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Alocasia leaf reproduction. Features of home care for different types of alocasia. temperature requirements

Alocasia (Alocasia amazonica) relatively recently appeared on the flower market and immediately became a desirable plant for gardeners. It is a suitable plant for greenhouses, showcases or conservatories.

Origin and description of alocasia

Despite its second name "amazonica", the Alocasia flower has nothing to do with the Amazon. It originates from tropical Asia. Today, this plant can be found in New Guinea, the Philippines and Malaysia. The flower was first described in 1839 and, like the philodendron, anthurium or pothos, belongs to the aroid family, which is famous for flowers with beautiful leaves. This family includes total about 70 species of plants in which the common feature is the same structure of flowers.

Alocasia has typical, dark green, heart-shaped leaves with distinct, so-called veins. The lower part of the leaves, as a rule, has a purple hue, and the edges, depending on the variety, are smooth or wavy. Under room conditions, the length of the stem reaches 50 cm in height, on which leaves grow 20-50 cm long. In the tropical forests, from where alocasia came to us, it is not uncommon to find a five-meter flower with a meter-long stem. Because of his appearance and ornamental outlines of leaves, alocasia is sometimes called "elephant's ear" or "African mask". In our stores, you will most often find Alocasia amazonica and Alocasia sanderiana or its hybrid called Alocasia polly, which is bright in color and has serrated leaves. This is usually a more durable plant, it can easily withstand dry air, which cannot be said about other species.

In appearance, this is a completely nondescript flower, but those who have seen how alocasia blooms will never be indifferent to it. The plant blooms very rarely and this happens in adult units. With improper care, it may not bloom at all. Alocasia flowers are small, but fragrant. In the wild, they smell strong and very pleasant.

plant care

If you are a fan of indoor flowers, then growing alocasia will be a real challenge for you. This difficult "lady" requires special attention. Her care requirements are quite high.

Lighting conditions

Alocasia is not very demanding on light and can easily grow in the dark corners of an apartment or house. AT summer time undesirable exposure to direct, sunlight, due to which burns may appear on the leaves. The ideal location for the plant would be windows facing north or west.

Temperature

As a lover of tropical and subtropical climates, alocasia needs a fairly high temperature. In summer, it should be 25 ° C and above, and in winter not lower than 18 ° C.

Air humidity

This flower loves high humidity, so dry rooms are detrimental when growing alocasia. If you don't have a sprayer, periodically wipe the leaves with a soft, damp cloth. With regular moistening, alocasia successfully blooms in apartment conditions. Sometimes a bowl of water or expanded clay standing on the windowsill is enough, the moisture of which will soar in the air and settle on the leaves.

Watering

The second important indicator in cultivation is watering the plant, which should be plentiful.

Alocasia: care for a spectacular tropican

The flower should not dry out, even in winter period the substrate should remain slightly damp. Bottom flower pot should never be placed in water as the roots of alocasia will start to rot. The plant should be irrigated with soft water, preferably boiled or rainwater. When using tap water, there is a risk of brown spots on the leaves. The temperature of the water also matters, it should be at room temperature. Watering cold water the plant does not tolerate well. Too much water or drought can be deadly for alocasia, so this needs to be monitored carefully.

In winter, alocasia survives only thanks to underground tubers that nourish the plant from the inside. Therefore, at the end of October, it is necessary to gradually limit watering, let the substrate dry out a little, and the leaves dry completely. Remove them afterwards.

Every spring, young plants are transplanted into a new substrate with a high content of peat, adult flowers are transplanted every two years. It is necessary to fertilize alocasia once a week from March to October with a regular or special liquid fertilizer for deciduous plants.

reproduction

Propagation of alocasia is a little tricky, but when transplanted, the plant can be divided quite easily. Propagation by leaf cuttings is more difficult, you must maintain high humidity and the right temperature.

Healing properties of alocasia

Although alocasia is a toxic flower, some species are grown as medicinal plants. The Chinese make drugs against tuberculosis from the leaves of the flower, and the stems are used to make medicines for indigestion and toothache. Alocasia tubers contain a lot of starch and are quite edible. In some parts of the world, the leaves and stems of the plant are eaten, but they must be thoroughly boiled before serving.

We most often use alocasia tincture for the treatment of joint pain, osteochondrosis. You can cook it yourself by filling the leaves with 40% alcohol. After moistening the swab in tincture and wipe the affected area.

Diseases of alocasia

Regular irrigation and proper care of alocasia at home prevents the appearance of pests that thrive in dry air. Aphids and whiteflies may appear on the leaves, red spider mites and worms can also attack the plant. In these cases, it will be better to use special sprays and pest control products. Home methods, such as rubbing the leaves with soap and water or irrigating with a liquid containing tobacco extract, have little effect.

Sometimes, after hypothermia, ugly, brown spots may appear on the leaves. Their spread and reproduction cannot be avoided, except to let the substrate dry out. Dried leaves must be removed and the watering of the flower restored. Alocasia will grow quickly with new, unspoiled leaves. All the same should be done if the leaves are scorched by the sun.

