Don't Buy An Alocasia! Here's Why!
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- Uncover the love-hate relationship I have with Alocasias in this captivating video! Join me on an Alocasia Tour filled with tips as I reveal what I'm doing differently to help these plants thrive. Get inspired and find something that works for you!
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✅ VIDEO CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Einstein's Theory of Insanity
00:56 Alocasia Dearly Departed
01:27 Confession of a Plant Terminator
01:52 Alocasia Dragon Scale
03:01 Alocasia Ebony
03:54 Alocasia Red Secret
04:45 Alocasia Melo
07:08 Alocasias break your bank account
07:46 Alocasia 'I don't know'
08:23 Alocasia Polly
09:34 Alocasia Green Velvet
11:00 Why my Alocasias died
11:48 Alocasia Bisma
13:35 Alocasia Cuprea Red Secret
15:35 New things I am trying
This video is about alocasia care but it also tries to cover the following subject:
How to keep alocasia alive
Dying alocasia
Dormant alocasia
TITLE: Don't Buy An Alocasia! Here's Why!
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✅ About The Leca Queen :
Nora here! Welcome to The Leca Queen channel.
I love all things indoor PLANTS. I enjoy growing my plants in SOILESS media; yep, no soil! I primarily use LECA (clay balls) to grow my plants using hydroponics (semi-hydroponics).
I show you how my beautiful plants grow in LECA and help you achieve the RESULTS that I have. I cover a TON of leca growing tips, a very comprehensive leca 101 where I hold your hand and help you navigate the world of semi-hydroponics.
I love to experiment and discover different ways of taking care of plants. There is no right or wrong way, just the way that works for you and your plants. Join me on my many plant adventures.
FREE GUIDE How to grow BIG plants checklist: www.thelecaqueen.com/the-grow...
I hope you enjoy it and subscribe: / @thelecaqueen
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#plantcare #alocasia #alocasiablackvelvet #alocasiacare #alocasiaamazonica #sustainablegardening
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Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
© The Leca Queen
Alocasia likes to be rot bounded, you can try to move them in smaller pots. I have over 25 alocasias and they are all thriving. I keep them in pon mixed with perlite and seramis(for better airation), in small self watering pots, humidity 60+ and under grow lights. After years of taking care of them, I got to the conclusion that every one of them has different needs when it comes to water. For example, I have to refill Frydeks reservoir 2 times faster then Polly. And they are both the same age and dimension. The small one you couldn't identify is a cuprea. I love your videos!
Yes, I find the Dragon Scale ones are very susceptible to being overwatered and getting oedema in the leaves! Possibly because the leaves are thicker so hold more water so can go dry a little bit.
That is excellent! 25!!! Amazing! I will try adding perlite to my pon. So it is back to the grow tent for them you reckon?
@@rozalinkie exactly! Frydek has tinner leaves than Polly. This is why it needs more water and this is why I made the comparison.
@@TheLecaQueen Thanks! I keep them all over the place. I'm living in an estern european country, so the weather here doesn't help me to much and a growing tent would be useless. I have too many plants that needs tropical climate so I had to make my entire home humid, hot and bright. And is worth it.
I would kill for australia climate!
I keep my alocasias in a mix of perlite, coco coir, horticultural charcoal, and worm castings. Light on the coco coir, like 30 percent, 40 percent perlite, 20 percent charcoal, and 10 percent worm castings. I water when the top inch or two of the media is dry. Make sure it's drained through till it's no longer dripping then back into the cover pot it goes. And their loving it! Big gorgeous leaves on my dragon scale and silver dragon. I also have two bambinos potted together with 13 and 12 leaves each!
😂 you were hysterically funny today, I happen to be a fiddle leaf fig killer (sadly) and I jut keep trying as well. It’s the triumph I’m after of finally keeping one alive!
Thank you, it is just how I feel !!! Have you seen my video on how to keep Fiddles happy?
czcams.com/video/lagXK5EoipY/video.html
Thank you Nora, I’ve just watched that video and I feel encouraged. I’m going to keep hope alive and your suggestions!❤️
I have a 3 feet tall Alocasia Zebrina that's absolutely thriving in Leca, it was a 3 leaf plant with 1 foot leaves before I transfered it using the super long method (which is basically the long method except you have a holiday planned so you leave it in water for 2 months) and it's now up to 6 leaves with the biggest spanning 2 feet across. I also have an Alocasia Azlanii which doubled in leaf size after I transfered it to Leca, and an Alocasia Dragon Scale which was severely overwatered when I got it so I had to remove most of the roots and half the corm because of rot. It's now bounced back and is starting to put out bigger leaves aswell. For me they seem to do very well with a lot of light (nearly full sun), a lot of water (reservoir filled up halfway) and a lot of nutrients (adding new ones every week or every other week). I've never given them any extra humidity, so maybe that's the key?
