What are the key points for growing Alocasia (Elephant Ear)? A must-read for beginners

Stem

The stem tissue of Alocasia is relatively loose. If the water quality is poor, it is easily contaminated, causing root rot and stem rot. Therefore, the water in the container must be kept clean. At the same time, when changing the water and the culture solution, wash the mucus off the tubers and roots, and cut away any rotten roots.

Temperature

Alocasia is a very common green houseplant, but because it is a tropical plant, it generally does not bloom in the north. However, if the temperature and other conditions at home are suitable, it will bloom too. Alocasia can only grow well in an environment no lower than 18°C. If the temperature is below 18°C, Alocasia will enter a dormant state and stop growing. Pay special attention when growing it indoors for ornamental purposes.

Soil

Alocasia is not demanding about what soil is used, but it grows best in well-drained, organic-containing sandy loam or humus loam. Because Alocasia naturally loves warm, humid and semi-shaded environments and is not cold-tolerant, the potting soil must be kept moist during the growing season. But it can also tolerate a little drought.

Watering

The watering method for Alocasia should be differentiated by season. In summer, the flower pot should be placed in a semi-shaded, ventilated spot, and water should often be sprayed around it and on the leaf surface to increase air humidity, lower leaf temperature and keep the leaves clean. In summer, Alocasia needs more water, but not excessively; it is suitable to alternate between dry and wet, and there must be no water accumulation in the soil, otherwise the tubers will rot. In winter it goes dormant, so water less and stop fertilizing.

Fertilizing

If fertilized, Alocasia grows very fast. Apply a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer 1-2 times a month (the nitrogen proportion can be appropriately higher). If a little ferrous sulfate can be applied, the leaves will be larger and greener. Long-term lack of fertilizer easily causes the lower part of the Alocasia stem to become bare and bald, affecting its ornamental value. When the temperature drops and it enters the dormant period, fertilization can be reduced or stopped.

Pay attention to the above points, and Alocasia will grow well! What most people don't know is all on the Four Seasons Plants website!

Key points for growing Alocasia

Alocasia is relatively easy to keep alive, but if you neglect some necessary details, it can also fail. Moreover, some daily problems with Alocasia must be dealt with promptly. Below are some key points and solutions to sudden problems

1. What to do if Alocasia has root rot

This most easily happens with soil-grown Alocasia. If the humidity in the pot is too high in summer, or there is water accumulation, it can cause root rot. The solution is to cut away the rotten roots and expose the healthy root parts. Then dry the roots, but not for too long; during this period, the leaves and petioles need to be appropriately sprinkled with water. After it heals, plant it in sandy soil and do not water. Wait until it dries out, then water it, and place it in a ventilated spot

2. Is Alocasia dripping water in the morning a sign of illness

If the humidity reaches a certain level, then due to changes in temperature difference, it will cause water dripping. This is where the name "dripping Alocasia" comes from.

3. Notes on water cultivation of Alocasia

For water-cultured Alocasia, first pay attention to light, and the water in the container is stagnant water, so the water must be changed regularly to ensure the content in the water and guarantee root respiration. When changing the water, it is recommended to wash its roots. Also note that there should not be too much water; just enough to cover the roots

4. What to do if Alocasia leaves collapse

If when watering you do not pay attention to watering the leaves and petioles, it creates a situation where the bottom is wet and the top is dry, and the water supply is insufficient, so the leaves wilt. Another case is too long exposure to light; direct sunlight causes excessive transpiration, and then Alocasia collapses. You can place it in a cool spot and then sprinkle a small amount of water on the leaves.

5. What to do if Alocasia grows too tall

Alocasia grows too tall because its nutrients are sufficient, so it grows relatively quickly. You can prepare a 2% paclobutrazol solution and spray it, so its height will not exceed 50 cm. You can spray about once every 6 months to achieve height control.

Key points for growing Alocasia. What to do if Alocasia leaves turn yellow

Under conditions of warm, humid air and sufficient soil moisture, water will drip downward from the leaf tips or leaf edges, and its flowers look like Guanyin, so it is called Alocasia (Dripping Guanyin). Nowadays many people are growing Alocasia, but what should be done if the leaves turn yellow, and what should we pay attention to during cultivation? Below we will introduce the key points for growing Alocasia, as well as ways to deal with yellowing leaves.

Key points for growing Alocasia

Because the stem tissue of Alocasia is relatively loose, if the water quality is poor it is easily contaminated, causing root rot and stem rot. Therefore, the water in the container must be kept clean. At the same time, when changing the water or the culture solution, wash the mucus off the tubers and roots, and cut away any rotten roots.

Alocasia is a very common green houseplant, but because it is a tropical plant, it generally does not bloom in the north. However, if the temperature and other conditions at home are suitable, it will bloom too.

It is not demanding about soil, but it grows best in well-drained, organic-containing sandy loam or humus loam. Because Alocasia naturally loves warm, humid and semi-shaded environments and is not cold-tolerant, the potting soil must be kept moist during the growing season.

In summer, the flower pot should be placed in a semi-shaded, ventilated spot, and water should often be sprayed around it and on the leaf surface to increase air humidity, lower leaf temperature and keep the leaves clean.

Because Alocasia grows very fast, it relatively likes fertilizer. Apply a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer 1-2 times a month (the nitrogen proportion can be appropriately higher). If a little ferrous sulfate can be applied, the leaves will be larger and greener. Long-term lack of fertilizer easily causes the lower part of the Alocasia stem to become bare and bald, affecting its ornamental value. When the temperature drops and it enters the dormant period, fertilization can be reduced or stopped.

