Rhizomes going all soft
By Pollyanna
United Kingdom 
I had new coloured Arum Lilys this year three have flowered with just one bloom then have died back. On looking at rhizome they have gone all soft and rotten. These plants can survive plunged into water these were not why have they died any ideas?
21 Jul, 2009
Answers
Sorry the picture is one that had a pale mauve inside I also lost a deep yellow and a pretty pink. I had been away for two weeks and left the plants in the care of my daughter. When I went away all the plants were fine. I also have 30 Caller lilys which increase each year. I store them in paper in the garage. So far I am very dissapointed wjth the new Arums I purchased this year. Some have not been the colour asked for. Thanks for your helpThe coloured Arums are on my pictures thats my only record of having them.
21 Jul, 2009
Unfortunately others don't look after our plants as carefully as we do! My wife accompanied someone this morning who is looking after a garden for a friend. She was amazed to see her watering all the herbs! and then giving a whole row of beans just half a can of water.
I hope you try the arums again next year as they are usually great plants. I assume you bought the tubers somewhere. You should be able to ask for a refund if they didn't come out the colour claimed.
21 Jul, 2009
I did get a refund for the wrong coloures ones. I sent a photo to prove my point. Out of 12 plants I have only 3 still in flower.
21 Jul, 2009
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You say 'coloured' arums, but the one in the photo is white. I'd guess it's not the ordinary white arum which as you say will stand up to almost anything. I'm amazed when they come back year after year. Some grow actually standing in rivers and streams, but the same type will grow in quite dry conditions.
However, the coloured ones (we are growing the small yellow ones) are much more tender and more delicate.
Most bulbous and tuberous plants will flower from just the resources already in the bulb without actually rooting successfully or making new growth. The tubers of many plants, including things like cannas as well as callas, will rot if kept too wet before getting going properly. I'd guess yours HAS been overwatered and the roots and tuber has rotted. See what happens if you let these dry out; you will probably lose them anyway, but in future I'd keep them very much more on the dry side.
21 Jul, 2009