Joost, I gotta say, that you are now just showing off!!!😂😊. I am so glad things are going well. I don't know what the key is!!
@@TheLecaQueen Not gonna lie you're probably right :p It's just weird seeing so many people struggling with them when for me they are among the plants that do the best in Leca!
I don't think alocasias universally like root bond. Some alocasias do have small roots, but some grow huge root system. It's just water is used up quicker in small pots so alocasias are less likely to get root rot.
Omg this video had me cracking up 😂 especially when you pulled out the alocasia ebony. But also, I can relate. I’m an alocasia killer. So I pledged to stop buying them 🥹 I don’t want my home to turn into an alocasia funeral home
🤣🤣🤣funeral home! That is a good one 👍 👌
Hello Nora-This video is definitely in my wheelhouse today. At least I don’t feel alone in my quest to have these beauties. Listening closely. Have a great week!💚🌿
Hey Alfreda! Hope you are good!
They decline in soil too, even though your home condition is good but compare to garden center/green house it's still a drastic change, maybe try to group them together, so they'll have their own community/friendship which may make them sustain longer. 😅
Something I’ve learned about all commercially-sold plants… some people say not to repot when you first buy a plant. Let it relax and adjust.. Hm. Yes and no, at least for me. Succulents yes, just so not water it. Because the soil the growers use is often pure peat or pure coconut, with nothing else added, it’s a long-term death sentence of you over water or don’t know what to do. I mean… Succulents may be ok bit ONLY IF they’re not overwatered or sunburned… but everything else? I say reply right away or within a week. I really feel the soil that plants are grown in and sold in is a temporary home. Once you buy a plant, it should be improved upon and its living conditions reconfigured asap… as in, don’t wait! They’re better repotted soon! Less chance of decline! None of us grow our plants in straight peat or coconut, there is always additives and drainage. I know this is off topic but whatever. I agree with you!
Soil retains too much moisture and don't provide enough nutrition for hungry alocasias. I use fermented leaves + worm castings + burnt rice hulls + akadama instead. Incredibly well-drained and nutrition-rich. Could use pumice, but then the potting mix gets too light-weight and the plant tends to fall over. Btw my plants in potting mix with akadama seem to grow better than pumice or perlite in general. So I started to use akadama a lot.
Nora, I wish I could help because I have learned so much from your channel. I never buy the expensive ones but the cheaper ones die in my care anyway. I think you are going to figure it out, then we will all benefit. Have a great week
I thought I had figured it out until most of them died!🤣🤣🤣
I used to have a Dragon Scale. She had two leaves. Then she sprouted a new leaf and I got super excited! After 2 weeks all leaves said "bye", and the plant died...
Love, Love, Loved the video. I just started my journey with Alocasia. I'm using a very airy mix for soil. FINGERS CROSSED!
Best of luck!
You may want to try to play around light and nutrient strength.
Lecaaddict mentioned in her blog that using 1000+ ppm for alocasias works for her. That is approximately double strength on the nutrients vs. houseplants in general.
Also, alocasias tend to be more light hungry than other aroids. I have a black velvet that went juvenile to more mature in a few months just by sitting on a west facing window getting afternoon direct sun.
That is interesting. I might try it. At this point I will try anything! Why does everyone have a thriving Black Velvet but me???
I love your determination and it looks like you have turned the tide. I killed all of my first alocasia (black velvet and zebrina) and the reason was that I didn't give them enough light and they died from overwatering. I would have never tried again but the black velvet was my Mom's so I wanted to replace it. I put it next to a south facing window and it started to grow and dry out so that I found myself watering a lot. I a not good keeping up with watering so I have transitioned to PON. I rinse the roots completely by washing in water with gentle dish soap and then soaking in water and replacing the water every thirty minutes 3 times. Then I pot in PON keeping the roots in the top 2/3 of the pot so that the roots don't have direct contact with the reservoir. This has worked for me and I now have an Amazonica, zebrina, Frydek, Maharani and silver dragon which are all doing great. I heard that alocasia can respond badly to transition from soil to PON and that issues are avoided by watering in PON like you would if it was in soil (no reservoir) until the roots transition to the PON which could be up to 6 months. I haven't tried this because I"ve had no problem with the transition. Now that we're going into fall/winter, I am concerned of how they will react. I wish you all the luck with your alocasia and the rest of your plants.
Thank you Lucy, all the best with that Black Velvet, it hurts even more when a plant is special.!
