Colocasia esculenta ‘Corede’ (Redemption)

Selection history of Colocasia esculenta ‘Corede’ (Redemption)

Redemption is the commercial name for the cultivar ‘Corede’, bred by Brian Williams in Louisville, Kentucky. Williams crossed two unnamed Colocasia esculenta selections from his breeding programme in 2017 and chose ‘Corede’ from the resulting seedlings in 2018.

Keeping Colocasia esculenta ‘Corede’ (Redemption) healthy

Place Redemption in bright filtered light indoors and introduce any stronger direct sun gradually. Keep it warm and away from cold draughts. If the room air is dry, moderate to high humidity is useful for the large leaves.

Use a rich potting mix that holds moisture while excess water can drain away. Water thoroughly as the top begins to dry, and feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser according to the label while the plant is actively making leaves.

When lower light slows growth, reduce watering enough to keep the compost lightly moist and pause feeding. Return to regular watering and feeding once new growth becomes active again.

Repot if the rootball fills the pot, roots are showing through the drainage holes or the compost begins drying unusually fast. A pot one size larger is enough; keep the plant at its current depth and use fresh moisture-retentive compost.

Common problems with Colocasia esculenta ‘Corede’ (Redemption)

• Fine pale spotting or webbing shows on the dark leaves: Spider mites are a likely cause. Check the leaf undersides, isolate the plant and rinse the foliage well. If mites remain, use an indoor insecticidal soap labelled for use on this plant and spider mites, and repeat only as directed on the label.
• Small white insects fly from the leaves: Whitefly is the likely pest. Isolate the plant and wash the leaf undersides. If whitefly remains, use an indoor insecticidal soap labelled for use on this plant and whitefly, and repeat only as directed on the label.
• The leaves lose firmness and the compost is dry: Water deeply and let the pot drain. If very dry compost absorbs water slowly, soak the pot briefly until it is moist throughout, then drain it thoroughly.
• Leaf stalks soften or the plant collapses in wet compost: Root or corm rot may be present. Stop watering, empty any standing water and make sure the drainage holes are open. If the plant keeps declining or the base feels soft, wear gloves and inspect the roots and corm. Cut rotten roots or soft corm tissue back to firm, healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rotten material and old compost, disinfect the tool and repot in fresh compost that drains freely. Discard the plant if the base is soft throughout.
• Brown leaf tips develop alongside white mineral deposits: Fertiliser or mineral salts may have built up. Remove the deposits and flush the compost with plain water, allowing it to drain fully afterwards.

Colocasia esculenta ‘Redemption’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

How the name Colocasia esculenta came about

Colocasia comes from ancient Greek kolokasion, a name for an edible, corm-bearing plant. Esculenta means edible, reflecting taro’s long history as a food plant.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Colocasia in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 18.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Arum esculentum in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 965. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott later placed it in Colocasia as Colocasia esculenta in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 18.