Alocasia

Alocasia is quite unusual plant, which, however, can very often be found growing in the homes of our country. It belongs to the Ariodic family. It is not very large and contains only seventy species that grow in Asia, which, however, can be guessed from the name of the plant.

Alocasia is grown mainly exclusively as a deciduous plant, since it is simply unable to bloom under the conditions of our room temperatures and humidity. In order to see the flowers of Alokazia, you have to grow it in a greenhouse.

Description of Alokazia

Alocasia is an evergreen plant, and therefore is excellent for home growing. Often it is a plant with a stem, but there are also species in which it is absent. Alokazia reaches a height of up to two hundred centimeters, however, if you like small plants, you can buy one of the miniature species that do not grow more than fifty centimeters.

The leaves of Alocasia are rather sinewy and dense. Their shape is similar to a heart, but very elongated. It can also be described as, for example, an arrowhead. In length, the largest leaves reach a hundred centimeters and even a little more, but this figure, like many others, varies depending on the type of Alocasia.

Alokazia looks pretty good alone, however, if you have a florist in your soul, you may well plant it in tandem with some other indoor ornamental plant.

To the great happiness of those who are just starting to master the science of agronomy, Alokazia is completely unpretentious in its care and absolutely anyone can cope with its taming.

How to care for Alokazia: briefly.

1) As already mentioned, Alokazia practically does not bloom at home, but the key word is practically. It can still bloom if, somehow, miraculously, the conditions in which you grow Alokazia become as similar as possible to the natural conditions in its natural habitat.

2) The amount of light needed by Alocasia depends on what kind of leaves it has. If you decide to grow a species with variegated foliage, you must make sure that Alokazia is fed by unscattered rays of sunlight. If the leaves of your plant are darker green, then it may well be placed in partial shade. However, neither bright nor dark Alokazia likes direct burning sunlight. In fact, they can even be dangerous to the flower, so try to protect it as much as possible from the direct heat of the sun.

3) It is important to observe the temperature suitable for Alokazii. Fortunately, this is not difficult, given that her preferences are quite similar to those of humans. In the summer, the air temperature should be maintained in the range of twenty-three to twenty-five degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature should never drop below eighteen degrees.

4) When to water Alokazia depends solely on how dry the soil in which it is grown is. If the soil is completely dry, then it's time to water it. However, these are the rules for watering in warm seasons. As for winter, at this time of the year the plant should be watered strictly one or two days after the soil has completely dried out.So you will definitely avoid oversaturation of the plant with moisture, which may well be fraught with rotting of its roots.

5) Since Alocasia grows in tropical and subtropical regions, it is extremely important to monitor the humidity in the room in which the plant is grown. If you cannot or do not want to use a sprinkler, which will easily help to cope with this task, then you can moisten the foliage of Alokazia directly using bottles with a special nozzle or by wiping them with an ordinary wet rag. There is another simple rule for moisturizing Alokazia. You should always keep some pebbles next to the pot with the plant, which, if the day is hot, can be moistened and put on a pallet. Thus, not only artificial humidification will be created, but also cooling.

6) Of course, Alocasia, like any other plant, must be fertilized and fed. This is done no more often - no less than once every two weeks. For this procedure, you can use both mineral and organic, but it is best to alternate them so that Alokazia feeds on both.

7) It is equally important to know when Alokazia has a rest period. It begins approximately in the middle of autumn and ends, respectively, in the middle of spring.

8) An important procedure that many inexperienced flower growers, unfortunately, forget about is transplantation. Young Alokazia should undergo this procedure at least once a year. However, if your plant is more than three years old, the number of transplants is reduced to just one in a full three years. The best time to transplant Alokazia is spring.

9) However, before doing all of the above procedures, Alokazia still needs to be planted, and this requires a mixture of planting soil with ingredients such as sand, coniferous soil, leafy soil and, of course, peat soil. Also, in order to ensure faster development of Alokazia, coal can be added to the substrate. Of course, exclusively woody.

10) If you want to propagate Alokazia and do not know which method to choose, then it is best to use seed or cuttings.

11) If we are talking about pests, then Alokazia has few of them, however, they are all extremely unpleasant, and it is better to deal with them as soon as possible. Among the most common are: aphids, spider mites and scale insects.

12) If you are worried that your Alocasia might get sick, then you need to worry. Most likely, if you planted and carefully looked after the plant, it will not develop any diseases, because often the disease is a sure sign that the care is not being carried out properly.

