How to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos so it blooms? Detailed guide to growing methods
1. Temperature
Alocasia macrorrhizos likes warmth, with an optimum growing temperature of 20-25°C and a wintering temperature of 10-15°C. It can only grow well at a temperature not lower than 20 degrees. If the temperature is below 15 degrees, Alocasia macrorrhizos will enter a dormant state, which will cause it to stop growing.
2. Light
Alocasia macrorrhizos needs a moderate amount of light, but it should not be too strong; if it is too strong, Alocasia macrorrhizos will become "wilted". During the flowering period, Alocasia macrorrhizos needs plenty of sunlight, otherwise the spathe will have a green tinge, affecting quality. Ensuring about three hours of light per day should be roughly enough.
3. Water
In midsummer, water should be sprayed on the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos every day at noon to increase air humidity, so that its leaves become large and thick. If it is too dry, the leaves will grow larger but become thinner, which still greatly affects the ornamental appeal of Alocasia macrorrhizos. So the water requirement is also indispensable.
4. Fertilizing
Alocasia macrorrhizos is a plant that likes fertilizer. Fertilize it about every twenty days. Applying an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can make its leaves larger, thicker and greener. If Alocasia macrorrhizos is not fertilized for a long time, the lower part of its stem will become bare and empty, and yellow leaves will appear or the leaves will become smaller.
5. Repotting
After Qingming Festival in the second year, move Alocasia macrorrhizos outdoors to let the plant receive sunlight and quickly resume growth. Two weeks later, repot it: sprinkle water on the potting soil, take the plant out of the pot, remove the soil around the roots, cut off diseased and rotten roots, then pot it up, cover with new soil mixed with base fertilizer, water thoroughly to settle the roots, then place it in a cool place for about 1 week, and after 2-3 days water once with dilute fertilizer water.
For friends in the north, as long as you are attentive, it is possible to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos until it blooms. To learn more about growing Alocasia macrorrhizos, follow Four Seasons Plant Network!
How to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos: 6 growing methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia macrorrhizos is a common indoor plant and a perennial herbaceous plant. Its stem is relatively thick and has a clear effect on removing dust. People in Guangdong call Alocasia macrorrhizos "langdu". The reason is that Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic, so if there are children at home, you must be especially careful if you want to grow it. In warm climates with sufficient water, Alocasia macrorrhizos will drip water downward from the leaf tips or edges, and the shape of its flower closely resembles Guanyin. This is the source of the name Alocasia macrorrhizos. This article will focus on the growing methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos through aspects such as temperature, fertilizing, watering and sunlight.
I. Basic information about Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia macrorrhizos is a trade name, also known as "dripping lotus" and "Buddha's hand lotus". Other common names include hen yutou, langdu (Guangdong), wild taro, mountain taro, giant taro, giant worm taro, tianyu, tianmeng, and so on. What is called calla lily in Taiwan, China refers to Alocasia macrorrhizos. This plant is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Alocasia in the family Araceae - Alocasia macrorrhizos, and it has medicinal value. When the weather is warm and humid and the soil water content is high, water will drip downward from the leaf tips or leaf edges. Its flower is a spadix, with a large green spathe outside that opens into a boat shape, like a seated image of Guanyin, so many places call it Alocasia macrorrhizos. It is native to the subtropics and prefers warm, humid and semi-shaded environments. It is not cold-tolerant. In areas north of the Yangtze River basin in China, it is grown in pots and moved indoors before winter, while in the south it can grow in the open ground. Its corms and leaves can be used medicinally, but they are toxic, and the leaf sap will cause poisoning if ingested.
II. Growing methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos
1. Soil selection: It does not have high requirements for soil, but it grows best in well-drained sandy loam or humus loam containing organic matter. It can be cultivated with nutrient soil mixed from leaf mold, peat soil, river sand and a small amount of thoroughly composted cake fertilizer. Alternatively, it can be grown hydroponically, but attention must be paid to preventing root rot and adding nutrient solution. Usually repot once every spring, and loosen the soil once a month to keep the potting soil in a well-aerated state.
2. Temperature setting: First of all, if you want to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos well, you must know that it can only grow well at a temperature not lower than 18 degrees. If the temperature is below 18 degrees, Alocasia macrorrhizos will enter a dormant state and will also stop growing. Temperature choice is also a necessary prerequisite for growing Alocasia macrorrhizos well, and this point is also very important.
3. Light control: We all know that Alocasia macrorrhizos is a plant that likes shade and coolness, but it also needs a moderate amount of light. However, the light should not be too strong. If the light is too strong, Alocasia macrorrhizos will become "wilted". You should know that Alocasia macrorrhizos likes a warm, humid and shaded environment, but during the flowering period it needs plenty of sunlight, otherwise the spathe will have a green tinge, affecting quality. So Alocasia macrorrhizos still needs a moderate amount of light time. Ensuring about three hours of light per day should be roughly enough, and this point should also be kept in mind.