Attention!

As an indoor flower, alocasia is not suitable for owners of cats and dogs, as well as families with small children. This elegant beauty, unfortunately, is poisonous (the exception is Alocasia microrrhiza) and caution does not hurt even when transplanting a plant. Simply touching the plant can cause skin irritation and swelling. Their tissues contain a large number of toxic substances and calcium oxalate, which can cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract when ingested. In some cases, it can also cause pulmonary edema, leading to severe breathing difficulties. A test of the leaves for taste can cause nausea, diarrhea, in the worst case, death from the entry of poison into the blood. Be careful and wear gloves with each manipulation of alocasia, and then wash your hands with soap and water.

Tropical beauty alocasia. Features of the content.

which differ in the shape and size of the leaves, their color, the height of the plant itself.

Alocasia (alocasia) is a rather rare tropical plant in room culture, although in last years it becomes more popular. The genus Alocasia belongs to the aroid family and has more than fifty species,

At the same time, all alocasias have characteristics- the leaves are dense, thyroid, oval with a pointed end, the veins are pronounced. The leaves are located on long, succulent petioles and have stomata on the surface of the leaves, through which the plant sheds excess moisture.

Alocasia is native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It grows wild in Malaysia, Ceylon. During the rainy season, when the plant is not able to absorb all the water that enters the soil, the leaves begin to "cry". Home alocasia begins to release droplets of water with excessive watering and excessive humidity. Since the humidity of the air rises before the rain, it is often said that the alocasia flower predicts rain.

Alocasia tuberous plants. In the people, alocasia is sometimes called "elephant's ear", "trefoil".

As indoor plants, only a few types of alocasia are grown. Some of them reach up to 1 m in length (in nature up to 3 m).

This exotic tropical wonder is deservedly recognized as one of the most magnificent deciduous ornamental plants. Alocasia - lovely decoration interiors, they look good in bright halls, foyers, winter gardens, near artificial reservoirs and fountains.

Alocasia blooms very rarely. Her fragrant small flowers pale colors are collected in an inflorescence-cob of white-pink color, partially covered with a leaf-blanket. When pollinated, fruits-berries are formed with seeds inside.

It is believed that the flowers of alocasia should be removed, since leaves do not grow during flowering, but the main beauty of this decorative leafy plant is in the leaves. The cut point must be treated with crushed coal.

All parts of alocasia are poisonous. The juice of the plant has irritating properties, it is not desirable that it gets on open skin and mucous membranes. Place the plant out of the reach of children and animals.

Usage

Alokaziya odorous has healing properties and is used in Chinese traditional medicine. The stem is used to prepare preparations used for stomach pain and toothache. Leaf preparations are used in the treatment of pneumonia and tuberculosis. But since alocasia, like almost all aroids, is poisonous, you should not experiment with drugs.

Some types of alocasia are grown for their edible tubers, which are rich in krasmal.

Vydy alocasia

Alocasia amazonica

Alocasia calidora

Alocasia cucullata

Alocasia cuprea

Alocasia Black Velvet

Alocasia lowii

Care and maintenance of room alocasia

Alocasia is quite unpretentious, requires regular, but simple care. It grows well in warm and humid microclimates. If you provide your tropical beauty with conditions close to natural, then she will delight you with her exotic beauty.

If the leaves on alocasia periodically turn yellow and disappear (one by one, and not all at once), this is a normal process - a new one is already growing in place of the missing one.

Lighting. Alocasia loves bright light, but it needs to be shaded from direct sunlight in summer.

Some types of alocasia, in particular copper-red and Amazonian, need additional lighting in winter.

Temperature. Heat-loving, does not like temperature changes. In no case do not keep in a draft. In summer, the ideal temperature is about +20 degrees, and in winter it is not lower than +18.

Air humidity. Alocasia prefers high humidity. In summer, in hot weather, it needs spraying. To create additional air humidity, you can place a pot with a plant on a pallet with wet expanded clay or pebbles; in winter, when the heating is on, a humidifier will be useful.

Watering. Abundant in summer period, the earth should never dry out. It is often watered with soft settled water so that the earth in the pot is constantly wet (it is advisable to immediately drain the water from the pan). In winter, watering alocasia is moderate and very careful. For most species, excessive watering leads to root rot.

Fertilizer. In spring and summer, alocasia needs top dressing every 2-3 weeks. It is best to use a complex mineral fertilizer for indoor plants.

Transfer. The soil for alocasia must be nutritious. For good growth, a substrate that is well permeable to moisture and air and slightly acidic (pH about 5.5) is needed. Transplanted annually, usually in early spring, adult plants two years later. Soil - 1 part of leafy soil, 1 part of coniferous, 1 part of peat and 0.5 parts of sand. An earth mixture composed of sand, garden and greenhouse soil in equal parts is suitable.