13) Important! This plant is poisonous, and therefore you need to handle it very carefully. It is advisable to wear gloves during any procedure.

Alocasia care at home

Illumination

Alocasia is a plant that loves light, and therefore, if you want it to delight you with its beauty, you must listen to its whims. However, the light, nevertheless, must be diffused, which means that the most suitable place for planting Alokazia will be the east or west window. If, for some reason, you decide to plant Alokazia on the south window, you will have to be very careful, because this flower is very much afraid of direct hot rays. They will have to be avoided by all means in order to prevent burns and weakening of the plant's immunity.

Also, keep in mind that the lighting needs of the plant will differ depending on what type of plant you are growing. If it is variegated, then you need to take care of a brighter light, because otherwise the leaves of Alokazia may lose all their beauty. However, if you still grow a plant with darker leaves, then it will have less lighting requirements.

Room temperature

It is very important that Alokazia is not exposed to windy drafts. They can seriously harm her immunity. As for the temperature - as already mentioned, in warm seasons, it should be maintained in the range from twenty-three to twenty-five degrees. However, in winter, in no case should the temperature drop below eighteen degrees. However, the best thing is to try to maintain twenty-three degrees Celsius for absolutely the whole year.

Watering

Watering Alokazia, as you already know, is necessary when the topsoil is completely dry. However, this rule applies exclusively to the top layer. In no case should all the soil in the pot dry out. However, this rule applies exclusively to the summer period. In the fall, you can begin to reduce the number of waterings and make them a day after the top layer dries. In winter, you can give the bush a rest from moisture for two whole days after drying out. Also, make sure that you do not overdo it with watering, as this will also not end well and may well lead to rotting of the rhizome.

Moisturizing

This procedure should not be confused with watering, because, although they are similar, they perform different functions. Moistening of Alokazia should be performed at least once every two days and consists in spraying the foliage with a spray bottle. Also, at least once every four days, it is necessary to wipe the leaves of Alokazia with a damp cloth. For this, in principle, a sponge is also suitable. You can also maintain the humidity level in other ways, for example, by placing a vessel with warm water next to the Alokazia pot. However, all these methods work best together, because moisture is a very important aspect of Alokazia's life in the wild.

Top dressing

Fertilization of Alokazia is carried out exclusively during its growing season. This time falls in the spring, and therefore during this period it is necessary to ensure that Alokazia receives fresh mineral or natural fertilizer every two weeks. It is advisable to alternate them so that the feeding is as complex and useful for the plant as possible.

How transplant Alocasia?

Naturally, for the correct transplant, it will be necessary not only to find the right time, but also to properly observe agricultural techniques. The best time for planting, as well as for any gardening procedures, is spring. If your plant is still young, then it should be replanted at least once a year. However, if your Alokazia is still older, then her this procedure will be required no more than once every three years.

Of course, not all pots fit Alokazia. This plant prefers room for its roots, and therefore it needs a tall pot. A rather thick drainage layer is poured onto its bottom. Small pebbles or expanded clay can be used as drainage material. Broken bricks can also be used, but they are not so well suited due to the fact that this material degrades over time under the influence of moisture. Of course, it is equally important to prepare a suitable soil for Alokazia, which will consist of the following ingredients: several types of soil (leafy, peaty and coniferous), as well as sand. You can also use a substrate consisting of other components, such as peat and several other soils, but the above option is much better for absolutely all types of Alokazia. It is also advisable to add charcoal to the mixture. Thanks to him, the plant will suffer much less from stagnant moisture in the soil.

The most suitable method for transplanting Alokazia is the transshipment method. For its execution, you will need a pot, the dimensions of which will be about twenty millimeters larger than the previous one.When everything is ready for the operation, first fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of drainage, and then remove the plant from the old pot along with a lump of earth attached to the roots and transplant it into a new "home". After that, all the voids remaining in the pot are filled with prepared soil.

How multiply Alocasia?

The most suitable and frequently used method of propagation of Alokazia is seed-assisted propagation. However, unfortunately, it is far from being suitable in all cases. Seed propagation is best shown when the propagated Alokazia does not have variegated leaves. Otherwise, the risk is too great that those grown from the seeds of Alocasia will not retain their parental traits and will not develop as quickly and efficiently. Simply put, they will be significantly worse than the mother plant.