4. Scientific watering: No matter what plant it is, water is also very important. Plants like Alocasia macrorrhizos need relatively more water in summer. In midsummer, water should be sprayed on the leaves every day at noon to increase air humidity, so that its leaves become large and thick. If it is too shaded, the leaves will grow larger but become thinner, which still greatly affects the ornamental appeal of Alocasia macrorrhizos. So the water requirement is also indispensable.
5. Reasonable fertilizing: The fertilizing cycle for Alocasia macrorrhizos is once a month. It must be given an additional fertilizer application once every 2 weeks. The potting soil of Alocasia macrorrhizos also needs to be moistened. Fertilizing requirements: it should be supplemented with thin liquid fertilizer based on nitrogen fertilizer mixed with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. When applying additional fertilizer, avoid pouring the fertilizer water onto the leaf sheaths, as this will cause Alocasia macrorrhizos to rot. If you want the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos to be large and green, applying some ferrous sulfate can achieve this. If you want Alocasia macrorrhizos to look beautiful and attractive, avoid a lack of fertilizer. Once a fertilizer deficiency occurs, the stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos will shrivel and become bare. The Alocasia macrorrhizos usually seen comes in large and small sizes. If you want to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos small and attractive, when the seedling grows to the height you want, such as 40cm, spray the whole plant with a 2% paclobutrazol solution. In the later growth process of Alocasia macrorrhizos, you will find that its growth height will not exceed 40cm. If Alocasia macrorrhizos continues to grow, the whole plant can be sprayed again. Generally, spraying once about every six months can achieve the effect of controlling height.
6. Pest and disease control. Diseases of Alocasia macrorrhizos are reflected on the leaves, and there are generally two types: one is leaf spot disease, and the other is anthracnose. For leaf spot disease, spray the leaf surface with an 800-fold dilution of chlorothalonil or carbendazim, 2-3 times in succession, with 7 days between each application.
The above is the relevant introduction in this article. I believe that after reading it, you also have a simple understanding of this. If needed, you can continue to follow No. 1 Home Network to learn more information.
Is Alocasia macrorrhizos toxic? | Growing methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos | Growing methods and precautions for Alocasia macrorrhizos
Is Alocasia macrorrhizos toxic?
That's right, Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic. If there are children or pets at home, it is not recommended to plant it. Alocasia macrorrhizos is also known as "dripping lotus" and "Buddha's hand lotus". Other common names include hen yutou, langdu (Guangdong), wild taro, mountain taro, giant taro, giant worm taro, tianyu, tianmeng, and so on. What is called calla lily in Taiwan, China refers to Alocasia macrorrhizos.
The scientific name of Alocasia macrorrhizos is Alocasia macrorrhizos, and in ancient times it was called "Guanyin lotus" and "shameful sky grass". It has the effect of removing dust from the air.
Experts remind flower lovers that the white sap in the stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic, and the water it drips is also toxic. Accidental contact with or ingestion of its sap will cause discomfort in the throat and mouth, and a burning pain in the stomach. Special attention should be paid to preventing young children from accidentally eating it. However, Alocasia macrorrhizos does not belong to the category of carcinogenic plants.
Precisely because Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic, skin contact with its sap will cause itching or strong irritation, and eye contact with the sap can cause severe conjunctivitis, or even blindness. Accidentally eating the stems and leaves will cause symptoms of nausea and pain, and in severe cases can also cause suffocation, leading to death from cardiac paralysis. Therefore, contact with Alocasia macrorrhizos should be minimized, and families with children had best not plant it.
Pictures of Alocasia macrorrhizos:
Propagation methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos:
(1) Methods such as division and sowing can be used. In summer and autumn, the tubers of Alocasia macrorrhizos will sprout small Alocasia macrorrhizos plants with leaves, and division can be carried out together with repotting and soil changing. After the fruit ripens in autumn, collect the orange-red seeds and sow them immediately after collection, or dry and store them and sow them after the following spring.
