What are the uses and benefits of Alocasia macrorrhizos, and is it toxic?
Alocasia macrorrhizos, originally known as giant taro or wild taro, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. It has certain medicinal value and also helps remove dust from the air, which is why many people like it. However, many people may still not be quite clear on how to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos so that it grows well. Next, follow us as we take a look at the uses of Alocasia macrorrhizos and whether Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic. We hope this is helpful to everyone.
[How to Grow Alocasia macrorrhizos]
1. Suitable growing temperature for Alocasia macrorrhizos: 20-25°C is the most suitable growing temperature for Alocasia macrorrhizos. If the room temperature is below 18°C, Alocasia macrorrhizos will enter a dormant period and stop growing. Alocasia macrorrhizos likes a warm, humid, and semi-shaded environment. During cultivation, you must pay special attention to seasonal changes. Especially now that summer is about to begin, be particularly careful to place Alocasia macrorrhizos in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated spot, and mist its leaves multiple times to maintain air humidity. Avoid excessively high temperatures that could cause Alocasia macrorrhizos to develop problems. Alocasia macrorrhizos is not very cold-hardy; depending on the temperature differences between north and south, it needs to be moved indoors in autumn and winter.
2. How to fertilize Alocasia macrorrhizos: The fertilization cycle for Alocasia macrorrhizos is once a month. Every 2 weeks, a supplemental feeding must be given. The potting soil for Alocasia macrorrhizos also needs to be kept moist. Fertilization requirements: use nitrogen fertilizer mixed with thin liquid fertilizer such as phosphorus and potassium fertilizers as a supplement. When top-dressing, avoid pouring the fertilizer water onto the leaf sheaths, as this can 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 attractive and nice, avoid nutrient deficiency. Once nutrient deficiency occurs, the stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos will shrivel and become bare. The Alocasia macrorrhizos you usually see 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, you can spray the whole plant again. Generally, spraying once about every half a year can achieve the effect of controlling height.
3. Notes on watering: In summer, you can water Alocasia macrorrhizos more. People often say that the stems of the Alocasia macrorrhizos they grow rot. This is caused by water accumulation. If you give Alocasia macrorrhizos too much water, this situation will occur, so you must grasp the right amount when watering. In winter, Alocasia macrorrhizos enters a long dormant period, so watering should be controlled in winter and fertilization should be stopped.
4. Light issues for Alocasia macrorrhizos: For plants that like semi-shade, direct sunlight is the biggest taboo. When the leaves of a cultivated Alocasia macrorrhizos droop, it may be due to nutrient deficiency. At this time, you need to add some liquid fertilizer to Alocasia macrorrhizos. When Alocasia macrorrhizos enters its flowering period, ensure 3-5 hours of light exposure each day. Otherwise, the flower buds will be green-tinged, the leaf stalks will elongate, and the appearance will be affected.
[8 Common Problems in Growing Alocasia macrorrhizos]
1. What causes the leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos to turn yellow?
Answer: The potting soil of Alocasia macrorrhizos has been too wet or too dry for a long time, and watering has not been done on a "water when dry" basis. "Half watering" means watering is not thorough, and no water seepage appears at the bottom of the Alocasia macrorrhizos pot. In winter, it was exposed to cold, and the root system of Alocasia macrorrhizos has been frostbitten. The leaf surface of Alocasia macrorrhizos has not been sprayed or cleaned for a long time, and dust has accumulated, hindering photosynthesis. After overwintering, Alocasia macrorrhizos was rushed outdoors and placed in a warm place to bask in the sun, and it could not adapt to the sudden climate change for a while. Alocasia macrorrhizos has been placed in a poorly ventilated environment for a long time.
2. What should I do if I touch the sap of Alocasia macrorrhizos and get poisoned?
Answer: It is recommended to use vinegar for detoxification. Rinse with a large amount of clean water. The toxic components are calcium oxalate and sapotoxin; after skin contact with the sap, itching occurs; contact with the eyes can cause blindness. Folk remedy: boil a little vinegar with a small amount of ginger juice, and take it orally or gargle with it to detoxify. If the poisoning symptoms are obvious, it is recommended to go to the hospital for medical treatment.
3. What should I do if Alocasia macrorrhizos has root rot?
Answer: Alocasia macrorrhizos is prone to root rot in summer, mainly caused by potting soil that is too wet. Pull up the Alocasia macrorrhizos, cut off the rotten roots. When cutting the roots, wear rubber gloves (Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic! Those with skin allergies should be careful.), and cut off a little of the healthy tissue near the rotten part. Let it dry, and replant after the wound heals. Plant it in plain sand, or sandy soil. Do not water for now; wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering. Do the same afterward: do not water unless dry. In addition, place it in a ventilated area.
4. Why does Alocasia macrorrhizos drip water in the morning?
Answer: Alocasia macrorrhizos, under warm and humid conditions with sufficient soil moisture, will drip water downward from the leaf tips or leaf edges; if the air humidity is too low, the water released will evaporate immediately. Because the temperature is lower at night, there is no sunlight, and the air humidity is high, the guttation phenomenon is obvious in the morning. Therefore, water droplets generally appear more often in the morning as guttation.
5. How should Alocasia macrorrhizos be grown in water?
Answer: Hydroponic requirements: diffused light, and sufficient light in winter. The water in the container should be changed frequently, and when changing the water, clean the container and the plant roots. Note that it is best to rinse with tap water; if conditions permit, it can be disinfected with potassium permanganate solution. The temperature is best kept above 12°C. Since it is hydroponic, air humidity generally can meet the requirements. When growing in water, do not submerge too much; it is enough to submerge half of the lower root system in water.