For large specimens, transplantation can be replaced by transshipment into a larger diameter pot. Pots are better to take high.

Alocasia reproduction, germination from a nodule, resuscitation, rest.

Good drainage is required.

Reproduction. You can propagate alocasia different ways: seeds, rhizome division, offspring or daughter tubers, stem cuttings.

Varieties with variegated leaves cannot be propagated by seeds - variegated signs are not betrayed. Sow the seeds immediately after harvest, shallow in a light substrate (leaf or peat soil and sand). To ensure high humidity, cover with glass or film on top. Temperature 22-24°C and regular spraying. Shoots dive, then transplanted into small pots. Large leaves appear in a year.

It is much easier to propagate alocasia by offspring or daughter tubers. When dividing the rhizome and harvesting stem cuttings, do not forget to sprinkle the cuts with charcoal. For rooting, the substrate is the same as for sowing seeds. You can cover the planted cuttings with a film.

Pests and diseases of alocasia The most common pests of alocasia are aphids and spider mite. In addition, it is affected by mealybugs and scale insects. Contributes to the appearance of pests dry air and high temperature. If pests are found, if the infection has not gone far, gently wipe the leaves and stems with a soapy sponge. In case of severe damage, you can use Actellik solution (1-2 ml per liter of water) or another similar remedy.

Other plants from the Aroid family:

Alocasia- a controversial plant, in the sense that opinions differ on the possibility of keeping this exotic beauty. Some say that alocasia does not live long in an apartment, that it is a purely greenhouse plant, others refute this opinion, successfully growing and even propagating alocasia at home. I would rather agree with the latter - alocasia has never caused me any particular difficulties in leaving. During our “collaboration” with her, I learned that she does not tolerate cold, and in combination with excessive watering, this is generally death, though not for the plant itself, but for the leaves, which, most likely, will have to be cut if you do not keep the plant warm and continue to water abundantly at the same time.

Alocasia from nodules.

During transplants can be found small nodules on the roots of an adult plant. The nodules that have ripened and are ready for germination fall off the roots themselves - you should not tear them off on purpose.
If you nevertheless become the proud owner of alocasia nodules - do not rush to throw them away, because you can get new plants from them. This process, however, is long. A nodule for prevention can be soaked in epine, keep it in solution from several hours to a day. Also, in order to protect it from rot, you can treat the nodule with potassium permanganate, a weak, light pink solution. Or you can wrap the nodules in a leaf of aloe tree cut along. In this state, they are left for a day.
Then nodules can be dug into the soil. Coco-soil can also be used for germination. For successful germination, the soil temperature should be 27-30 ° C - you can put a mini-greenhouse on the windowsill, under which the battery is located - then a high temperature is provided. Do not forget to ventilate the greenhouse and water it in a timely manner so that the nodules do not dry out.
If you used cocsoil, then after germination, the appearance of several leaves, the plants are transplanted into a light acidic soil.

Do not forget that both young and adult alocasia plants need to be sprayed frequently.

Alocasia resuscitation.

If the plant is sick, I advise in any case not to lose hope until the last. Especially if this plant belongs to the aroid. Calatheas, ctenantes, alocasias and aglaonemas are surprisingly tenacious plants, especially if the factor that has a detrimental effect on them is excluded in time.
Even if alocasia has lost all the leaves, this is not a reason to carry the pot to the trash. Firstly, it is possible to obtain new young plants from nodules (the technology is described above).

Alocasia: how to care at home

Secondly, even a plant without leaves is able to recover completely after a while. Alokaziya has a shortened trunk - it is of the main value for us, because it has dormant buds.
To begin with, inspect the plant, if there is rot on it, remove it and always with a supply of healthy tissue. Then you need to cut off all rotten and damaged roots. Do not be afraid if after this operation there are no roots at all, the main thing is not to let the rot spread further, because for the buds to germinate, you will need to hold the plants in conditions of high humidity and heat, and these are ideal conditions for the development of rot, so it must be removed very carefully. Sprinkle slices with charcoal, you can sprinkle with crumbs of activated charcoal. Next, you need to wrap the trunk with moss, and live in a transparent container. (mini-greenhouse) You can not ventilate, but be sure to moisten regularly so that the trunk does not dry out.
You will be surprised when, after a while, roots appear from a seemingly lifeless "stump", and then leaves. When the plant grows up, it can be transplanted into the soil mixture, but it is still advisable to keep the plants under a jar or in a mini-greenhouse for some time, until the root system grows.

Rest period.

Who would have thought, but peace is good for alocasia. In autumn, the leaves begin to turn yellow, they can be cut off during this period, and the plant itself can be removed from the windowsill. Watering is greatly reduced. It is possible to expose alocasia to light in January-February, watering is increased gradually until leaves appear. After such a rest, Sander's alocasia grows up to 8 large leaves.

Of all the house flowers, I like plants with large, juicy leaves in original colors the most. Unlike many women, I don't appreciate flowers in plants as much as leaves.

