What does a sago palm blooming symbolize? We teach you how to grow a sago palm until it blooms

Alocasia macrorrhizos (giant taro) likes warmth and partial shade, grows fairly quickly, and is quite fond of fertilizer, so during its growing season you should maintain a suitable temperature (20-30°C), choose a shaded yet ventilated spot for placement, and at the same time apply 1 application of Dewoduo liquid fertilizer every 7-15 days or so during the growing period. After autumn begins, the number of fertilizer applications should be reduced by half, once a month is fine. In winter, fertilization can be stopped.

I. How to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos

1. Temperature: It likes warmth, grows rapidly above 25°C, and its most suitable growing temperature is 25-30°C. It has a certain cold resistance; as long as the overwintering temperature is kept above 2°C, it is fine.

2. Light: It likes partial shade and cannot tolerate exposure to strong sunlight. From May to September, shading should be provided, blocking about 50% of the sunlight. At other times, it should be given plenty of sunlight. It cannot tolerate excessive shade, otherwise the leaf stalks become thin and long, and not only is the plant shape unattractive, but they also break easily.

3. Watering: Because the leaves are huge, they consume a lot of water, so it is afraid of drought. It likes a slightly moist soil environment; during the growing period, watering should follow the principle of "alternating dry and wet while leaning toward moist," and watering should be thorough; even if you water a bit more, it does not matter. Especially on hot, sunny summer days, pay even more attention to supplying water to meet the plant's water requirements. Because the leaf surface is large, in the morning water droplets often appear at the leaf tips, which is quite strange, hence the name "drip-drop Alocasia." However, it requires that the pot soil be kept moist at ordinary times to ensure the plant absorbs sufficient water, relying on root pressure to transport water to the leaf tips and excrete it; when the pot soil is dry, there will be no water to drip. In winter, water should be controlled, keeping the pot soil in a slightly moist state, as long as the leaves are not soft and drooping; if the pot soil is too wet, it easily causes root rot in the plant.

4. Environmental humidity: It likes a humid environment and dislikes dry air. During the growing season, when it is sunny and dry, water should often be sprayed on the branches, leaves, and surroundings to maintain a relatively high air humidity.

5. Fertilization: It likes fertilizer. Because its growth volume is large, nutrients need to be supplemented in time so that the stems can grow thick and strong and the leaves can be huge, dark green, and glossy. When fertilizer is lacking, the leaves are small and yellow. During the growing period, apply 1 application of Dewoduo liquid fertilizer every 7-15 days or so. After autumn begins, the number of fertilizer applications should be reduced by half, once a month is fine. In winter, fertilization can be stopped.

6. Pruning: Yellow leaves should be cut off at any time. Because the leaf stalks are long, when moving, placing, and caring for the plant, avoid breaking the leaf stalks. If they are broken or damaged, they should be cut off promptly.

7. Repotting: Repot once every 1-2 years. It does not have high requirements for soil, but likes fertile, loose soil with good drainage; Dewoduo organic nutrient soil can be used. If sufficient base fertilizer (Dewoduo bio-organic fertilizer granules) is applied, the leaves can grow thick and large. Because the leaves are large but few in number and the leaf stalks are long, when moving the plant and caring for it, avoid damaging the leaves, otherwise the ornamental value will be reduced.

8. Propagation: seeding, cuttings, division, etc.

(1) Seeding: Wild plants often bear seeds. Sow in spring; the suitable germination temperature is 25-28°C, and they germinate 20-25 days after sowing.

(2) Cuttings: Carry out in April. Cut thick, strong stems into stem segments about 10 cm long with several buds to serve as cuttings; after drying slightly, insert them obliquely or lay them flat in the seedbed. When laying flat, the depth should be just enough to bury the stem segment; the cuttings can also be inserted directly into pots. After insertion, keep the substrate moist and the environmental temperature at 25-27°C; after 4-5 weeks they can take root and survive.

(3) Division: Potted plants easily produce many small offsets at the base. In April, division can be carried out together with repotting, separating the small offsets from the mother plant and planting them separately. Division should be carried out when the temperature reaches 20°C or higher; on the basis of keeping the substrate moist, new shoots can emerge in about 20 days.

II. Hydroponic growing of Alocasia macrorrhizos

Remove the yellow leaves and rotten roots of Alocasia macrorrhizos. If the tuber has no roots, place it in a shaded spot to dry for 2-3 days before hydroponic growing. After planting, pour in clean water to submerge 2/3 of the root system, change the clean water once every 2-3 days, and new roots can grow after 3 days. After 1 week, switch to Dewoduo nutrient solution (diluted at a 1:400 ratio) for care, changing the nutrient solution once a week. Each time you change the water or nutrient solution, rinse the tuber and the mucus on the tuber with clean water, and remove rotten roots.

III. Precautions for Alocasia macrorrhizos

1. Flower lovers should be reminded that the white sap in the stems of Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic, and the water it drips is also toxic. Accidentally touching or eating 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 eating it by mistake. However, Alocasia macrorrhizos is not a carcinogenic plant.

2. 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. Eating the stems and leaves by mistake will cause symptoms of nausea and pain, and in severe cases can also cause suffocation, leading to cardiac paralysis and death. Therefore, contact with Alocasia macrorrhizos should be minimized, and families with children had best not grow it.

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.