring. In summer, a wintergreen arum plant can tolerate temporary drought without any damage because it has moved in at this time. A deciduous plant, on the other hand, should be kept slightly moist at all times. Ideally, you should use collected rainwater or pond water alternating with tap water so that excess lime does not accumulate in the soil.
Fertilize arum properly
Fertilize an arum in the bed every 2 weeks from April to August with compost, horn shavings and nettle manure. Cultivated in a planter, applying liquid fertilizer twice a month covers the nutrient requirements. Since the plant doesn't smell pleasant anyway, a liquid fertilizer made from nettles and comfrey leaves can also be used.
Wintering
In the bed, the native species Spotted Arum (Arum maculatum) does not require any special precautions for overwintering. The wintergreen arum plant - known as spotted arum (Arum italicum ssp. italicum) - receives protection from moisture and blazing winter sun with leaves and brushwood. In the pot and balcony box, the plant prefers to move to the bright, frost-free winter quarters so that the root ball does not freeze.
Propagate Arum
In order to easily propagate an arum, it is advisable to divide the tuber. To do this, dig up a well-established arum plant in the fall and shake off the soil. Daughter tubers, which already have their own buds, are clearly visible. Separate these with a sharp, disinfected knife. Dust the cuts with charcoal powder to seal them. You then plant the mother plant and its offspring in separate planting pits, maintaining the previous planting depth.
Is arum poisonous?
As an arum plant, the perennial is one of the most poisonous plants that Mother Nature has in its kitty. Streams of highly toxic substances flow through each arum, such as saponins, alkaloids and oxalate. The slightest touch causes severe skin irritation and even the formation of blisters. Whole herds of grazing cattle have died from carelessly discarded leaves and other plant parts. Because the bright red berries taste sweet and aromatic, numerous children fell victim to temptation, sometimes with fatal consequences. Only cultivate the poisonous plant out of the reach of children and animals. All planting and care work should take place with maximum safety precautions in mind. The highest obligation is to wear long-sleeved clothing, gloves as well as eye and respiratory protection.read more
How does pollination take place?
It is a sophisticated strategy by which an arum organizes its pollination. The flowers give off an unpleasant smell of carrion and urine. Flies and mosquitoes are very keen on this. They enthusiastically fly towards the plant and find themselves caught in an ingenious trap design inside. The wall of the bag-shaped flower bract is very thinly coated with oil, so that the insects involuntarily slip off. They remain trapped in a cauldron until the seed capsules burst during the night and the flies pollinate them. The next day the petal slackens, so that the cauldron trap releases its temporary prisoners, equipped with lots of pollen.
Is arum suitable as a houseplant?
The large plant family of the Araceae is home to a we alth of magnificent species and varieties that are ideal for cultivation as houseplants. Well-known representatives are the pretty calla or the flamingo flower. The question therefore arises as to whether the arum also has what it takes to showcase itself on the windowsill at home. It is primarily the tropical species that are predestined to become houseplants. The arum plant known under the name Sauromatum (Arum guttatum) or the Cretan arum (Arum creticum) has a similar appearance to the popular indoor calla. How to properly care for arum as a houseplant:
- A high-quality compost-based potting soil is ideal as a substrate
- Drainage above the water outlet prevents waterlogging
- As a houseplant, arum prefers a partially shaded location at normal room temperatures
- Keep the substrate constantly moist during growth and flowering and fertilize liquidly every 14 days
If the tuber has completely grown its foliage at the end of the flowering period, cut it off close to the ground. By then you have already gradually reduced the water supply and completely stopped adding fertilizer. Then remove the onion from the substrate. The plant spends its winter rest in a dry, cool place at 8-10 degrees Celsius. In February, pot the arum tubers in fresh substrate and start with a sip of water.
Trivia
The arum plant owes its name to a biblical event. As the older brother of Moses, Aaron was one of the 12 candidates for the office of high priest of the Israelites. Each of the nominees then placed their walking staff on the Ark of the Covenant. Since only Aaron's staff turned green, this was interpreted as a sign from God that he was destined for the office.
Beautiful varieties
- Pictum: Veined arum, wintergreen, wonderfully marbled foliage and white-green flowers from April; Growth height 20-35 cm
- Cretan Arum: The non-hardy plant impresses with its decoratively folded, white flowers; Growth height 40 cm
- Italian Arum: Magnificent species with huge, bright red berry clusters in autumn; Growth height up to 80 cm
- Arum purpureospathum: Rare, Mediterranean arum with purple flower stalk, height 35-45 cm