When I saw Alocasia (Alocasia), I realized right away - I will definitely love this plant. And buying her, I hoped that she would love me if she felt my sympathy and care. Therefore, immediately after the purchase of alocasia, I plunged into the study of the rules for caring for it, and then, already in the process of forming our relationship, adjustments were made to these rules.

Listen to article

homeland of alocasia

The main thing I learned about this plant is that it needs conditions that are as close to natural as possible, and then caring for alocasia will be simple. And in what conditions does this flower grow in nature?

Transplantation and reproduction of alocasia

You need to transplant home alocasia every year in the spring. The main thing in this process is not to damage the roots of the plant. It is best to transplant alocasia by transshipment, leaving an earthen clod on the roots. Mature plants need to be repotted every three years.

Alocasia is propagated in several ways: by seeds, division of the rhizome, daughter tubers and cuttings.

When propagating by seeds, it must be borne in mind that they, like the flower itself, die in too dry soil, therefore, after planting the seeds, they are sprayed, and the soil is regularly watered. Alocasia seedlings dive twice, and then planted in small pots for growing. A young alocasia can be planted in a permanent place when its roots fill a small pot.

When propagated by rhizomes, tubers or cuttings, the corresponding parts are separated from the plant and planted in a separate pot. For better engraftment and germination, create greenhouse conditions for the new plant.

A modern human dwelling is often a stone box filled with furniture and appliances. Phenol fumes from furniture are released into the closed space. Fonit technique, producing and emitting harmful ions, a person smokes, launches the dirty air of the city into the apartment. Plants standing on racks and window sills absorb this dirt and release oxygen, its ions, and phytoncides in return. Large specimens, which include alocasia, are spectacular and useful. Therefore, connoisseurs of the microclimate and beauty give birth to alocasia, and caring for it at home is not difficult.

Why alocasia became a houseplant

Have flower growers wondered why from time immemorial, by hook or by crook, travelers and botanists brought overseas plants from distant countries? Why did most of them not perish, but multiplied by hybrid forms? Some travelers risked their lives to get a new specimen for their botanical garden. Later it turned out that in addition to beauty, plants are priceless for their medicinal properties. It turns out that they not only absorb the hostile substances around us, but process them into poisons that heal in small quantities.

Our ancestors did not have as much knowledge as they do now, but intuitively chose and brought useful medicinal plants, which became homemade. Therefore, an indoor alocasia flower in an apartment is a danger to children and animals, and it should be cared for with protective gloves. But people love it, and gave their affectionate names - shamrock, weatherman. In folk medicine of eastern countries, among the natives of the tropics, this plant is used to treat such serious illnesses, like, cancer, ulcers of various origins. Look!

Photo alocasia and home care

Any plant brought from afar requires certain conditions for life. The unhurried selection of nature for centuries has adapted plants to a region with special properties. Therefore, it is necessary to create special conditions for guests to live. And it even blooms when spring is in our homeland, and we have winter. It is important for the grower to find such care conditions to ensure the health of the plant in the home of people with other comfort requirements. Alocasia care in the photo will take a long time for a mature seven-year-old plant to bloom.

An inexperienced lover of home plants, acquiring alocasia, may encounter a number of problems caused by improper care:

  1. Very slow growth of new leaves.
  2. The plant is lethargic, the leaves have drooped, watering does not restore the tugor.
  3. The leaves not only drooped, but turn yellow and dry, the lower ones fall off.
  4. The dark green leaf becomes pale, the variegated leaves lose their decorative effect.
  5. Dark spots appear on the leaves or the petiole begins to rot.

All these signs are the result of improper maintenance of the plant. Therefore, it is necessary to comply with the basic requirements of agricultural technology.

Initially, you should provide an indoor flower alocasia with a permanent place. It should not be touched by the sun's rays and drafts when airing the apartment. At the same time, the plant needs a lot of light, sometimes artificial lighting can be created.

You can not put the plant in a damp cold corner. For prosperity, the use of lower soil heating in a pot is practiced. If the roots are warm, they deliver food to the aerial part faster and the plant prospers. AT warm earth Phytophthora and root rot will not develop.

The tropical plant alocasia likes to be kept at a temperature of 21-27 0 in summer and not lower than 18 in winter. At the same time, winter maintenance should be with additional illumination so that the day is at least 10 hours.

A resident of the tropics loves the high humidity of the surrounding air. It is comfortable for her to be at 80% humidity in the room. This humidity is not suitable for humans. Therefore, a compromise is reached when keeping the plant in the kitchen or in the bathroom and next to the aquarium. You can set a pot of alocasia on a pallet filled with moss and expanded clay, which evaporate moisture around the plant. A humidifier will do. However, additional spraying with a fine spray and wiping the leaves with a damp sponge is also necessary.

