Search Plants
Try for Free
About
Basic Care Guide
Advanced Care
Key Facts
Types
Similar Plants
How to Care Dioscorea
How to Care Dioscorea, Growing Dioscorea, Caring for Dioscorea
Dioscorea are perennial tuberous plants recognized for their vigorous growth and production of edible yams in some species. They typically require bright indirect light, well-draining soil, and moderate temperatures to thrive. Dioscorea demand consistent moisture but do not fare well in waterlogged conditions, so balanced watering is key. Common challenges include pests like spider mites and diseases such as root rot. Seasonally, dioscorea may require reduced watering in winter when dormant, and more attention during growing periods in spring and summer. Autumn care involves preparing for dormancy, usually through reduced feeding and watering.
Watering Frequency
Every 3 weeks
Basic Care Guide
Feedback
How to Water Dioscorea?
Watering Frequency: Every 3 weeks
Adapted to less frequent hydration, dioscorea thrives with a watering schedule that reflects its resilience, requiring moisture once every three weeks. This cadence suits its drought-tolerant nature, ensuring the soil has ample time to dry between waterings. As a species often cultivated indoors, dioscorea benefits from consistent temperatures and avoids the variability of outdoor climates. Its preference for stable indoor environments complements its low water needs.
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Dioscorea?
Dioscorea thrive in bright, indirect sunlight or dappled shade, mimicking their natural understory environment. Aim for moderate light intensity, avoiding prolonged exposure to harsh direct sun that can scorch leaves. An optimal daily light duration ranges from 4 to 6 hours. Note that different varieties may have slightly varying light needs. To ensure vigorous growth, rotate dioscorea regularly for even light distribution. Refrain from placing dioscorea under artificial light that is too intense or high in heat output to prevent damage.
Advanced Care Guide
Feedback
How to Propagate Dioscorea?
Primary propagation methods for dioscorea include tuber division and cuttings. Key factors for success encompass adequate warmth, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Special techniques like dusting cut surfaces with fungicide may be necessary. Propagation is moderately challenging due to sensitivity to environmental conditions. Steps involve: 1) Selecting healthy tubers or stem cuttings, 2) Preparing suitable pots with appropriate soil mix, 3) Placing tubers or cuttings into soil, ensuring high humidity and temperatures around 25°C, 4) Maintaining consistent moisture without waterlogging, and 5) Waiting for growth signs before transplanting.
How to Plant Dioscorea?
Plants in the dioscorea genus typically favor lightly acidic to neutral, well-drained soil, and partial shade to full sun. To plant, prepare the area by loosening the soil to the depth of the root zone, then position the plants, leaving adequate room for growth. Regular watering and the application of organic compost will encourage health. While dioscorea often tolerate a degree of neglect, observing best planting practices yields superior results. Specific requirements do vary between species, emphasizing the necessity of species-specific knowledge.
Key Facts About Dioscorea
Feedback
Attributes of Dioscorea
Water
Average water needs, watering when the top 3 cm of soil has dried out.
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Scientific Classification of Dioscorea
More Info About Dioscorea
Types of Dioscorea
Feedback
Black bryony
Black bryony (Dioscorea communis) is a climbing plant native to western and central Asia and Europe. Its climbing vine prefers a dense forest understory, and curiously nearly always spirals counter-clockwise. The black bryony plant is poisonous in its entirety, and should never be ingested raw.
Elephant's foot
Elephant's foot is a caudiciform plant, which means it has a caudex or a root structure above ground level. The plant's specific epithet elephantipes is based on the elephant's foot-like appearance that covers the caudex. It is believed that the Khoisan (an indigenous tribe from South Africa) baked and consumed the caudex as a food source.
Chinese yam
Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya) was originally grown in Asia as an outdoor ornamental. When exported and introduced to other areas of the world, it quickly escaped cultivation; it will ruthlessly take over and kill native plants within a large variety of growing environments. It's currently on the Invasive Exotic Pest Plant List for Tennessee as a Rank 1-Severe Threat species.
Air potato
Ancient Polynesians carried air potato to Hawaii in their canoes. They only ate it in times of famine, because the bulbs can be poisonous. Multiple bulbils grow from the vines, each of which is capable of rooting and generating another vine. The speed with which air potato grows allows it to out-compete other species.
East asian mountain yam
It is a vine plant of dioecious strains distributed from southwestern Hokkaido to Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, the Korean peninsula, and China. It has elongated heart-shaped leaves, and in summer it has a spike-like inflorescence. The fruit has three large lobes, each of which contains seeds. In the basement, there is a single fence. The coral extends straight deep into the basement, sometimes exceeding 1 meter. As the ground grows, the cocoon shrinks and is replaced with a new cocoon in the fall. The basket can be as large as 3 centimeters in length, from a sphere with a diameter of about 1 centimeter.
Wild yam
Despite its name, the wild yam's tubers are not edible. It does, however, serve as cover and nesting grounds for small animals. This perennial vine is native to the eastern side of North America. It produces small greenish flowers and distinctive heart-shaped leaves and can be trellised for an attractive addition to garden landscaping.
More Similar Plants
Feedback
Dioscorea
All species of dioscorea grow and spread by underground tubers and some varieties are cultivated in agricultural fields. Most species are easily recognizable by their heart-shaped foliage. Plants in the genus produce long vines that smother native trees and bushes. Some varieties are considered invasive in parts of the southern and mid-western United States.
