I’m a new Alocasia Polly owner- I noticed she was startin...
I’m a new Alocasia Polly owner- I noticed she was starting to droop so I watered her 2 days ago thinking she was thirsty. She is even more droopy now. Her soil feels dry. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, any suggestions? I heard they are pretty dramatic plants! #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PropagationStation #SucculentLove #PlantTherapy #PetsAndPlants #PlantCorner
Last watered 2 weeks ago
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First off I have to say wow! That’s a lot of leaves it’s very impressive. I’m guessing it’s a multi crom? Okay, so definitely don’t keep it near a vent @GnarlyMoonwort3 was completely right they are drama queens! They will fuss a lot when moved and don’t like being anywhere where their environment has shifting temperatures very often, so kinda away from open doors or near a heating and cooling vents but with that being said they definitely like high humidity and good air flow. As far as care for alocasias it’s pretty easy; here is my advice: Ultimate Alocasia Care GuideAlocasias are stunning tropical plants native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia and Australia. Because they naturally grow along the jungle floor, they thrive in warm, highly humid environments with plenty of bright, scattered indirect light.Follow these four essential pillars to help your Alocasia thrive:1. Master the Substrate (Chunky & Airy) WARNING: Avoid heavy potting mixes or straight potting soil at all costs! They suffocate the roots and cause rot within weeks. Instead, always use a highly well-draining medium. Look for a pre-made chunky aroid mix, or blend a custom medium using: Orchid bark for chunky texture and massive airflow. Chunky perlite to prevent soil compaction. Horticultural charcoal to filter impurities and improve drainage. Tree fern fiber or coco husk to hold just the right amount of moisture. A touch of premium soil mixed with a humic acid boost to supercharge nutrient uptake. 2. Choose Pots Based on Your GoalsYour potting strategy depends entirely on what you want the plant to focus on: To focus on corms (baby plants): Keep the plant in a snug pot so it stays slightly root-bound. This slight restriction encourages the plant to produce corms. To focus on foliage growth: Upgrade the plant to a new pot that is only 1 to 2 inches larger than its current container. 3. Perfect the Climate and Light Replicate the jungle floor by optimizing air, temperature, and light: Light: Provide a high amount of bright, indirect, scattered sunlight. Avoid harsh, direct sun, which will scorch the leaves. Airflow: Keep the plant in an area with good, constant air circulation to prevent fungal issues. Temperature & Humidity: Keep them warm (above 65°F/18°C) and aim for high humidity (above 50%). Use a humidifier if your home is dry! 4. Smart Watering & Growth Expectations Where to Water: Avoid watering the leaves or the very center of the plant, as this makes them fussy and prone to rot. Instead, water in a circle around the outer edges of the pot. Build Stronger Roots: Watering the edges forces the roots to stretch outward to search for moisture. This naturally creates a much stronger, wider root system to support the heavy plant. When to Water: Water thoroughly until it runs out the bottom. Only water again when the top 2 inches of the medium feel dry. They like to stay evenly damp, but never waterlogged. Don't Panic: Young Alocasias often drop an old, outer leaf whenever a brand-new leaf emerges. This is completely normal!
@Drebsky hi, I don’t know anything about these plants, but I will tag some people who probably do! @stephongreg @debbiedo
They like higher humidity. Make sure she is not near a heat or ac vent. Alocasias are finicky plants but the Polly is one of the easier ones. Also, you said you just watered her and the soil is dry again. That may mean the soil is hydrophobic. If that is the case she needs to be repotted in a more suitable mix. Best wishes
@Drebsky
Hey Brandon. I'm sorry to see that. I think you got yours about the same time or maybe a couple weeks later than I got mine.
Idplantthat is absolutely spot on with her advice and I will just share with you what I have done for mine.
I used 2 parts Fox Farm Ocean Forrest soil with one part perlite and one part orchid bark. I also used a terracotta pot. This combination helps it shed excess water to prevent rot. It's located on my covered porch so the indirect sunlight is great although it also gets some extra from a 4ft 80W Sunco grow light which is totally unnecessary...it's there mainly because I'm growing and propping newbies close by...but it still gets a lot of that light as well. This Georgia heat and humidity helps a lot too.
I hope what Rachel and everyone said helps and I hope I gave some ideas to help a little as well. Please keep us posted...that's a beautiful plant.
Hey Brandon. I'm sorry to see that. I think you got yours about the same time or maybe a couple weeks later than I got mine.
Idplantthat is absolutely spot on with her advice and I will just share with you what I have done for mine.
I used 2 parts Fox Farm Ocean Forrest soil with one part perlite and one part orchid bark. I also used a terracotta pot. This combination helps it shed excess water to prevent rot. It's located on my covered porch so the indirect sunlight is great although it also gets some extra from a 4ft 80W Sunco grow light which is totally unnecessary...it's there mainly because I'm growing and propping newbies close by...but it still gets a lot of that light as well. This Georgia heat and humidity helps a lot too.
I hope what Rachel and everyone said helps and I hope I gave some ideas to help a little as well. Please keep us posted...that's a beautiful plant.
@WormWarriorFarm Rob, thank you so much for such a great response. I really appreciate you sharing exactly what has worked for your plant- I think I did get mine after you if I remember correctly. I ended up separating mine into two plants, and they honestly seem to have bounced back beautifully. Your soil mix and terracotta recommendation are definitely something I’m going to consider.
And the original pot does have great drainage, It is just listed wrong here on Greg.
Thank you again!
I’ll keep you posted :)
And the original pot does have great drainage, It is just listed wrong here on Greg.
Thank you again!
I’ll keep you posted :)
@stephongreg Happy Sunday Steph! The water moved through the soil pretty quickly. I would say 5-15 seconds. There was no visible rot on the plant or the roots.
What I ended up doing was separating her into 2 different plants. And I woke up this morning and they were back to them perky selves😂
I feel I have a trouble maker on my hands, but I love her haha.
Thank you Steph!
What I ended up doing was separating her into 2 different plants. And I woke up this morning and they were back to them perky selves😂
I feel I have a trouble maker on my hands, but I love her haha.
Thank you Steph!
@Drebsky, you got this! You are going to be amazing at it. Those leaves look gorgeous! Alocasias were my first tricky love after the citrus plants. Ha ha ha, so I’m happy to help any way I can. These, because of the veining and what they are, are just a little more dramatic. Any time you get plants that are more unique, they seem to always care the same time of unique problems. Luckily, most of us have had them, so we’ve learned and continue to. 🤣 But that’s planting! I think you can plant the same varieties over a thousand times and still run into at least one or two of those that will give you a headache. I say this with a lot of love towards those headaches, but that’s just my opinion on them. ☺️🤨😉
@WormWarriorFarm ha ha ha omg 🙈 I didn’t even notice it wasn’t drainage! I’m glad you said that. 🤣 Oh gosh, I can be so oblivious sometimes (usually about 90 percent), but other times that secret like 5 percent I’m really good! The only 5 percent is no one hell knows. 🤣
@Drebsky right on! Glad it worked out!! 🤓 I was worried the soil might've become hydrophobic and wasn't holding onto water long enough. Two signs are water pouring straight through to the drainage holes and soil pulling away from the sides of the pot ☺️ She's a beaut, and now you have TWO 😜