If it is necessary to propagate the dark green Alokazia, which shows excellent results when using the seed method, then first of all it is necessary to fill the pre-selected container with a mixture of sand and peat in equal proportions. After that, the seeds of Alokazia are evenly distributed over the surface of the filled container. At the same time, it is practically not necessary to press them into the ground: you just need to press a little. After that, it is necessary to protect crops from external influences. For this, film or glass is used. The seeds are now completely ready to be stored. To do this, they must be placed in some warm place, the temperature in which will reach twenty-four degrees. However, you do not need to clog the seedlings at all. They must be regularly watered and ventilated. After the seedlings are strong enough to grow on their own, they will need to be transplanted into pots prepared in advance. After some time, when the young Alokazii grow up a little, they will need to be transplanted into larger pots again. Once again, this procedure will be repeated a little later, when the plant can be looked after as a full-fledged adult.

Another breeding method is vegetative. It implies the multiplication of Alokazia with the help of its various parts. You can choose, for example, a piece of rhizome or a stalk. However, whichever part of the bush you choose, you should always remember that the operation should be as sterile as possible. Therefore, every time you leave a cut, it is very important to process it so as not to allow infection to penetrate inside Alokazia. In order for the cut part of the plant to begin to grow and develop, it must be planted in a suitable soil, which will consist of peat and sand in the same ratio. As in the previous case, it is necessary to cover the piece of Alokazia planted in a pot with glass or film. It is also necessary to provide it with regular watering and ventilation. Air temperature is also an extremely important factor, and therefore it must be maintained at a level of twenty-two to twenty-four degrees Celsius. However, from now on, caring for seedlings is very similar to caring for germinating seeds. They also need to be transplanted into a temporary pot. After that, all that remains is to wait for the sprout to develop to the state of a full-fledged plant, and then it will be possible to transplant it into a permanent "dwelling".

What kind Problems may arise?

1) The following problem may occur: Alocasia grows unreasonably slowly. If you are concerned about this, then you need to make sure that the plant has enough nitrogen to grow. Otherwise, be sure to take care of buying nitrogen fertilizer.

2) If the leaves of Alokazia begin to wither gradually, then this may have several reasons. One of them is the drying out of the soil, which, of course, can be easily corrected - it is enough to regularly and abundantly water the flower.However, if you water it too much, you can overdo it and run into the same problem. Another reason that causes it is improperly compiled soil. In this case, it is necessary to transplant Alokazia into a pot with a more suitable potting soil.

3) Sometimes it is not the leaves themselves that dry up, but only their tips, and very much. There are only two reasons for this drying. One of them is insufficient humidity, and it is advisable to correct this as soon as possible in order to avoid further consequences. Another possible cause is insufficient watering. It is also quite serious, and therefore it is necessary to resume regular watering as soon as possible.

4) Fading foliage. This problem may be due to the fact that the flower of Alokazia is not sufficiently lit. It is especially common if you grow variegated Alocasia. Another, rarer reason is the growth of Alokazia in unsuitable soil. In order to check which of these two reasons caused the fading, it is enough to place the flower in a more illuminated place. If the problem is not resolved, Alokazia will have to be transplanted.

5) The worst problem that can happen to your Alocasia is the appearance of dark spots on the leaves. It may be due to the fact that the temperature is not suitable for growing the plant. In this case, you will have to stabilize the temperature regime. If this does not help, then the situation will be much more serious, because it means that Alokazia is sick and will have to use chemicals to heal her.

6) The last thing that can prevent you from growing Alokazia is all kinds of insects and parasites. Most often these are scale insects, aphids or spider mites. Getting rid of them, at first glance, is not so easy, but insecticides are the best method of controlling small pests. However, they must be handled very carefully in view of their toxicity.

Virulence Alocasia

It is very important to know about this feature of a beautiful indoor flower, because the poison is contained in absolutely every part of this plant. And this means that when performing procedures for the transplantation or reproduction of Alokazia, it is very important to use protection in the form of rubber gloves. At the end of the work, the gloves are thrown away, and the hands are washed up to the elbows in order to prevent all possible routes of poison from entering your body. Also, Alokazia must be planted where your children or pets cannot reach it. Otherwise, they may accidentally be poisoned by the poisonous juices of this plant.

Varieties Alocasia

As already mentioned, there are more than seventy types of Alokazia. However, most of them practically do not differ, and therefore we will consider only those that have significant visual differences in comparison with others.

