To cultivate an Arisaema sikokianum you need to provide it partial shade, plenty of water, and protection from the cold in the winter.
It is easy to keep and very eye-catching in a garden. Once established, it does not require a lot of care or maintenance.
Think About The Light
Arisaema sikokianum thrives in shade.
It can be planted in shady gardens and woodlands because it prefers having little sunlight in it’s environment. If your plot doesn’t get much sun, this plant is ideal for you.
You should plant in at least partial shade, full sun will certainly burn the leaves and kill the plant quickly.
It grows naturally in woodland and does not get direct sunlight in its natural habitat and we have to take that into consideration.
It is one of the few plants that actually does well without much bright light.
Water It Regularly
It is important to keep the Arisaema sikokianum moist while the tubers are dormant in the winter.
If you live in a dry region of the world, it will need regular watering to avoid suffering from thirst.
While the tubers will not be active in the winter, they will suffer if they become overly dry.
Winter air can be surprisingly dry, so unless it is constantly raining, be sure to keep giving the plant a drink.
Give It Rich Soil
These plants thrive best in rich soils.
They feed often, so be sure to plant with plenty of compost, and fertilize from time to time to keep nutrient levels high.
Make sure you are planting in well-drained soil, too. If your garden has a lot of clay, dig a deep hole and amass some drainage material (gravel or small stone) in the bottom.
This allows the water to drain from the tubers, and keeps the tubers from sitting in a puddle.
While the tubers like to be moist, too much wet will make them rot immediately. They need to dry a little, so the hole needs to drain.
Next, add good compost into the hole. This helps to good drainage, and also gives good food to the plant.
Always Good Idea: You might want to top the hole off from time to time, and check that the plants soil isn’t getting compacted.
Position It With Care
In addition to considering the lighting your plant will receive, you will also want to consider a sheltered location.
The plant will be much happier in a spot where the winds are not too strong, as it has reasonably high spikes.
And if you can surround it with plants, or some structure that provides some wind break, that is preferred.
Keep in mind, it is a woodland plant that has not acclimated to wind.
As well, it does not prefer the cold, so if you live in the cold part of the world, make sure to keep it near heat.
Look Out for Common Pests
Although Arisaema sikokianum is a good plant to deal with diseases, it has several pest species to be aware of.
A lingering infestation can wreak havoc and possibly kill your plant.
Vine Weevil
Vine weevil is one of the mundane’s major enemies.
They can be elusive to identify.
The grubs are underground feeding off the plants’ roots and can go undetected, until it’s too late.
Supposedly, a heavily infested plant will quickly wilt and die since it has no access to nutrients.
The adults’ feeding also causes damage to the plant, but they attack the leaves and may be the more visible threat to your Arisaema sikokianum.
They consume irregular notches around the leaf margins, robbing the plant of its continued ability to photosynthesize.
Vine weevils tend to come out at night, so one of the most effective control methods is to go out at night with a flashlight and manually remove the adults while they are feeding. This is the easiest and most effective means of control.
To kill the larvae, you can use nematodes that are pathogenic to vine weevil, to burrow through the pests below the surface.
Slugs
Slugs are also a prevalent annoyance to this plant.
You can eliminate slugs by hand, at night (when they are eating), or you can also add copper strips to prevent the slugs from going toward your plants.
Another method of managing the pest is to encourage a good slug predator balance like birds and frogs.
Mulch It In Winter
If you reside in a frosty region, your plant will benefit from being piled heavily with mulch before winter.
You can utilize rotted leaves as mulch.
Pile it on thick around the stems of the plants.
It will provide a bubble of warmth that should keep the roots from freezing when temperatures drop.
Good Option: You may also use fleece or cardboard on the surface of the soil to achieve the same effect.
Feed It Frequently
While your plant is growing, you may want to fertilize your plant weekly, which will keep your plant happy.
This will allow the plant to have the nutrients it needs to continue to grow and bloom in those fabulous flowers.
If you neglect to feed your plant, it will likely continue to grow, but it may not bloom so spectacularly.
Conclusion
Taking care of an Arisaema sikokianum is simple.
Just ensure that it has limited sunlight exposure and is not exposed to cold air, and it will do the rest.
Simply water it on dry days and observe for pests.