6. What is the problem when Alocasia macrorrhizos falls over?
Answer: Because watering is usually only done at the roots, water cannot reach the leaf parts, so it falls over. It is recommended to put clean water in a spray bottle and spray it on the leaves. After a few days, there will be an effect.
7. How should Alocasia macrorrhizos be cared for?
Answer: In winter, its transpiration will decrease. If it is a newly transplanted young seedling, after the original soil it came with is moistened, just keep the environment around the seedling moist, and use a spray bottle to moisten the surrounding environment; if it is an older plant, touch the surface soil with your hand, and water only when it is dry, but do not water too much, because when the temperature is below 18°C, Alocasia macrorrhizos hibernates and does not grow much, so it does not need much water; otherwise the roots will rot.
8. What should I do if Alocasia macrorrhizos is too tall?
Answer: By spraying 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, you can spray the whole plant again. Generally, spraying once about every half a year can achieve the effect of controlling height.
The toxicity of Alocasia macrorrhizos is shown in every aspect. Inside the stems of Alocasia macrorrhizos, and the water dripping from Alocasia macrorrhizos, are all toxic. Touching it can cause skin allergies, itching, and redness; if eaten, it will even cause a series of discomforts from the throat to the stomach, causing pain. So if there are small children in the home, be careful not to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos.
The toxicity of Alocasia macrorrhizos mainly comes from the chemical component calcium oxalate in Alocasia macrorrhizos. Because calcium oxalate is toxic, Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic. In ancient Chinese herbal medicine books, it was specifically mentioned that Alocasia macrorrhizos should not be eaten raw, otherwise it will cause poisoning, swelling of the mouth and tongue, and even death by suffocation. Therefore, the danger level is still quite high.
The Uses of Alocasia macrorrhizos
The toxicity of Alocasia macrorrhizos is only one side of it. Everything has two sides, and even the plant Alocasia macrorrhizos is no exception. It also has a side that is useful to humans, which is the uses of Alocasia macrorrhizos. The Alocasia macrorrhizos plant makes an outstanding contribution to purifying indoor air, helps relieve eye fatigue, and increases air humidity, among other things. It is mainly caused by potting soil that is too wet. Pull up the Alocasia macrorrhizos, cut off the rotten roots. When cutting the roots, wear rubber gloves (Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic! Those with skin allergies should be careful.), and cut off a little of the healthy tissue near the rotten part. Let it dry, and replant after the wound heals. Plant it in plain sand, or sandy soil. Do not water for now; wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering. Do the same afterward: do not water unless dry. In addition, place it in a ventilated area.
4. Why does Alocasia macrorrhizos drip water in the morning?
Answer: Alocasia macrorrhizos, under warm and humid conditions with sufficient soil moisture, will drip water downward from the leaf tips or leaf edges; if the air humidity is too low, the water released will evaporate immediately. Because the temperature is lower at night, there is no sunlight, and the air humidity is high, the guttation phenomenon is obvious in the morning. Therefore, water droplets generally appear more often in the morning as guttation.
5. How should Alocasia macrorrhizos be grown in water?
Answer: Hydroponic requirements: diffused light, and sufficient light in winter. The water in the container should be changed frequently, and when changing the water, clean the container and the plant roots. Note that it is best to rinse with tap water; if conditions permit, it can be disinfected with potassium permanganate solution. The temperature is best kept above 12°C. Since it is hydroponic, air humidity generally can meet the requirements. When growing in water, do not submerge too much; it is enough to submerge half of the lower root system in water.
6. What is the problem when Alocasia macrorrhizos falls over?
Answer: Because watering is usually only done at the roots, water cannot reach the leaf parts, so it falls over. It is recommended to put clean water in a spray bottle and spray it on the leaves. After a few days, there will be an effect.
7. How should Alocasia macrorrhizos be cared for?
Answer: In winter, its transpiration will decrease. If it is a newly transplanted young seedling, after the original soil it came with is moistened, just keep the environment around the seedling moist, and use a spray bottle to moisten the surrounding environment; if it is an older plant, touch the surface soil with your hand, and water only when it is dry, but do not water too much, because when the temperature is below 18°C, Alocasia macrorrhizos hibernates and does not grow much, so it does not need much water; otherwise the roots will rot.
8. What should I do if Alocasia macrorrhizos is too tall?
Answer: By spraying 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, you can spray the whole plant again. Generally, spraying once about every half a year can achieve the effect of controlling height.
The toxicity of Alocasia macrorrhizos is shown in every aspect. Inside the stems of Alocasia macrorrhizos, and the water dripping from Alocasia macrorrhizos, are all toxic. Touching it can cause skin allergies, itching, and redness; if eaten, it will even cause a series of discomforts from the throat to the stomach, causing pain. So if there are small children in the home, be careful not to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos.
The toxicity of Alocasia macrorrhizos mainly comes from the chemical component calcium oxalate in Alocasia macrorrhizos. Because calcium oxalate is toxic, Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic. In ancient Chinese herbal medicine books, it was specifically mentioned that Alocasia macrorrhizos should not be eaten raw, otherwise it will cause poisoning, swelling of the mouth and tongue, and even death by suffocation. Therefore, the danger level is still quite high.
The Uses of Alocasia macrorrhizos
The toxicity of Alocasia macrorrhizos is only one side of it. Everything has two sides, and even the plant Alocasia macrorrhizos is no exception. It also has a side that is useful to humans, which is the uses of Alocasia macrorrhizos. The Alocasia macrorrhizos plant makes an outstanding contribution to purifying indoor air, helps relieve eye fatigue, and increases air humidity, among other things.