Xanthosoma sagittifolium 'Frozen Planet'

Origin of Xanthosoma sagittifolium 'Frozen Planet'

The horticultural designation is 'Ppixan002', with Frozen Planet used as the trade name. It arose as an unusual plant in cultivated material. Xanthosoma sagittifolium comes from tropical America.

Care for Xanthosoma sagittifolium 'Frozen Planet'

• Light: Give bright filtered light. Strong midday sun can damage the broad leaves.
• Warmth: Keep temperatures around 18–30 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C.
• Humidity: Maintain high humidity, around 60–80%, with mild air movement around the plant.
• Water: Keep the root ball evenly moist during active leaf growth, allowing the surface to begin drying before watering again.
• Leaf surface: The pale matte coating is part of the leaf. Handle the foliage gently and let water droplets dry promptly.
• Potting mix: Use a nutrient-rich, airy aroid mix with free drainage around the corm.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while new leaves are opening.
• Rest: If the plant becomes leafless, reduce watering and keep the corm only lightly moist.
• Repotting: Repot when roots or offsets crowd the container.
• Propagation: Separate rooted offsets once they are large enough to grow independently.

Common problems with Xanthosoma sagittifolium 'Frozen Planet'

• The frosted leaf surface develops dry tan patches: Strong sun, cold glass or prolonged wetness may have damaged the blade. Correct the cause and check that new leaves emerge without damage.
• Several leaves yellow while the mix stays wet: Roots or the corm may be starting to rot. Inspect below the soil line, remove rotten tissue back to firm healthy material with a clean tool, discard the rot and repot healthy growth in fresh aroid mix.
• The corm becomes soft: Rot is developing. Cut away affected tissue with a clean tool, discard all rot and let healthy cut surfaces dry before repotting.
• Mosaic or persistent distortion appears: Virus is possible in Xanthosoma. Isolate the plant and use only healthy, symptom-free material for propagation.
• Fine pale speckles, silvery scars or distorted new leaves appear: Mites or thrips may be present. Isolate the plant and use a product labelled for the identified pest and indoor ornamental plants, following the label interval.

Xanthosoma sagittifolium ‘Frozen Planet’ 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.

The meaning and history of Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Xanthosoma means ‘yellow body’. The epithet sagittifolium means arrow-leaved.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Xanthosoma in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 19.

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Arum sagittifolium in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 966. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott later placed it in Xanthosoma as Xanthosoma sagittifolium in 1832 in Meletemata Botanica, page 19.