Batflowers
The genus batflowers, which includes the batflowers and arrowroot, consists of flowering plants in the order Dioscoreales, native to tropical regions of South America, Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, and various oceanic islands. There are at least 16 species.
Botanist in your pocket
App
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants and unlimited guides at your fingertips...
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Botanist in your pocket
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app
Botanist in your pocket
Scan QR code to download
About
Basic Care Guide
Advanced Care
Key Facts
Types
Similar Plants
Dioscorea
Dioscorea
Dioscorea are perennial tuberous plants recognized for their vigorous growth and production of edible yams in some species. They typically require bright indirect light, well-draining soil, and moderate temperatures to thrive. Dioscorea demand consistent moisture but do not fare well in waterlogged conditions, so balanced watering is key. Common challenges include pests like spider mites and diseases such as root rot. Seasonally, dioscorea may require reduced watering in winter when dormant, and more attention during growing periods in spring and summer. Autumn care involves preparing for dormancy, usually through reduced feeding and watering.
Watering Frequency
Every 3 weeks
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Basic Care Guide
Feedback
How to Water Dioscorea?
Watering Frequency: Every 3 weeks
Adapted to less frequent hydration, dioscorea thrives with a watering schedule that reflects its resilience, requiring moisture once every three weeks. This cadence suits its drought-tolerant nature, ensuring the soil has ample time to dry between waterings. As a species often cultivated indoors, dioscorea benefits from consistent temperatures and avoids the variability of outdoor climates. Its preference for stable indoor environments complements its low water needs.
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Dioscorea?
Dioscorea thrive in bright, indirect sunlight or dappled shade, mimicking their natural understory environment. Aim for moderate light intensity, avoiding prolonged exposure to harsh direct sun that can scorch leaves. An optimal daily light duration ranges from 4 to 6 hours. Note that different varieties may have slightly varying light needs. To ensure vigorous growth, rotate dioscorea regularly for even light distribution. Refrain from placing dioscorea under artificial light that is too intense or high in heat output to prevent damage.
Advanced Care Guide
Feedback
How to Propagate Dioscorea?
Primary propagation methods for dioscorea include tuber division and cuttings. Key factors for success encompass adequate warmth, high humidity, and well-draining soil. Special techniques like dusting cut surfaces with fungicide may be necessary. Propagation is moderately challenging due to sensitivity to environmental conditions. Steps involve: 1) Selecting healthy tubers or stem cuttings, 2) Preparing suitable pots with appropriate soil mix, 3) Placing tubers or cuttings into soil, ensuring high humidity and temperatures around 25°C, 4) Maintaining consistent moisture without waterlogging, and 5) Waiting for growth signs before transplanting.
How to Plant Dioscorea?
Plants in the dioscorea genus typically favor lightly acidic to neutral, well-drained soil, and partial shade to full sun. To plant, prepare the area by loosening the soil to the depth of the root zone, then position the plants, leaving adequate room for growth. Regular watering and the application of organic compost will encourage health. While dioscorea often tolerate a degree of neglect, observing best planting practices yields superior results. Specific requirements do vary between species, emphasizing the necessity of species-specific knowledge.
How to Grow and Care for Gardenia
Feedback
Attributes of Dioscorea
Water
Average water needs, watering when the top 3 cm of soil has dried out.
Ideal Temperature
20 - 41 ℃
Scientific Classification of Dioscorea
Types of Dioscorea
Feedback
Black bryony
Black bryony (Dioscorea communis) is a climbing plant native to western and central Asia and Europe. Its climbing vine prefers a dense forest understory, and curiously nearly always spirals counter-clockwise. The black bryony plant is poisonous in its entirety, and should never be ingested raw.
Elephant's foot
Elephant's foot is a caudiciform plant, which means it has a caudex or a root structure above ground level. The plant's specific epithet elephantipes is based on the elephant's foot-like appearance that covers the caudex. It is believed that the Khoisan (an indigenous tribe from South Africa) baked and consumed the caudex as a food source.
Chinese yam
Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya) was originally grown in Asia as an outdoor ornamental. When exported and introduced to other areas of the world, it quickly escaped cultivation; it will ruthlessly take over and kill native plants within a large variety of growing environments. It's currently on the Invasive Exotic Pest Plant List for Tennessee as a Rank 1-Severe Threat species.
Air potato
Ancient Polynesians carried air potato to Hawaii in their canoes. They only ate it in times of famine, because the bulbs can be poisonous. Multiple bulbils grow from the vines, each of which is capable of rooting and generating another vine. The speed with which air potato grows allows it to out-compete other species.
Show More Plants
More Similar Plants
Feedback
Dioscorea
All species of dioscorea grow and spread by underground tubers and some varieties are cultivated in agricultural fields. Most species are easily recognizable by their heart-shaped foliage. Plants in the genus produce long vines that smother native trees and bushes. Some varieties are considered invasive in parts of the southern and mid-western United States.
Batflowers
The genus batflowers, which includes the batflowers and arrowroot, consists of flowering plants in the order Dioscoreales, native to tropical regions of South America, Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, and various oceanic islands. There are at least 16 species.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
