Arum - planting, tending, watering, fertilizing and more

Plant arum correctly

Wherever there is no Egyptian darkness and the soil is moist and nutritious, 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. You place them horizontally in the soil with the buds up and pour soft water.

Care tips

Not least because of 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 horticultural attentions:

Water abundantly and regularly in spring without causing waterlogging
Reduced watering during the summer if there is no rain
From April to August, fertilize organically every 2 weeks
Do not cut the foliage until it is completely withered

Cut the decorative berry grapes prematurely if you do not want to sow them. 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 using leaves and brushwood to protect it from moisture and intense winter sun. Arum in the tub or balcony box moves to frost-free, not too dark winter quarters.

Which location is suitable?

Arum is the ideal plant for greening partially shaded to shady areas in the garden. If you settle the arum family under deciduous trees, the plant receives the necessary spring moisture. A place along the pond bank is also welcome, as long as there is no waterlogging. If there is brief drought under the dense canopy in summer, this fact does not matter to an evergreen arum and is quickly remedied on the deciduous arum with a sip of water.

The correct planting distance

So that an arum plant can perfectly fulfill its task as a splendid ornamental leaf plant, the planting distance should be generous. Put the plant at a distance of 40 cm from the neighbor. In order 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 leaves, the pretty flowers and the spectacular fruit cluster, the soil should be rich in nutrients, humic and moist without waterlogging. If the plant sets its impressive accents in the pot or balcony box, choose a high-quality compost-based potted plant soil as a substrate to meet all the requirements of an arum tree. As a typical plant of the alluvial forests, the arum prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH value.

What is the best time to plant?

For a tuber plant like arum, autumn is the ideal time to plant. However, you are free to plant the arum plant in the ground any other day during the gardening season. As long as it does not freeze, the plant will take root quickly and vitally.

When is the flowering time?

The flowering time of the native spotted arum extends from April to June with rather inconspicuous, greenish-white bracts around the flower bulb. While the deciduous foliage is already gradually moving in in autumn, this species boasts of its bright red and extremely poisonous berries. The veined arum proceeds in a similar way, whose leaves only sprout in autumn in order to decorate the garden throughout the winter. This arum plant already blooms in March with calla-like bracts in a subtle white.

Cut the arum correctly

Do not cut the foliage near the ground until it is completely withered. Until then, the underground tuber removes the remaining nutrients from the leaves in order to build reserves for the next season. If you do not want the plant to self-sow, cap the berry stand before it can release its seeds. Of course, in this case you are robbing the winter garden of its colorful ornamentation with bright red berry grapes. Carry out any pruning work on an arum plant with gloves and long-sleeved clothing, as even a slight tangle of the plant can lead to symptoms of poisoning. Dispose of any clippings in the household waste or give them to the municipal composting facility.

Pour the arum

Water the arum plentifully and regularly, especially in spring. In summer, an evergreen arum plant tolerates intermittent drought without prejudice, as 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 no excess lime accumulates in the soil.

Fertilize the arum correctly

Fertilize an arum in the bed from April to August every 2 weeks with compost, horn shavings (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) and nettle manure. Cultivated in a planter, the liquid fertilizer given twice a month covers the nutritional requirements. Since the plant does not smell pleasant anyway, a liquid fertilizer can also be plant manure made from nettles and comfrey leaves.

Overwinter

In the bed, the native species of spotted arum (Arum maculatum) does not require any special precautions for wintering. The evergreen arum family - known as spotted arum (Arum italicum ssp. Italicum) - is protected from moisture and blazing winter sun with leaves and brushwood. In the pot and balcony box, the plant preferably moves to light, frost-free winter quarters so that the root ball does not freeze through.

Propagate arum

In order to propagate an arum in an uncomplicated manner, the tuber can be divided. To do this, dig up a well-established arum plant in autumn and shake off the earth. Daughter tubers that already have their own buds are clearly visible. Separate these with a sharp, disinfected knife. Powder 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 quiver. Streams of highly toxic substances flow through each arum such as saponins, alkaloids and oxalates. The touch of a touch causes severe skin irritation and even blistering. Whole herds of grazing cattle have already died on carelessly disposed of leaves and other parts of plants. Since the bright red berries taste sweet and aromatic, numerous children fell victim to the temptation, with sometimes fatal consequences. Cultivate the poisonous plant only out of the reach of children and animals. All planting and maintenance work should take place with maximum safety precautions. The top priority is to wear long-sleeved clothing, gloves, and eye and respiratory protection.

How does pollination take place?

It is an ingenious strategy that an arum uses to organize its pollination. The flowers give off an unpleasant odor of carrion and urine. Flies and mosquitoes are keen on that. They enthusiastically fly to the plant and get caught in an ingenious trap construction. The wall of the cone-shaped cladding sheet is very thinly coated with oil, so that the insects slip off involuntarily. They remain trapped in a cauldron until the seed pods burst during the night and the flies pollinate. 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 arum plants is home to an abundance of magnificent species and varieties that are ideal for cultivation as indoor plants. Well-known representatives are the pretty calla or the flamingo flower. So the question arises as to whether the arum tree also has what it takes to put itself in the limelight on the window sill at home. It is primarily the tropical conspecifics that are predestined for indoor plants. The arum plant known under the name Sauromatum (Arum guttatum) or the Cretan arum (Arum creticum) develop a similar appearance to the popular room calla. How to properly care for arum as a houseplant:

A high-quality compost-based potted plant soil is ideal as a substrate
A drainage above the water drain prevents waterlogging
Arum prefers a partially shaded location as a houseplant at normal room temperatures
During the growth and the flowering period, keep the substrate constantly moist and fertilize every 14 days

If the tuber has completely drawn in the leaves at the end of the flowering period, cut them off near the ground. By then you will have gradually reduced the water supply and completely stopped using fertilizers. Then you pull the onion out of the substrate. The winter dormancy spends the plant in a dry, cool place at 8-10 degrees Celsius. In February, pot the arum tubers in fresh substrate and begin with a sip of water.

Trivia

The arum plant owes its name to a biblical event. As the older brother of Moses, Aaron was among the 12 candidates for the office of high priest of the Israelites. Each of the nominees then placed his walking stick on the ark. Since only Aaron's staff turned green, this was interpreted as a sign from God that he was destined for the office.

Nice varieties

Pictum: Veined arum, evergreen, wonderfully marbled foliage and white-green flowers from April; Growth height 20-35 cm
Cretan Arum: The not hardy plant impresses with its decorative, turned back, white flowers; Growth height 40 cm
Italian Arum: Magnificent species with huge, bright red berry grapes in autumn; Growth height up to 80 cm
Arum purpureospathum: Rare, Mediterranean arum with a purple-colored flower stalk, height 35-45 cm