My Alocasia Dragon Scale thrives on neglect. North facing window, in pearlite, on a table with standard lamp lighting for about 3 hrs in the evening. Add nutrient solution when the pot feels lighter. Personally, I think it's a crap shoot! Love the new fillming studio!😊
I love it! Maybe they thrive on neglect!!! Thank you. Sitting in my living room aka plant room when I am making videos where I am not demonstrating things is a nice change. Glad you like it.
I just found your videos and right away loved them and subscribed thank you for your info I ended up with 5 alocasias this summer cause I mostly like to get the rescue plants from the clearance rack they seem to be doing great but our winter has started I didn't know they go dormant so if they look like they died I will wait and see thank you for letting us know will be looking out for your videos
My zebrina was so beautiful, in winter time it's died left 2 corms. One spouted, but died after putting a leaf. Polly was looking good, but then decided to die, now it's hanging to dear live in perlite, got some corms and one is puting small root in perlite.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has had such ups and downs with Alocasia!
you are far from alone!
They are so beautiful and mysterious !
They’re my favorite 🥺 ten new ones arrived yesterday.
Black velvet and azlanii are tough to keep alive. Scalprum as well. Alocasia melo is the heaviest feeder, in my experience (idk if thats true). Polly and dragon scale are easy.
They like lots and lots of light but not much direct. Soil close to that of a succulent, must be very well draining. I wouldn’t even do self watering. If the roots go into the reservoir, they’ll die. They can’t do water culture.
Hi Nora, I have been babying an Alocasia Black velvet for about an year now. I got her as an inch tall sapling. With ONE leaf. We have been through several life & death scenarios- but each time I think she is gone, she makes a comeback! Not much of growth, but she is hanging in there 😂. Colocasias were another story altogether. Got some green stemmed ones and some black/ purple stemmed elephant ears which did really well in LECA. Grew to almost 3 feet tall when I noticed some funky stuff happening at the petioles. Had to uproot them all. Throwing away the gorgeous plants with beautiful white roots was heartbreaking!
I feel your pain! It is all so very heartbreaking! How is your Black Velvet doing now?
I had this issue. Turned out I was severely underwatering them. Now all my Alocasia are thriving.
Hi, what I learned is that Alocasias have very thin roots. For this reason the substrate must be fine-grained, like Pon, for example. I learned, the hard way, that you have to water them very little but they must always have a slow release fertilizer. Finally you have to be lucky
Alocasias originally grow in forest floor and especially alongside rivers. So I use a 'forest floor' mix made of decomposed leaves, decomposed pine needles, worm castings, burnt rice hulls, akadama, and peat moss in a proportion of roughly 1:1:1:1:4:2, and let water flow through constantly to mimic river (i.e., water keeps flowing throw the pots with a little bit velocity, get collected, filtered, and pumped up back to the pots again), and all my alocasias grow like crazy. I think there are two points in my experience: (1) Alocasias like very nutritious-rich, humus type of soil, and living in pon or leca probably feels like starvation for them; (2) root rot is not the result of over watering, but in stead, it's the result of still water in the pot providing the environment for bacteria and fungus growth; when water keeps flowing through and filtered, there's no room for bacteria growth, thus no root-rot.
Lol, I have a frydek that was gorgeous in my office with regular 70% RH, no humidifier. It came in normal potting soil (and still is). It went dormant last winter, so this spring I put it in my Ikea cabinet with 70% humidity and great light. I water as a regular house plant, so as soon as it's a bit dry under the surface I water thoroughly and now it has thrived and has 4 or 5 babies with full leaves. I just love it!!
That is awesome! Come back tour: czcams.com/video/Dmb7-4Hp2qs/video.html
I have an alocasia , wen I purchased her 2 1/2 years ago they told me this plant does not like wet feet, so I drilled a hole in the glass, I filled it with LECA, than added my plant, I added just a little PON, then filled the rest with LECA, I did make a make shift trellis, but I think I will create a small "D" shape moss pole, then Keep an eye 👁️ on it. thanx for sharing ur situation with these plants, I always learn something new.
Mine would die too, but I’ve started growing them from seed and am able to keep them alive. Seems to go through major shock with any changes so growing from seed in airy soil helps acclimate them to your environment.