Wet soil in a pot with alocasia is a prerequisite for summer maintenance. Watering is carried out every other day with settled soft water, the liquid that has flowed out through the drainage hole is removed. When watering by the bottom method, the remaining water is drained after 30 minutes. Winter is reduced until the topsoil dries up. The roots should be in a moist, air-saturated substrate. Therefore, alocasia is transplanted as the substrate compacts, when the roots become cramped in the container. At first, the plant is transplanted annually, later every three years, choosing a large capacity, but cramped for overgrown roots.

We remind you that all parts of the plant are poisonous and secrete a burning juice. Therefore, work related to contact with sections should be carried out only with gloves, and eyes and mucous membranes should be protected. Wash hands and tools after work with soap and a brush.

Alocasia soil loves low acidity, better than special preparation. Requirements for the composition of the soil allow the use of various components, adhering to the conditions:

  • soil acidity 5.5-6.5;
  • good moisture capacity;
  • high air saturation;
  • the presence of mineral components of various composition.

The addition of porous charcoal forms active centers for mineral salts, nutrition for the root system.

When transplanting alocasia, a deep container is used, since the roots of the plant are not superficial, deep. However, the container for alocasia should not be wide so that there are no zones of acidification of the soil. The root system should fill the pot. Choose tall and conical vessels for stability. But there may be containers with vertical walls, if there is no danger of capsizing under the shift of the center of gravity, bent, heavy leaves of alocasia. Depending on the variety good care alocasia at home can reach a height of two meters.

Tips from experienced flower growers specializing in alocasia

If the plant was purchased in a specialized store, a greenhouse, it is necessary to arrange quarantine for it for two weeks. When diseases or pests are found, it is easier to cure one plant than to infect an entire home garden. Monitoring should be carried out to detect:

  • scale insects:
  • spider mite;
  • , phytophthora and powdery mildew.

Transplant a healthy plant into a new soil, completely clearing the greenhouse substrate, while preserving the roots as much as possible.

When preparing the planting soil, add vermiculite and perlite in an amount equal to a quarter of the substrate. They regulate the humidity in the pot and fill the composition with the necessary nutrient salts. Animal horn shavings can be used instead of vermiculite. The action is the same.

If a plant sheds leaves, it does not mean that it has died. The root system may be healthy and alocasia will grow back. To do this, you need to remove the container with the roots in a dark place with a temperature of about 17 0, very rarely moisten and expose to light after 2 months. Within a month, the first shoots should appear. Sometimes stubborn people sleep for up to six months.

After flowering, the plant inevitably loses its decorative effect. This is a normal physiological process, you should continue to care for the indoor flower alocasia , and his beauty will return.

The use of the lower heating of the earth coma is effective both in the propagation of the plant and during the growing season. By following the rules of care, you can not take care of the health of pets. A strong flower will overcome external misfortunes on its own.

Features of alocasia polly - video

(Alocasia) - fast growing indoor plant, easy to care for, with unusually beautiful leaves. About 70 species grow in nature, but in
culture is grown much less. She is not often seen in our apartments, perhaps, her very exotic appearance scares her away, and many people think that this beauty requires increased attention to herself. But in fact, this is not so, and alocasia is a grateful plant, which, with some care, will grow well and even bloom.

Family: Aroid

Region of origin: tropical regions of Asia

Growth: average

Temperature: alocasia is a heat-loving plant. The difference between the temperature in the spring-summer and autumn-winter periods is not very large, up to 5 degrees. In spring and summer it is 22-26 degrees, and in autumn and winter 18-20*C.

Important! Alocasia, like all aroids, for example, spathiphyllum, zamiokulkas, anthurium, does not like drafts and cold air. But she definitely needs fresh air.

Lighting: This shade plant. It needs to be shaded from direct sunlight. It is quite possible to place in the back of the room. If it is actively growing, it is better to rearrange it in a more lit place. If growth continues in winter, additional lighting is needed, otherwise the leaves will be elongated and pale.

Air humidity: alocasia is necessary high humidity air, because she is a tropical inhabitant, where there are frequent rains and under a dense canopy of trees, the air is always saturated with moisture. These are the conditions that the plant needs to create. In order to increase the humidity around the plant, and just in the apartment, it is enough to put it near the plant beautiful vase with water, or, more effectively, a fountain or waterfall. All this can be bought today, especially since, as they say knowledgeable people, it's good for feng shui. And, of course, regular spraying will help. In addition, the plant will look more decorative if its beautiful leaves are wiped from time to time with a damp cloth and washed in the shower, covering the soil in a pot with a plastic bag or thick paper so as not to overmoisten the plant. Alocasia with velvet leaves are sprayed from the underside of the plate.

Important! If the apartment is cool, for example, in the off-season, when it is already cold outside and the heating has not yet been turned on, alocasia is sprayed gently, but it is better to simply wipe the leaves with a damp cloth.

