So… a couple weeks ago I posted on here about my beautifu...
So… a couple weeks ago I posted on here about my beautiful new Alocasia Polly.
About 2 weeks after receiving it, part of the plant (with the biggest leaf 🙁) started drooping. I’ve never had an Alocasia, but I thought it was a sign of thirst. I’ve heard Alocasias are super dramatic. So I watered her. And it didn’t help.
I decided I would try to repot.
When I pulled the plant out- the part that was drooping completely separated from the form. Had to throw her away.
But I repotted the other half with all of its roots. The plant stayed firm and green and beautiful for about 2 more weeks. I had thought I had saved her.
I came home today and she was completely collapsed on the table. This morning, she looked like the firm green happy plant. Idk what happened.
I took the support stick out from behind her, and the entire plant came out with it super easily. I’m talking meat falling off the bone😭
I have no idea what I did wrong. But she is definitely extremely squishy and I’m taking the loss.
When I got rid of the other half prior however, I planted the 10 corms that I harvested from her- and a couple have already rooted. So it’s ok! We’re just gonna restart. #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #GrowLights #MonsteraMonday #PlantTherapy
About 2 weeks after receiving it, part of the plant (with the biggest leaf 🙁) started drooping. I’ve never had an Alocasia, but I thought it was a sign of thirst. I’ve heard Alocasias are super dramatic. So I watered her. And it didn’t help.
I decided I would try to repot.
When I pulled the plant out- the part that was drooping completely separated from the form. Had to throw her away.
But I repotted the other half with all of its roots. The plant stayed firm and green and beautiful for about 2 more weeks. I had thought I had saved her.
I came home today and she was completely collapsed on the table. This morning, she looked like the firm green happy plant. Idk what happened.
I took the support stick out from behind her, and the entire plant came out with it super easily. I’m talking meat falling off the bone😭
I have no idea what I did wrong. But she is definitely extremely squishy and I’m taking the loss.
When I got rid of the other half prior however, I planted the 10 corms that I harvested from her- and a couple have already rooted. So it’s ok! We’re just gonna restart. #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #GrowLights #MonsteraMonday #PlantTherapy
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Best Answer
This looks like overwatering damage. Now overwatering can be giving too much water (sitting in a puddle) or watering too often, but it can also be caused by the soil retaining too much water. Any bagged mixes, even the nice quality organic ones, need to have aeration and drainage amendments added. Sometimes even up to 50 or 60% added perlite or bark. The soil in your picture does look a little bit dense, so for next time, make sure you add in at least as much perlite or bark as half of the amount of potting mix. My own basic DIY mix (used for practically all my tropical houseplants, my succulent mix is even more chunky bits) is:
1/3 coco coir
1/3 orchid bark
1/3 perlite
Good luck, and I’m glad to see you are not giving up!
1/3 coco coir
1/3 orchid bark
1/3 perlite
Good luck, and I’m glad to see you are not giving up!
@AmazingCowshorn yes. Bagged soil from Lowe’s, HD, AMZN, etc. is almost always way too moisture retaining. *Especially* succulent soil.
Roots need the structure of the soil, but they need to breath oxygen too via air pockets. When the soil is not chunky enough, the roots can quite literally drown. You need both well draining ingredients (lets the water leave the root zone) AND aeration ingredients (chunky bits allow enough air pockets for the roots to breathe.)
Roots need the structure of the soil, but they need to breath oxygen too via air pockets. When the soil is not chunky enough, the roots can quite literally drown. You need both well draining ingredients (lets the water leave the root zone) AND aeration ingredients (chunky bits allow enough air pockets for the roots to breathe.)