(2) Stem cutting of Alocasia macrorrhizos is aimed at old plants that have grown for many years. Combined with the renewal of the plant, cut the stem about 5 cm above the soil surface from the base of the plant body for stem cutting propagation. Cutting the stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos has two advantages: first, because the plant loses its apical growth advantage, nutrients accumulate at the base, prompting a large number of buds to sprout from the roots and stem base, which helps the propagation speed and quantity; second, the removed old stem can be cut into cuttings about 15 cm long, placed in a shaded place to air-dry for half a day, and then inserted into sandy loam soil for cultivation. Especially for the section at the top that is still growing, after cutting off all developed leaves, it can be directly potted as a single plant, with cutting and cultivation carried out simultaneously. After two months of cultivation, it becomes a formed plant with broad leaves, compact branching, and a short, sturdy and vigorous appearance, which has a certain elegant charm when placed indoors. Stem cutting propagation of Alocasia macrorrhizos is suitable in all three seasons of spring, summer and autumn. During the cutting period, the substrate (6 parts sand : 4 parts garden soil) should be kept moist, and air humidity should be increased at the same time. After about 7-10 days, many stout roots will grow. During the cultivation period of the old plant, because of the shaded and humid environment or because the leaf surface is sprayed with water every morning and evening in summer and autumn, a few new plants will occasionally sprout on the old stem (especially on the stem base left after stem cutting), and many aerial roots will grow attached to it. They can be broken off from where the daughter plant meets the mother plant and potted for planting.
Growing methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos:
Growing methods for Alocasia macrorrhizos: Alocasia macrorrhizos is a very common home-grown green potted plant, but because it is a tropical plant, it generally will not bloom in the north. However, if conditions such as household temperature are suitable, it will also bloom.
It does not have high requirements for soil, but it grows best in well-drained sandy loam or humus loam containing organic matter. Because Alocasia macrorrhizos by nature likes warm, humid and semi-shaded environments and is not cold-tolerant, during the growing season the potting soil must be kept moist.Now it is summer, so the flowerpot should be placed in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated place, 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 macrorrhizos grows very fast, fertilizing during the growth process must be done in the right amount. Applying a thin fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 1-2 times a month is enough; otherwise it is easy to cause the lower part of the stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos to become bare and empty, affecting its ornamental value.Alocasia macrorrhizos is a flower that likes plenty of water and plenty of fertilizer. It likes sufficient sunlight and likes loose leaf mold or sandy loam. Apart from appropriate shading during the hot midsummer, it is best to give it all-day sunlight in the other seasons. In addition, Alocasia macrorrhizos especially likes high-temperature and high-humidity climates. In midsummer, water should be sprayed on the leaves every day at noon to increase air humidity, so that the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos can become large and thick.
If it is too shaded, the leaves will grow larger but become thinner, and the petioles will also be brittle. The petioles being too long and breaking is due to lack of light. Alocasia macrorrhizos should be placed in a bright indoor spot, such as by a window, and needs at least 35 hours of light per day. Bright light is fine, but it cannot be exposed to strong sun. Alocasia macrorrhizos likes water; if the leaves become soft, it should be watered. Regularly watering with a little ferrous sulfate can make the leaves greener, larger and thicker.
Growing methods:
1. Temperature. Alocasia macrorrhizos can only grow well in an environment not lower than 18°C. If the temperature is below 18°C, Alocasia macrorrhizos will be in a dormant state and stop growing.
2. Fertilizing. Alocasia macrorrhizos likes fertilizer, and it should be fertilized every month.
3. Watering. In summer, Alocasia macrorrhizos needs more watering, but not excessively. It is suitable to alternate between dry and wet, and there must be no standing water in the soil, otherwise the tubers will rot. In winter it needs to be dormant, so water less and stop fertilizing.
4. Sunlight. Alocasia macrorrhizos likes shade, so do not let sunlight shine directly on it. Making Alocasia macrorrhizos become "wilted" is mainly due to insufficient fertilizing, so attention should be paid to additional fertilizing.
In summer, the flowerpot should be placed indoors in a well-ventilated place without direct sunlight, 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. But watering must not be excessive, otherwise the tubers will rot. Alternating between dry and wet, with no standing water, is best.
In summer, Alocasia macrorrhizos grows rapidly and has a high nutrient demand. Every 15-20 days, alternate applying a liquid fertilizer such as thoroughly decomposed bean cake water and a compound fertilizer (it likes nitrogen fertilizer); otherwise it is easy to cause the lower part of the stem to become bare and empty, and yellow leaves or smaller leaves to appear. Applying a 2% ferrous sulfate solution about once every 20 days can make the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos larger, thicker and greener. When Alocasia macrorrhizos has grown to a size suitable for placement in the home, spray the whole plant with a 2% paclobutrazol solution. The plant will not only be small and exquisite, but also have thick leaves and higher ornamental value.
In winter, Alocasia macrorrhizos likes a warm, humid and slightly shaded environment, but during the flowering period it needs plenty of sunlight, otherwise the spathe will have a green tinge, affecting quality. It must be ensured 3-5 hours of light per day, otherwise the petioles will elongate and affect ornamental value. Alocasia macrorrhizos is not very cold-resistant, 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 macrorrhizos likes moist, fertile soil, that is, what is often called "plenty of fertilizer and plenty of water", and during the growing period it should be watered more.