Watering: Alocasia should be watered with warm and well-settled water, so that the hand is pleasant. In the spring - summer period, it is watered abundantly, but only after the top layer of the earth dries out. In winter, they water less often, but strictly ensuring that the earth ball does not dry out. Be sure to drain the water from the pan.

Important! When caring for alocasia, you need to properly adjust the watering, then the plant will feel great.

Top dressing: During the period of active growth, they are fed with complex fertilizer every two weeks. It is important not to overdo it with top dressing, it is better to take half the dose stated on the package. If the plant is at rest, you can’t feed it, but if your alocasia grows in winter (this happens), fertilize it a little, for this you can take a third of the dose.

Bloom: Alocasia can bloom only from 5-7 years of age. Flowers with a specific aroma, small, collected in an inflorescence-cob, which is covered with a white-pink or milky-greenish veil. In principle, flowering is not of particular interest, after all, the plant is decorative and deciduous. Therefore, nothing will be bad if you cut off the peduncle that has appeared. Flowering takes quite a lot of energy from the plant, which can affect the appearance of new leaves. If you want to collect seeds, then wait until the seeds bloom and ripen.

rest period: The plant rests from October to March. At this time, watering is reduced, preventing the earthen clod from drying out, the temperature is lowered to 20 * C, and they are not fed.

The soil: Soil quality is very important for alocasia. When growing it, this is one of the main points of success. The substrate must be air- and water-permeable, and therefore light and loose. From ready-made mixtures, a substrate for aroids is suitable, in which it is desirable to add coarse sand, or other baking powder - perlite, vermiculite, fine brick chips. You can use an all-purpose potting mix, to which you add azaleas substrate to make the mixture more acidic, sand (perlite, vermiculite) and sphagnum moss. You can make a mixture yourself from sheet, sod land, peat (two parts) with the addition of humus and sand.

Transfer: with good care and suitable conditions, alocasia grows quite quickly, so young plants are transplanted as they grow, and adults every 2-3 years. Transplanted in spring into a container with a diameter of 2-3 cm larger than the previous one. The roots of the plant are fragile, so you need to transplant carefully. If there are no problems with the plant, and the substrate in which it is grown is suitable, the transplant can be replaced by transshipment, but it is imperative to renew the top layer of soil (2-4 cm). Remove the soil carefully so as not to damage the roots.

Important! Alocasia should be planted without deepening the root neck, plant it at the same level at which it grew.

I want to remind you that all plants, including alocasia, must be transplanted after purchase. In this case, it is necessary to completely remove the substrate in which the plant was sold. Often the roots just need to be washed away from it, this should be done carefully, gradually soaking.

Reproduction: Alocasia reproduces by dividing the rhizome, daughter nodules, offspring, seeds and vegetatively - stem cuttings.

When transplanting, you can carefully divide the rhizome, sprinkle the slices with charcoal or activated charcoal and plant them in different pots with light, loose soil.

If, when transplanting a plant, you find tubers with dark scales on the roots, they can be separated. It is better to do this in the spring, if you plant in the fall, they will not start growing for a very long time. Ripened nodules are easily separated by themselves, if they are still light and do not leave by themselves, then it is better not to touch them, let them grow up. Nodules are rooted in a light substrate of equal parts of vermiculite or perlite, sphagnum moss and soil mixture at a temperature not lower than +25 degrees. Planted shallow so that the upper part is slightly visible. Nodules can be watered with a solution of epin, it stimulates the awakening of dormant buds. The tuber takes root from 3 weeks to 1.5 months, and only after the roots appear, does the leaf begin to grow.

Propagation of alocasia by seeds.

Seeds are sown immediately after harvest, as fresh ones germinate better. The soil for sowing should be loose. You can take a mixture of peat and sand or the usual substrate for aroid or azaleas, where you add the same amount of sand (perlite, vermiculite). Seeds are sown shallow. The temperature for germination is 20-24 degrees. A pot of seeds is covered with a film or glass, aired every day, sprayed, keeping the earth moist. After the shoots have real leaves, they dive into separate cups. It will be possible to transplant them in about a year, when the earth in the cup will be braided with roots and the plant will become cramped.

Variegated forms, when propagated by seeds, lose their variegated features. Therefore, it is better to propagate such plants in the above ways.

When rooting the cuttings, the cut must be sprinkled with crushed coal, the cutting is buried in a mixture of sand or perlite with peat, or simply in sphagnum moss. From above, the pot with the handle is covered with a plastic bag or jar in order to create a certain humidity. Be sure to ventilate every day.

Important! All parts of alocasia are poisonous! You need to be careful and be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after working with the plant. And, of course, try
protect your household from the flower, especially children and animals, that is, place it in a place inaccessible to them.

Possible growing problems:

Slow growth. Alocasia does not grow very fast, but with proper care it is quite normal, so pay attention to top dressing. Perhaps the plant lacks nitrogen, which is necessary in the stage of active growth. Use fertilizers for ornamental leafy plants, which are higher in nitrogen. But not
overfeed, it's also bad.