Awesome earrings! I've grown Alocasia indoors for 3 decades, and the one key secret to success is HEAT, HEAT, HEAT. They want it even much hotter than our typical indoor temps. They seem so sensitive to overwatering when your night minimums are less than 70 F / 21 C, but get it much warmer (especially their minimum night temps) and they will thrive in any soil. LECA is really weak for Alocasia. These are big-leaved heavy feeders, so semi-hydro is not good for keeping them long term. Most of the species also like A LOT of direct sun, unlike that "bright indirect" nonsense you hear all over the internet. I'm also concerned your tent doesn't give them enough light. To help you see how much heat they want, take any of those almost dead rotting corms, clean it up, and put it in damp sphagnum in a bag and put it where it will get temps of 95-105 F. You'll have new shoots busting out in about 3 weeks.
I've finally kept my Alocasia Polly alive and maintaining 4 leaves for one year, so I thought I'd level up and try another. I found a Black Velvet at Walmart, now a week later and it's turned to mush. I hadn't even watered it yet since it looked just watered when I purchased it. I was absolutely gutted 😔
I appreciate this video so much, it has made me feel not so discouraged and alone in my battle with cracking the Alocasia code! 🙏💚
We are in this together my friend ❤️
OMG you’re so funny. I loved that video. I did grimace for you when you were showing some of the dearly departed like the Melo. I cringe to think how much you paid for that before the prices tanked and you can find them everywhere. Condolences to your bank account. 😢
Please do not remind me about how much I spent! I am trying to forget.....😊😬😮
I think you’re on the right track with the shallow reservoir mine do well and never have more than an inch or two of water
LOL !! I can totally relate ! Alo. serial killer… includes Azlanii, Cuprea, Simpo, Sinuata, Scalprum, Jacklyn, Dragon Scales, Silver Dragon, Infernalis… RIP. I have a 2nd purchase of Jacklyn that’s hanging on for dear life, Sarian left with two leaves, and a Pink Dragon that came back from the dead. 😂😂 Yup, I’ve tried. Indoor, outdoor, less water, more humidity, more light. And yes, they are best left abandoned, and suddenly they thrive ! And u start to give them attention again, and off they went buhbye. Go figure. 😊 Love this video !! Subscribed ! 🌱
Thanks for the sub! They are insane right! Just keep trying or maybe not trying! 🤣🤣
I love alocasias and find them very easy care (easier than calatheas, which I grow as well) - I grow them all in Lechuza pon (all underwent the transition), use Lechuza slow release fertiliser, pots as small as possible, 60 % humidity in my large northern window, 18-24°C, never had dormancy and they bloom. I only find that they like much less water than I´d have originally thought - I have the reservoir water level never touching the pot and have only semi-full - this is essential for me. Maybe they simply don´t like living in leca and need less water?
Just found your channel and I love your personality!
I think I’m one of the few people who isn’t charmed by velvety leaves (and I love velvet, my sofas are velvet lol) they freak me out lol.
Welcome!!! So glad you are here ❤ 💖 thanks for your kind words 🙏 😊
Thanks for the video. Just got some online and now thinking if I have flushed my money down the toilet hahahaha I’m in Melbourne so wish me luck! Hopefully it warms up soon
I absolutely enjoyed this
Thank you. I had fun making it 😌 ☺
Hi! I have all of my alocasia in Leca with a continually full reservoir. The larger ones are in normal room humidity. Smaller ones are in a cabinet. Honestly I have found that nutrient solution seems to play a big part on how they thrive. Unfortunately I found out the hard way that less is more. I swapped out the semi hydro fertilizer for liquid dirt and they bounced back. Just food for thought lol! Love your videos by the way 😊
Now that is interesting Marnie!!!
My alocasia's are in pon, and have no resevoir! Just in a little greenhouse under a grow light. Sometimes I spray the top... It loves this.
She is telling the truth ! I bought one as my first house plant , it looks like tiny lines in the leaves, than it had a black spot on it. I don’t know if it’s thrips or what. I’m blaming this on Home Depot!
Only the Mohito has survived with a few tiny pups. One chucked in Lecca, one in Pon, another in an airy substrate and the last one(because I ran out of pots) dug a shallow hole in the dirt next to the pond to give it a proper burial. Guess which one is doing great…even survived the hard freeze.
It’s apparent the pond one is going to be a show stopper with great color and six leaves and getting bigger every day.
Go figure.🤷🏻♀️
Exactly!!! What do they want I ask you??
I had an Alocasia Jacklyn, which the leave grown from 10 to 60cm. However, it dead during raining season since I put it at outdoor balcony. Part of the stem (rhizome) is rotted, but roots are fine. I am using potting mix as medium, and wood bark on top of it. I suspect the wet of root bark causing the rhizome rotted. Feel like the rhizome section easy to get fungus if in high moisture and less sunlight. Now I am trying to grow its baby with LECA, but block rhizome part from LECA with perlite. Hope it work.
Lol. The sass is strong in this video and I can relate! RIP to my green dragon.
