I grow it outside in the garden here, also in a 7a zone. In these conditions it never seems to get over about 3-3.5 foot tall and never blooms although it does produce offsets so there is now a fair clump. Has been there in the same spot for at least a decade but since I grow it for the foliage I don't expect it to get to produce a bloom.

Thank you for the advice. I just recently planted bulbs in the ground, have been growing in pots all along. Will try starting earlier and putting into my greenhouse before the temps get below 60 at night.

Konjac season is nearly over here, when the stalk flops over I dig it out, clean it off and bring it in to sit on a shelf for winter.

I do that with my biggest bulb. Had at least two dozen baby bulbs that I couldn't give away, so I planted them throughout my backyard Forrest. Three years on, they are thriving.

If you like the foliage of Konjac, you should try Arisaema consanguineus. Perfectly hardy in this zone also, and the whorl leaves are outstanding.

If you like the foliage of Konjac, you should try Arisaema consanguineus. Perfectly hardy in this zone also, and the whorl leaves are outstanding.

In 6b, I find that my Konjac leaves live about 4 1/2 months regardless of when I start them. If I start them indoors, they end up dying back at the end of August. I'm curious about the OP's lack of growth; I grow mine in pots and they get bigger every year. I've had two mature to flowering stage.

I have been growing Kojak in pots, just in the last three years have I been planting outside. Original bulb has not gotten bigger, just loads of offsets.

Regarding growing Himalayan Jack in the pulpit, I wish I could! Live in the north asheville basin, which has the only rain shadow in the east. 30 inches in good years; 10 in bad. Drought happens at any time of year. Have learned not to water (well runs dry). Konjac seems to have adapted and is holding it's own. The native Jack in the pulpit grows only 3 inches high and flowers. Any idea what else I can grow in shaded rich alkaline dry soil, six inches to rock?

Not sure why they sometimes seem to not grow, I've had the same "problem" over the years. Even with good fertilizing. Could be light level and fertilizing I think. My biggest bulb (about grapefruit sized) seems to have grown bigger this year as it's pot is cracked on the side (plastic pot). I'll know soon as it's starting to get cold here so it should be flopping over and day now.

Update on my konjac bulbs:

Just checked my bulbs, they have doubled in size! And only four small offsets! It seems they like the south side of my house in high shade. Also changed the soil to a commercial potting mix which I kept wet. Perhaps they will flower come spring.

Their natural range includes zone 6 so you're within their limits. Problems should only be from over watering or wet during dormancy.

Another thing you could consider is building somewhat of a raised bed to give them some extra depth. I just read someone else say that theirs tended toward offsets in full sun and grew the bulb better with some shade. Fwiw, mine are in a flower bed on the north side of my house and depending on how aggressively I thin them, can get several blooming each year - the bulbs grow well, though I have no shortage of offsets.

FYI:

I keep my two biggest bulbs in pots. For the last three years all offsets have been planted in ground. Was asking for advice since the potted bulbs were producing lots of offsets, but not flowering or getting any bigger. Not expecting anything but leaves from the in ground ones. Rich soil and wet shade seems to have worked, thank you all!