Software
Houzz Logo Print
maddy_j

Sunburned Titan Arum?

11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

I'm a new titan arum owner, so I'm very new as to how to take care of them. Mine has been loosing color in the leaf and the stem for the past two weeks. I recently transferred it to living outside, where it lives on my front porch under an overhang so it is shaded from direct sun and rain. I thought it could just be going dormant, but yesterday I noticed the tips of the leaf turning brown.

The pictures are a bit deceiving- it's a bit yellower in real life. Any idea if it's a sunburn, or vitamin deficiency? I received it as a two foot tall seedling, and it hasn't grown much since. I fertilize with orchid fertilizer, and the potting mix is from the greenhouse it was grown in- perlite and soil, which drains pretty well.


Comments (16)

  • 11 years ago

    Awesome! Do you mix them together, and give them all at once? I did just fertilize a day or so ago, would it hurt to give it supplements right after fertilizing? Sorry for all the questions, but I've read that plant sunburn can't be reversed. Will it turn green again, or should I just try to maintain the leaf as it is now? Will the tips turn green again?

  • 11 years ago

    Damage cannot be reserved however you can strengthen the color and health of existing leaves. You can also put that leaf piece in a tray to try and root it.


    That plant looks like it is on its 3rd petiole. It should be fine to mix some nutrients in the top layer of the soil and let it work its way in with watering a. I would however suggest getting a much larger pot than you have to avoid it from going root bound.

    maddy_j thanked stevelau1911
  • 11 years ago

    I'll try it. And thanks for the advice about the pot! I just checked the roots about a week ago to see if that was the case, and they looked alright to me. The browning has worked it's way about half an inch up two of the leaf tips now, and just since yesterday, which I feel is so fast. Is there a possibility that it isn't sunburn, and that the tuber is just going dormant? I've heard that the leaf will lose it's color, and then turn brown rapidly.

  • 11 years ago

    Here's a picture of some of mine for comparison. I have them in 2.5 gallon pots for these. This was taken a month ago so some of them have already sent up new petioles since then.

  • 11 years ago

    I'd say it's going dormant. The leaf goes yellowish as the nutrients are drawn out of it and into the tuber.


    maddy_j thanked tropicbreezent
  • 11 years ago

    Your tiny titans look so happy! I really don't have a point of reference for what a seedling should look like at this stage, but this forum has been a big help. How old are those guys, are they from seeds?

    Tropicalbreezent- That's what I'm hoping. The tips of the leaves are just turning brown so quickly, I'm not sure what else it could be. Here's what's happened since yesterday for reference:


  • 11 years ago

    They are around 6 months old, 5 months old in that picture. The largest one is on its 2nd petiole.


    I intend to try some leaf cuttings this year just to see what happens.

  • 11 years ago

    Oh wow. They look great. This probably seems like such a silly question, but what does it mean when a plant is on it's 2nd, or 3rd petiole?

    I was considering doing some leaf cuttings! In the future, since this is my only titan and I'd like it to be bigger first.

  • 11 years ago

    It shouldn't, slow your plant down by taking a cutting but it may be better to wait for it to make more leaflets. The petiole is just another word for the leaf stalks which are supposed to get progressively larger.

  • maddy_j thanked Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
  • 11 years ago

    Would it be possible to take leaf cuttings as it goes dormant, if it doesn't need the leaf anymore anyways? Or should it be actively growing? And thanks! Trying to learn all I can.

    And Tiffany- No kidding! Clive is actually the parent plant to my titan! Glad to see it's blooming again.

  • 11 years ago

    Based on what I have read, leaf cuttings are not generally successful as they are going dormant because it is no longer filled with starches. I would take it on leaves that are fully grown and ready to take in energy.

  • 11 years ago

    I've had better luck with younger leaflets, the older ones (close to dormancy) just decline. I use a rooting powder and keep them in sphagnum.


    maddy_j thanked tropicbreezent
  • 11 years ago

    Awesome, I'll try it. I've used the rooting powder for propagation before, but I've never done cuttings without it.

  • 11 years ago

    I have tried leaf cuttings on titan and konjac, and noted that starting these in early summer may give better results than starting during a cold or cooling season, at least here in zone 6b. Choose a leaf that has just matured, keep the cuttings warmed from the bottom, and enclosed to maintain humidity. A little rooting hormone couldn't hurt.

    Mike in WI wrote some good directions, and even sent me a corm that he had cultured. I'm trying not to kill it. In my cool apartment, I'll definitely have to get a warming mat for these. Don't get carried away and take more than 1 or 2 leaves from a plant in one season!

    Rick in CT

Sponsored