Do I want an Alocasia?
Hey planty peeps, I seek your influence/deinfluence in snagging a 6” Alocasia Scalprum from my local plant shop. First of all, it’s BEAUTIFUL. My dilemma is, I’ve always been afraid of #Alocasia because I hear the horror stories. I’m not interested in a humidifier for my plants, but I am open to a LECA tray and obviously grouping plants together. Summers here are very humid, so relative humidity in the apartment stays within the 50-60 range even with the AC on. My begonias have been happy with just the grouping and my Boston Fern I’ve had for years just hangs out on her lonesome and flourishes. Winters tend to dry out more but I do have a grow light set up in the bathroom already for my monsteras, so the scalprum could relocate there for the winter if need be. So what do you think? Am I gonna murder this Alocasia? #AlocasiaScalprum #HappyPlants #advice
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@Jho oh man yeah it's a dilemma. Lol I've grown Alocasia from corm they do good! They get 1 leaf, see me get excited then immediately unalive themselves. 😭 Recently my plant bestie gave me a Dragon Scale with 1 leaf and now it's working on its 4th AND a corm pushed through! The only thing different that I've done with this one is that she had it planted in some chunky soil (Perlite, charcoal and orchid bark) and someone told me to tent a gallon Ziploc bag over it then letting it get airflow every now and then by lifting it. It's also under a grow light. As long as it has good light and humidity. I can't promise anything obviously but you're never going to know if you don't try! If I had listened to the horror stories I wouldn't have this Alocasia or my Calathia! 😁 Or my Fiddle Leaf Fig!!
All my Alocasia live in self watering pots with pon substrate. No humidifiers. It stays around 50% in here in summer and prob 45% in winter. I do run people humidifiers in winter to try to get to 50% for ME.
I treat regularly for spider mites and other than that they are set it and forget it add water after it runs out for a day.
Just looked up scalprum and it wants 70% so I won’t be getting one either!
Maybe you could get to 70 without a machine inside a glass cabinet that gets lots of light with water in a tray. Or a cheap humidifier inside a cabinet.
I treat regularly for spider mites and other than that they are set it and forget it add water after it runs out for a day.
Just looked up scalprum and it wants 70% so I won’t be getting one either!
Maybe you could get to 70 without a machine inside a glass cabinet that gets lots of light with water in a tray. Or a cheap humidifier inside a cabinet.
Thank you both! I stopped by the shop and chatted with the owner - found out that he also has a “no humidifier,” rule. So his plants are already acclimated to more normal humidity levels. Snapped that baby up with the quickness! 😂 @SunSoilLove I was just looking into the self-watering pots; do you use the wick kind or the terracotta soakers? I was leaning towards the terracotta kind. I used that for a colocasia before and it was so effortless. I’ve never tried pon before but I keep hearing about it - think I’ll try it this go around too. @princesspitstop I totally hear you on just taking the plunge! I was terrified of FLF too and then my friend showed up at my door with a rooted cutting from hers and I was “forced” into fiddle leaf ownership. 😂 That baby is thriving now!
@Jho I use the wick system. IMO Lechuza are best and that’s how I learned. Now I use all types and often fashion my own wicks out of 100% polyester ribbon (doesn’t rot) for smaller plants and nylon rope for larger plants. I often drill air holes into inner pots for plants that like a bit drier conditions and/or to avoid excess moisture and increase oxygen to roots.
I’m so happy for your new rescue/adoption. ❤️
I’m so happy for your new rescue/adoption. ❤️
Is it difficult? Depends on species, but mostly yes. Is it torturous? Yes. Will you become a slave to it? Yes. Will it die unnecessarily and unreasonably on you despite your best care? Yes [don't worry it is more than capable of resprouting]. Will it make you cry? Yes. Will it make you question your life choices? Yes. Will you regret it? Maybe.
But will you still love it? For some strange reason, yes. Love is unconditional after all
But will you still love it? For some strange reason, yes. Love is unconditional after all
I have one alocasia… just one.. they are the coolest looking plants!! Love them… and hate them at the same time.. because I suck at growing them … a little too much water and WHAM yellow leaf galore !!! But honestly growing plants successfully is trial and error !! You won’t know if you don’t try!! I’ve killed many … as I have many thriving under my care ! Get one !! Try it !!
@Hoyaobsessed love your collection!! I’ve never seen an airplane plant before. Very cool. Thanks for your encouragement. I dove in! @GrowFriend your Alocasias are beautiful! I’ve already got my eye on my next one but I’m like, “ehhh let’s get the first one under control first…”. 😂
Hey Heidi @princesspitstop and Donna @SunSoilLove - my Scalprum and Frydek (yes, i’m a glutton for punishment) are both looking generally a little sad as expected while they acclimate. However, was wondering if I could pique your brains on this. Does this look like a corm growing in my Frydek? It was just the one little cut stem at first but now I see something new shooting off. If so, do you think I should be digging that out and putting it in some pon? I think I read somewhere that they’re easier when grown from babies in pon? Teach me senseis. 🤓
@Jho It looks to me like a pup growing from corm. I had that just happen with my Dragon Scale. It was close to mom like yours and I was afraid to remove it because, by the time they have gotten to this point roots have formed and I was worried that it wasn't going to survive the move so I left it. 🤷♀️ They are easier to grow from corm in Pon or a self-watering cup but that's before they get roots.
@princesspitstop ahhhh I see. Thank you so much for explaining that! I’ll leave it be for now too. 🙏