The tips of the leaves dry. Insufficient humidity in the room. Place a vessel of water or a decorative fountain next to the plant. Spray daily.

Dark spots on leaves. Perhaps the flower is in a cold room or in a draft. Stains may appear from excessive watering. When watering, use warm water, water along the edge of the pot so that moisture does not get on the base of the plant, or water from the pan using the so-called bottom watering. To do this, lower the pot with the plant into a basin with warm water no more than 20 minutes. Do not spray if the apartment is cool.

Leaves wither. Lack or excess watering. Adjust watering and pay attention to the substrate, it may be too heavy and the soil dries out slowly. In this case, various rots may appear. If so, transplant the alocasia into a suitable loose soil. Be sure to inspect the roots, cut out all the damage, sprinkle with charcoal or activated charcoal. After transplanting, do not water or spray for a day or two.

Pests and diseases: alocasia can be affected by aphids, scale insects, mealybugs, and spider mites. To prevent the appearance of pests, you can wash the plant once a week with green soap.

More recently, alocasia was classified as a rare plant - it was practically never found on the shelves of flower shops. Today, its huge shield-shaped leaves with prominent veins attract buyers "on every corner." Before acquiring a spectacular plant, you need to prepare for the requirements of agricultural technology that alocasia will “present”. Care at home for her is quite complicated. This does not mean at all that you need to refuse an exquisite beauty - it is enough to familiarize yourself with the features of its cultivation.

Alocasia flower belongs to the aroid family. The genus Alocasia includes up to 70 various kinds, differing in size and color of leaves.

The stem is thickened, usually vertical, but in some natural species it can be elongated or even creeping. In all cultivated plants, the stem is so short that it appears to be completely absent. On the stem is located from 4 to 8 highly decorative leaves. The "maximum" number of leaves is determined by the variety of alocasia. There can be no more of them - when the amount indicated by nature is reached, the old leaves begin to die off at the same rate as the young ones grow.

The leaf shape can be thyroid, arrow-shaped or heart-shaped. Young leaves are more rounded. The segments of the leaf plate are asymmetric, the edges are often entire, they can be pinnately dissected. The leaf length can vary from 20 to 100 cm.

One of the decorations of alocasia is the color of the leaf, which can vary from glossy dark green to light green. The leaf plate is "lined" with large convex veins, painted in lighter (or darker) tones.

When the humidity increases, the stomata of the leaves can release excess moisture: it seems that alocasia is crying. Often, “tears” stand out before the rain, so “popularly” it is called a weatherman.

The flowers of this plant are inconspicuous, they are an ear wrapped in a green veil. Alocasia “shows” flowering only in ideal conditions, so at home it most often does not bloom.

Main types and varieties

Different types of alocasia differ in size, shape and color of the leaves. Not all are suitable for growing at home, but there are also varieties that are more adapted to them.


The following alocasia attract attention:


There are many more varieties that are highly decorative.

Home care

Care for alocasia is reduced to the most accurate recreation of the conditions of its native land, tropical Asia. Like any plant in the tropics, alocasia feels comfortable only when high humidity and temperature, which is especially difficult to achieve in apartments.

Lighting

In winter, bright diffused lighting is required; in summer, the plant is placed in partial shade.

At different varieties alocasia lighting requirements are different. Variegated or contrasting ones, such as Sander's alocasia, will need more light, otherwise they will fade. Varieties with plain leaves tolerate partial shade more easily. The need for light also depends on age: young plants need more of it.

Air humidity

Humidity is high; regular spraying is important, preferably kept in a greenhouse.

Like any indoor plant that “came” to us from the tropics, alocasia is demanding on air humidity. It is sprayed daily, the leaves are regularly cleaned of dust. You can increase the humidity by placing the pot on a tray with water and expanded clay. The best option, especially during the heating period - a greenhouse.

Those who want to continue to admire the plant and at the same time provide sufficient air humidity for alocasia can use an aquarium. Expanded clay, sphagnum or sand are placed at the bottom, some water is poured, and a homely beauty is placed inside.

Temperature regime

The optimum air temperature is 18-25 degrees.

Alocasia is thermophilic, does not tolerate sharp temperature fluctuations and cold drafts. Therefore, it is located as far as possible from opening windows and vents, especially in winter. In summer, the plant, on the contrary, is protected from excessive heat.

Watering

Abundant, and at the same time careful watering is required - the plant does not tolerate both drying out of the earthen coma and stagnant water.

During the period of active growth, the soil in the pot is constantly kept moist. After a few hours, excess moisture must be drained from the pan: its excess will inevitably lead to rotting of the roots. In winter, watering is slightly reduced, allowing the top layer of soil to dry out. Water is used settled, heated to room temperature.

top dressing

Top dressing once a month with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.

