Voodoo Lily

So, I was at the garden show this past weekend. A very odd place for me to find myself in since I can barely keep  artificial plants looking proper in my house. I guess that the essence of spring and its promise of foliage were calling me. The show itself was just… meh. But I did find this really unusual, architecturally pleasing plant/flower/whatever that I took home because the vendor (a charming gentleman from Holland) told me that all I had to do was to plop the bulb on the counter and let it do its thing, i.e. bloom. Now, I know that I can handle that. I can probably even give it some light.

The thing in question is called a “Sauromatum Guttatum” 0r a “Typhonium venosum” or an “Arum Cornutum”, just to completely confuse someone like me. But really, it’s of the Voodoo Lily variety. I can remember that. It also has some other cannot-mention-here names, and when I asked why, it appears that the thing will stink like heck for about a day after it has bloomed. Now, since I intended on keeping this beauty indoors, I will have deal with this minor inconvenience by placing it outdoors (weather willing) for the duration of the stinkyness. It has a biological purpose: the malodor exists to attract flies and other insects as pollinators. So, a little respect, please. You can get more legitimate information on this plant species right here.

I paid $12 for three bulbs which I simply laid on a tray in my kitchen (and will move when the ominous moment arrives). I think that the only reason that the voodoo lily would be potted is to give this tall plant more stability and prevent it from falling over. It can be planted outdoors too, but that’s way out of my league. I found that you can buy them online here and here.

Anyhoo, thought I’d share this personal discovery with you. If anything, it’s bound to be an interesting conversation piece in my house!