Dumb Cane (Alocasia) Hydroponic Growing Methods and Growth Habits Explained in Detail
Dumb Cane (Alocasia macrorrhizos) is undoubtedly a plant suitable for hydroponics. Growing Dumb Cane hydroponically not only allows everyone to comprehensively observe the growth state of the entire Dumb Cane plant, but also showcases the perfection of the Dumb Cane plant, fully displaying the elegance of Dumb Cane.
Hydroponic Growing Methods for Dumb Cane
1. First, wash the stones clean to remove impurities, then mix vermiculite and perlite in a 2:1 ratio, soak, and rinse.
2. Place small white stones in the bottle; the height depends on the condition of the plant.
3. After cutting off all soil-grown roots from the base of the rinsed mother Dumb Cane plant, carefully check the stem for rot and pest damage. Use a small knife to dig out the rotted stem until you reach the woody part, and remove the rotted material and pests.
4. According to the size and shape of the Dumb Cane, fix it with a planting basket of appropriate size, immerse the entire planting basket in a 3%-5% thiophanate-methyl solution or carbendazim solution to disinfect for 5-10 minutes, then place in a cool place to air dry.
5. Then place the Dumb Cane in the middle of the bottle, fill around the plant with the mixed vermiculite and perlite, and gently press down with your hand after reaching a certain height.
6. Use a watering can to water along the sides of the bottle; the height should not exceed the height of the medium. The final water level must not completely cover the root system of the Dumb Cane. Once the roots grow out, you can add nutrient solution. Generally, initial roots will appear in about 10-15 days.
Growth Habits of Dumb Cane
Dumb Cane grows at temperatures of 20-30°C and can tolerate a minimum low of 8°C. In summer when temperatures are high, as long as the soil is kept moist, water is sprayed frequently, and shade is provided, it can still grow normally. In winter, room temperature must not be lower than 5°C. Dumb Cane is an understory plant of tropical rainforests, so its growth requires high humidity and it does best in scattered light.
It is a shade-tolerant plant that prefers semi-shaded environments, and should be placed in an environment that is both shaded and well-ventilated.
Soil Growing Methods for Dumb Cane
1. Suitable soil
Dumb Cane is already accustomed to a free environment and has relatively strong adaptability to soil. Generally, newly purchased Dumb Cane should have its soil changed every 1-2 years. You can choose regular garden soil or mixed leaf mold. If the soil is relatively sticky, you can add some fine sand to neutralize it.
2. Appropriate sunlight
When ordinary homes or offices buy a Dumb Cane plant, they usually place it in a corner indoors, where there is light but not intense light. Because Dumb Cane is a shade-loving plant, it can grow very well in bright light. If the light is too intense, the leaves will wilt. However, during the flowering period, sufficient sunlight must be ensured, otherwise the flower buds will have a pale green color, affecting quality.
So the Dumb Cane in your home or office needs only about 3 hours of light per day.
3. Suitable temperature
Temperature has a great influence on Dumb Cane. The most suitable growing temperature is 20-25°C. When the temperature is below 18°C, it will enter a dormant state and stop growing, which means it should be moved indoors promptly in winter to ensure an appropriate temperature. But when the summer temperature is higher than 30°C, growth will also become abnormal.
4. Proper moisture
Dumb Cane needs sufficient moisture for growth, especially in summer when the environment is hot and stuffy. Water should be sprayed on the leaves every day at noon to increase air humidity, so that the leaves of Dumb Cane will be large and thick. In winter, as long as the indoor temperature is relatively high, normal watering is fine.
When watering, pay attention to ensuring sufficient light. Do not water on cloudy days. Only when light and moisture work together will Dumb Cane grow well.
5. Sufficient nutrients
Dumb Cane is extremely fond of fertilizer. Once a fertilizer deficiency occurs, the stem part of the leaves will become shriveled. So fertilize once every two weeks, and water appropriately. The choice of fertilizer should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer, with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers as supplements. When applying additional fertilizer, be careful not to splash the fertilizer water onto the edges of the leaves, as it can easily cause leaf rot.
Many plant enthusiasts hope to ensure that Dumb Cane leaves are large and green through fertilization, and this is indeed a good method. Each time you fertilize, add a small amount of ferrous sulfate to the fertilizer solution.
6. Differences in care between hydroponic and soil cultivation
Hydroponic Dumb Cane is similar to soil-cultivated Dumb Cane in terms of light and temperature, but differs in watering and fertilizing.
Hydroponics is about changing water and adding water. In summer, change the water about every 7 days; in winter, change the water every 10-15 days. Each time you change the water, add a certain amount of nutrient solution. Also, each time you change the water, clean the inner walls of the hydroponic container to avoid the growth of water moss.
The other thing is fertilizing. Hydroponic Dumb Cane is generally given foliar fertilizer. In addition to routinely cleaning the leaves with clean water, spraying foliar fertilizer once a week is very necessary. It can not only provide nutrients for the plant's growth, but also increase the glossiness of the leaves, and in winter it can also enhance the plant's cold resistance.
Poisoning Reactions from Dumb Cane
If you accidentally touch or ingest these sap fluids, you will experience discomfort in the throat and mouth, and in severe cases, suffocation and death from heart numbness can occur. If the skin comes into contact with this sap, it will itch extremely badly. If the eyes get the sap on them, it will damage the cornea and cause blindness. Dumb Cane is not only attractive, it also has an air-purifying effect, but when planting it you must avoid poisoning. Special reminders are needed to supervise young children well, and they absolutely must not touch it directly.
Dumb Cane contains a certain degree of toxicity, so when pruning the branches and leaves of Dumb Cane, be sure to wear gloves, and also prevent the sap of Dumb Cane from contacting the skin or being accidentally ingested. In particular, be sure to place Dumb Cane somewhere children cannot reach. For families with pregnant women and children, it is best not to grow Dumb Cane at all.