For the full care of alocasia at home, monthly mineral supplements will be required. Young plants need nitrogen and potassium to gain green mass and develop immunity, so they respond well to seedling fertilizers. For adult bushes, any top dressing for decorative and deciduous plants will be enough.

reproduction

Reproduction of alocasia occurs in the spring with the help of offspring, stem cuttings or tuber division. In the conditions of professional greenhouses, you can get seeds, but in room conditions it is almost impossible. In addition, varietal characteristics of some forms, such as Polly's alocasia, are not transmitted during seed breeding.

The separation of the daughter tubers or the separation of the mother tubers is usually carried out during the spring transplant. In the first case, young offspring are carefully detached, kept in a fungicidal solution, planted in a tight container and placed in a greenhouse. When dividing, the bush is cut so that each half has growth points and healthy roots. The place of the cut must be sprinkled with charcoal.

Cuttings occur according to the usual rules for aroids:

  • the stalk is chosen so that it has several points of growth and a pecked root;
  • the cut is processed with charcoal;
  • for rooting use an equal mixture of peat and sand;
  • necessarily the presence of a greenhouse, high (20-25 degrees) temperature and bottom heating.

It is important that a dormant bud remains on the stem under the cut, otherwise the mother plant may no longer start growing.

Transfer

Growing alocasia at home, be prepared for the need to replant it annually. All work with the plant is done only with gloves - it is poisonous, and even a light touch on the leaves or roots can cause irritation.

Choosing a pot and suitable soil

A container for alocasia is chosen high and moderately spacious so that 4-5 cm remain between the stem and the sides on each side. Every year, the home beauty must be transplanted into a new pot, which is 2-3 sizes larger than the previous one.

This plant categorically does not tolerate dense heavy substrates - the soil for alocasia should be slightly acidic, moisture and breathable, with good mechanical properties. You can use a mixture of leafy, soddy soil (coniferous soil is not added - it is too acidic), peat and sand (2: 2: 1: 3).

To improve the mechanical properties, 1 part of coconut fiber is added to the resulting mixture. The ideal primer for alocasia, when squeezed in a fist, retains and holds its shape, but crumbles at the slightest touch.

Step-by-step transplant process and care after it

When transplanting alocasia, it is advisable not to disturb the earthen ball, so it is carried out by the transshipment method:

  • 2-3 cm of drainage and a small layer of soil are poured into a new pot;
  • the plant is carefully removed;
  • placed in the center of the prepared container;
  • fill up the earth so that the measles neck remains open.

Sometimes, when transplanting, it is necessary to remove part of the root system - for example, with partial decay. In this case, the roots are completely cleaned of the soil, the damaged parts are removed, the cut points are treated with crushed charcoal. They are dried for 15 minutes before being placed in a pot.

After transplantation, care for alocasia comes down to the fact that the plant is placed in a greenhouse, which is ventilated daily. Water carefully, trying to prevent drying out and at the same time not to flood the alocasia.

Medicinal properties

Few people know that alocasia has medicinal properties: ointments, infusions are prepared from it, sometimes fresh juice is used. healing properties all parts of the plant have. Preparations from the stem relieve toothache and stomach pain. The leaves are used in the treatment of pneumonia and tuberculosis. The tuber relieves tumors when applied externally.

To prepare the infusion, one crushed fresh leaf is poured with warm water and incubated for 8 hours. An alcohol tincture of alocasia is also used. To prepare it, the bottom sheet is cut off along with the petiole and 100 ml of alcohol (70%) is poured. Aged 10 days. Preparations are taken half an hour before meals, three times a day, 1 drop diluted in a tablespoon of water.

In diseases of the joints and trophic ulcers, a slurry of leaves is used, which is applied to the damaged area. You can mix it with a fat cream, and use it as an ointment.

Alocasia preparations are popular in Chinese folk medicine. But it is worth remembering that they are extremely poisonous - self-administration of the course and dosage, as well as improper preparation, can lead to serious consequences.

Diseases and pests

Alocasia and fungal diseases can be affected, among which powdery mildew and various rot. Fungicides will help in the fight against such diseases; and they can be prevented by strictly following the rules of agricultural technology.

Potential Growing Problems

The most common difficulties that owners of alocasia have to face are related to improper care. For example, yellowing and drying of the leaves may indicate insufficient or excessive watering, low air humidity. Withered foliage can also indicate an excess of salts in the soil - in this case, more attention should be paid to settling water.

Slow growth signals a lack of nitrogen. Feed the plant regularly. Dark rotten spots appear on alocasia with sudden changes in temperature, cold drafts. The appearance of these "symptoms" on the trunk clearly indicates that the process of decay has begun in the root system. This often happens with excessive watering with cold water. The plant must be rescued immediately. If the green color of the leaves fades, alocasia does not have enough light. In the future, this will affect the growth rate, so the plant is provided with illumination or transferred to a brighter place.



Expert opinion

Mila Rozhkova

Color Expert

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Despite the presence of certain difficulties, growing alocasia at home is possible. Following agricultural practices and providing the plant with conditions close to natural, you can admire the exotic beauty all year round.