If you want the Alocasia you keep indoors to be small and compact, then simply wait until its seedlings grow to about one chi and are suitable for placing at home, then immediately spray the whole plant with a 2% paclobutrazol solution. After that, the stems and leaves that grow again will be no more than 40 cm tall, and the leaves will be thick and fleshy, with high ornamental value. Spraying once about every half a year can achieve a good height-control effect. The sap inside Alocasia leaves causes skin itching after human contact, so be careful when touching it.

Temperature: Alocasia can only grow well in an environment no lower than 18°C. If the temperature is below 18°C, Alocasia will enter a dormant state and stop growing. Pay special attention when growing it indoors for ornamental purposes.

Fertilizing: Alocasia likes fertilizer, and it should be fertilized every month.

Watering: In summer, Alocasia needs more water, but not excessively; it is suitable to alternate between dry and wet, and there must be no water accumulation in the soil, otherwise the tubers will rot. In winter it goes dormant, so water less and stop fertilizing.

Sunlight: Alocasia likes shade; do not let direct sunlight hit it. If Alocasia becomes wilted, it is mainly due to insufficient fertilizer, so pay attention to topdressing.

Winter care

Alocasia likes warm, humid and slightly shaded environments, but during the flowering period it needs plenty of sunlight, otherwise the spathe will be greenish, affecting quality. It must be ensured 3-5 hours of light per day, otherwise the petioles will elongate and affect its ornamental value. Alocasia is not strongly cold-tolerant, so it should be moved into a greenhouse in mid-October. In summer, under shaded conditions, it needs frequent water spraying to cool down and retain moisture.

Alocasia likes moist, fertile soil, which is what is commonly called "heavy fertilizer and heavy water", and it needs more watering during the growing period. For topdressing, liquid fertilizers such as decomposed bean cake water can be applied alternately with chemical fertilizers (compound fertilizer or diammonium phosphate), topdressing once every 2 weeks. When applying liquid fertilizer, never let the fertilizer water pour into the leaf sheaths, to avoid rot. In potted Alocasia, topdressing with ferrous sulfate can make the leaves larger, thicker and greener, smooth and glossy, and the petioles less likely to elongate, thus ensuring the leaves look beautiful. At the same time, it can promote flower bud formation and prolong the flowering period. The specific method is: dilute ferrous sulfate into a 2% solution, apply it once every 1 month, and water thoroughly each time.

Pest and disease control measures

Diseases of Alocasia are reflected on the leaves. There are generally two kinds, one is leaf spot disease and the other is anthracnose. For leaf spot disease, a 800-fold dilution of chlorothalonil or carbendazim can be sprayed on the leaf surface, 2-3 times in succession, with 7 days between each application. For anthracnose, a 500-fold dilution of 75% thiophanate-methyl must be sprayed on the leaf

surface, once every 7 days, 2-3 times in succession, and it can basically be controlled. Because Alocasia is a foliage plant, once the leaves become diseased it will inevitably affect its ornamental effect, so prevention should be the main approach.

Reflected on the stem, there is a kind of wilt disease caused by bacterial infection. This disease is not easy to find at first, and once discovered it is already very serious. If the stem is found tilting to one side, or there is a wilting spot, then it must be wilt disease. You can use a small knife to cut away the diseased part; the boundary between the diseased part and the healthy part is very obvious, and it can generally be broken off by hand. If the diseased part is less than one third of the stem, you can apply a layer of chlorothalonil solution to the healthy part, keep it dry, apply it again every ten days, and it can basically heal after 20 days.

The most serious pest of Alocasia is mites, that is, what is commonly called red spider mite. Red spider mites generally live on the underside of leaves. They not only suck the nutrients from the leaves but also spread various viruses, seriously affecting plant growth, so you must check frequently and treat immediately once found. Drugs such as mite-killing clear, saomanging and imidacloprid can be used for treatment.

What to do if Alocasia leaves turn yellow

1. Light problems

Alocasia needs to grow in a cool environment with light. If it cannot get enough light for a long time, its leaves will lack chlorophyll, and over time the leaves will turn yellow. Therefore, pay attention to light problems, and it can be placed in a place with light and ventilation.

2. Too little watering

Alocasia is relatively water-loving. If it is not watered for a long time, drought will also cause the leaves to turn yellow. So keep the soil moist often, and when watering, make sure to water thoroughly, not just wet the soil surface.

3. Insufficient nutrients

If the soil is too barren and lacks nutrients, it will also cause the leaves to turn yellow. Therefore, it is very necessary to promptly add nutrients to the soil and apply some nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers and organic fertilizers.

4. Temperature too low

Alocasia is relatively suited to a warm and humid climate. Because winter temperatures are low, if it is kept outside for a long time, its leaves are easily frostbitten and turn yellow. At this time, place it indoors at a constant temperature and in a place with sufficient light.

5. Pests

Alocasia is also prone to insect outbreaks, especially red spider mites densely gathered on the leaves, which will cause the leaves to lack nutrients and water and turn yellow. At this time, spraying a medicinal solution can be used for prevention and control.

What to do if Alocasia leaves turn yellow

6. Too much dust

If too much dust accumulates on the leaves, it will hinder the leaves' light absorption and cause the leaves to turn yellow. Therefore, maintain the leaves regularly, and they can be wiped and washed with clean water.