This incredibly beautiful deciduous plant is not very popular. Meanwhile, the plant alocasia, which belongs to the family of the Aroids, whose homeland is considered the tropics of Southeast Asia, does not require special care and easily animates any interior thanks to leaves of unusual shape and color.
How to care for alocasia?
Alocasia, whose species are estimated at about seven dozen plants, loves warmth and humidity. For the plant, it is necessary to keep the temperature above 20 ° C, and in winter it should not fall below 18 ° C. The flower does not like drafts, so even in summer it is not worth taking it out on the balcony. Sharp temperature changes also have a disastrous effect on the plant, so it is important to maintain comfortable conditions for alocacia, close to its native tropics. Variegated species especially love light, but direct sunlight for the plant is undesirable.
Watering the plant should be abundant and regular, but after a couple of hours the water from the pan is necessarily poured in order to avoid rotting roots. In winter, watering is greatly reduced, only to ensure that the soil in the pot does not dry out. Alocasia loves moisture, it needs to be sprayed daily, using for this purpose soft water, previously durable. It is permissible to "bathe" the plant under the shower or wipe the leaves with a damp cloth, above all, before water procedures protect the substrate in the pot from getting excess moisture, for example, covered with polyethylene. Note that after spraying on the leaves of the plant, moisture accumulates, which is already impregnated with its poison, so it is better not to touch the drops with hands.
Grow in the apartment can only young bushes, as the growth of alocasia can reach more than 1 meter in height. Scented or Indian alocasia grows very quickly, there were cases when the height of the plant exceeded 8 meters, so for an apartment such a bush can only become a temporary resident.
The decorative plant is poisonous, the place for it should be chosen in such a way that children and pets can not reach the beautiful leaves. When manipulating the bush, protective gloves should be used, getting the flower juice on the skin can cause inflammation or contact dermatitis.
If you have Alocasia at home, it is best to reproduce it by dividing the tubers during transplantation. It is also possible to separate the kidney with the subsequent processing of the sections and placing it in a suitable substrate. Cuttings of alocasia can also be used in
How does alocasia flower?
Flowering is only available to adult plants, which is problematic in a city apartment. Flowers of the alocacia are small, with a pleasant aroma, and the inflorescence-ear is covered with a sheet-coverlet. Experienced growers prefer to remove flowers, so as not to weaken the bush.
If the alocasia plants turn yellow leaves, the problem is most often covered in the wrong conditions for the bush. Another reason for changing the appearance may be a lack of nutrients or a natural process of aging the flower. Do not cut yellow leaves, it's better to let them die naturally.
From pests in the absence of proper care for the leaves may appear spider mite or scab. When treating the plant from pests, do not forget to protect your hands from ingestion of Alocasia juice.