The pollinated flowers develop clusters of berry-like fruit that change from bright pink to vivid blue.
After flowering, a single giant compound leaf emerges.
Voodoo Lily Care
With proper care, voodoo lilies can be long-living plants.
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Avoid placing this plant in south- and west-facing locations around your home.
Soil
Plant your voodoo lily tuber 5 to 7 inches beneath the soils surface.
This top-heavy plant may pull free from the soil if the tuber isn’t planted deep enough.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
For a container specimen, choose a potting mix rich with organic matter.
In the garden, plant a few weeks after the last frost when the soil temperature stays above 60F.
Add a boost of nutrients to the soil with a shovelful of leaf mold or well-rottedgardening compost.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
Water voodoo lilies thoroughly after the soil has dried out.
Too much water can collect in the depressions on the tuber and lead toroot rot.
This species requires more frequent watering in the summer.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
However, hold off watering entirely in the late summer or fall when the plant is dormant.
Warm temperatures and high humidity are best.
Fertilizer
Encourage a healthy root system with a monthlyorganic fertilizerrich in phosphate.
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A 15-30-15 ratio is recommended.
Once your plant goes dormant, hold off on fertilizing until the growing season begins again.
Types of Voodoo Lily
The genusAmorphophallusincludes about 170 species.
When the leaf fades and the plant enters dormancy, withhold fertilizer and water sparingly.
The tuber may rest for several months before growth resumes.
At this time, continue to water and fertilize as before.
When growing tubers, you may need to wait three to five years for the first bloom.
The best way to propagate a voodoo lily is with tuber offsets once the plant enters dormancy.
Always wear gloves when handling a voodoo lily plant.
Common Plant Diseases
The voodoo lily’s notorious odor helps keep itself free of pests naturally.
However, your plant may be susceptible to root rot when its tubers are damaged during repotting or overwatering.
The roots become waterlogged in a pot that does not have sufficient drainage.
It’s common for voodoo lilies to take three to five years to bloom.
Once your plant has flowered, it may even fail to bloom the following year.
What Does a Voodoo Lily Flower Look and Smell Like?
Pollinated flowers turn into tiny, colorful berries.
The smell of a flowering voodoo lily is often compared to rotting flesh or meat.
Prune the flower after it dies off.
Sometimes, the voodoo lily yellows due to a lack of nutrients.
Feed your lily with fertilizer diluted in equal parts with water.
Burnt Leaves
The voodoo lily grows best in partial or full shade.
Any crispy or dry, brown sections on the leaves can indicate that your plant needs ashadier location.
Leaves Falling Off
Extreme or sudden temperature changes can cause leaf drop.
Grow the plant outside once the weather is warm enough, allowing it to acclimate slowly to seasonal changes.
Voodoo lilies emit an odor comparable to the smell of rotten meat.
However, this odor only lasts a few days while the plant blooms.
Yes, voodoo lilies do spread via tubers over time.
Putting it outdoors during its short bloom time also keeps the unpleasant smell out of your home.
Voodoo Lily.The National Gardening Association.