Alocasia amazonian

This type of Alokazia has a pronounced stem, which, however, is extremely small and does not grow more than fifteen centimeters. From this stem, cuttings of a pinkish shade grow, the ends of which are crowned with interestingly shaped leaves. They are distinguished by the fact that their edges are very wavy and bizarre, and they are also distinguished by their very elongated shape and dark green color with white veins. In length, the leaves reach an average of about half a meter. From the veins to the edges of the sheet, there are the same white stripes that make the sheet look like a map of rivers. This type of Alocasia blooms much less often than others. Although, this is a dubious drawback, because the chances of blooming with any Alokazia grown at home are incredibly small. However, in the wild, the Amazonian Alokazia blooms annually, forming a small nondescript flower on each cut. So, to be honest, by not seeing this species bloom, you don't have much to lose.

Alocasia Sander

This type of Alokazia is a hybrid, and most often it is bought for growing in a greenhouse, and not for decorating an apartment or office.The petioles of this species are quite beautiful and have an attractive pinkish tint. Their length on average reaches about half a meter. However, most often, you can see petioles a quarter meter long. Each of them is crowned with a beautiful leaf plate up to forty centimeters long. But they differ from the previous type in their greater elongation, while having a maximum width of fifteen centimeters. The veins in this species are bright green, but the stripes passing from them to the edges are exactly the same as in the previous species.

Alocasia Lowe

The trunk of this species is quite short, but the bush still does not take up the growth, because its height may well reach a meter. The leaf blade of this species is especially large and can have both the usual arrow-shaped and oval shapes. On the front side, each of them is bright green or light green, but on the wrong side, they are all purple, which makes the view even more interesting. Each sheet has three veins lying at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees to each other. They are usually the same color as the leaf itself, but sometimes they turn white. The best breeding method for this species is the offspring method, because they form in large quantities on the roots of the plant.

Copper red Alocasia

The stem of this species most often goes underground, but on the surface its petioles are visible, which reach forty centimeters in length and are distinguished by a pale red tint. Each stalk ends with a leaf, which, contrary to the name of this species, has a pale green color. But the veins of these leaves, unlike all previous species, are dark green, and all together they form a figure similar to the chest. However, what is copper-red in this species? The seamy side of each sheet is painted in this color, and, admittedly, it looks very beautiful.

Alocasia nodular

The trunk of this species is extremely small and practically invisible under the layer of the earth. Just think, it reaches only five centimeters in length. However, rather large cuttings grow on it, the length of each of which reaches up to half a meter or even a whole meter. The leaves of this species are exclusively heart-shaped. Moreover, it is very pronounced in him, and, at least, by this factor, the view will definitely attract a lot of attention to itself. The veins on the sheet are not painted in any color and completely merge with the sheet plate. However, we have not yet said about the main interest of this species. Its leaves are completely glossy, which gives them a mesmerizing, seemingly artificial appearance. Moreover, these leaves are quite long and reach a length of at least eighty centimeters. If the bush is large enough, there is a significant chance that it will bloom. Although, in fact, it is difficult to call what forms at the top of some cuttings a flower. It looks more like a greenish ear, which, however, looks rather exotic.

Alocasia large-rooted

You may know this Alokazia by another name. Many gardeners and breeders call it Indian Alokazia. A distinctive feature of this Alokaziy species is its gigantic size. Not only does the trunk itself reach almost two meters in length, but the petioles themselves do not lag behind, reaching a length of up to one meter. The leaves, too, will not be called small. They reach the same meter in length and only slightly less in width. Unfortunately, even such a giant does not form flowers at home.

Alocasia odorous

Another perennial species of Alokazia, the leaves of which also do not have noticeably pronounced veins, painted in a different color. However, it still boasts the beautiful emerald color of its foliage that other Alokazii can only envy. The leaf plate, although oval, is divided in two at the base and thus somewhat resembles a water lily.Blooms rarely, however, even at home, if they are as close to tropical as possible in principle in an apartment, flowering can be achieved. As a reward, you will receive a very unusual scent of this species of flowers.

Conclusion

Alocasia is a wonderful houseplant that can decorate any room. And, given how easy it is to care for it, absolutely anyone can enjoy the beauty of its foliage in their own home. The main thing to remember is how important watering and light are, as well as feeding the plant on time. We hope our advice helped you decide and still get Alokazia, or, perhaps, solved the problems that you had with this flower. Now, however, they will definitely not arise.