Sometimes you just got to bring out the sass, which is more of the real me. I try to tone things down for YT 😁🤣🤣
@@TheLecaQueen Nooooo, don't tone down the sass. You are a delight to watch!
I keep mine in an IKEA cabinet to keep my cats away from them but I pretty much only water when I remember to. They're all doing good. I also have them in different media from soil, perlite, moss and even leca.
I’m still new to the plant world and new to living the leca life but I am also terrible at watering on a schedule.
Most of my plants are alocasia and most of them have been moved to leca.
My Ivory Coast was dying in soil and had a small case of thrips. I lost all but one leaf. Since being moved to leca and into the kitchen window that faces South, she has grown 8 leaves. She is in a self watering pot.
I have Pink Dragon, Dragon Bone, Silver Dragon, Dragon Scale, Black Velvet, Regal Shields, Ivory Coast and my Dark Star all in leca. Can you tell I’m obsessed with dragons?
I have my cuprea in water and my Frydek and stingray in Fluval Stratum.
My leaves aren’t huge, except for my Dark Star. She lost two leaves while being moved to leca but I just discovered this morning she is pushing out a new leaf, making the leaf count three.
I killed a silver dragon and i now have a alocassia polly and is still alive but i don't dare to hope it to make it to spring
It was 3.99 so i just think I'll see them as long lasting cut flowers..and until i can keep them more then 1 year i try to get more expensive kinds.. i really want a frydek a silver dragon and a red one but i don't dare to try and kill my fav alocasia.. i just started so ill give myself 2 years to get to know them..
Sounds like a good idea! All the best!
Hi Nora, yes my hart was broken seening your plants pass to plant heaven.
yes I to have had some that do well then there leaves just die off. But as you were speaking I saw similarities with the carnivorous plants. Its heat humidity light but most of all the dry period in-between watering, mine to are in leca, I let the pots dry for 3 days then water again I keep the timing to this my carnivorous help me to keep the time as they droop. We are all in to these stunning plants, yes we all keep buying more plant. Good luck with yours I hope no more die, from layla
Layla, I would like to think no more will die but I am a realist! Of course they will, and I will buy more, why just the other day I bought another Silver Dragon! I never learn.
Whenever an alocasia starts to decline i let them dry up and take the corms and plant them in pure perlite or pon. As long as they are in soil they usually slowly decline.
In pure perlite and pon i can get them to grow without much problems.
I have killed 3: Alocasia Stingray, Black Velvet, and Bambino. Rather common ones all of them, thank goodness, because I'd be doubly upset if I had paid "rare plant" prices for them. As you wisely said, Alocasias will break our hearts AND the bank because I bought replacements for all 3. They are not doing "great", just "OK", with 2 leaves each. It's winter for me now, so I'm hoping that as temperatures rise, daylight increases, and humidity goes up naturally, the environmental cues will trigger a growth response. In the meantime, I'm helping them along with a humidifier 12 hours a day, a thermostat set at 69F (about 21C), and moderate light from a balanced-spectrum GE grow light. I'm not willing to set up a close cabinet with terrarium conditions for them, nor give up a room in order to grow plants, so if they cannot survive with loving care but in the open like my other babies, they will have to move to another plant mama's house.
Kevin 😂❤ so funny loved the video!
I have one Alocasia Dragon Scale. It has been in just nutrient solution or just plain water for month now. I usually turn on the cheap grow lights (but only because all my windows face north and there's also an overhang which prevents any sun at all entering the apartment) and I don't have an humidifier yet. She has been living as such for months now (still waiting to afford more leca 😬). She also has not done a thing the whole season, but she's still alive and looks pretty much exactly the same as when I got her. I have 5 other Alocasia on my wish list, but I will be waiting to see how this one fairs before getting more.
As long as she is not dead you are winning!!!
OMG!!! You are hilarious 😂😂😂😂 Chile, THAT PART!!! On EVERYTHING you just shared. It a love hate relationship….I love how you just keep it real…no one understands the emotions you go through as a plant parent….sigh
🤣🤣🤣
I don’t know if it was my wine or what but this video was a hoot. So, these babies are queens. Drama queens at that. My hubby bought me a black Velvet. First video I saw was a short saying “…they will break your heart!!!” 😅
It was both the wine and the video!I have had it up to here with Alocasias!
Hello Queen!! Love your channel, I’m learning so much from you. I have a question and was hoping you could help!! I was just wondering if you would recommend the long or short method for transitioning alocasia’s from soil to leca? Thank you for all the information, it’s so helpful! ❤️❤️
Hello, I think Alocasia may not work too well with the long method.
@@TheLecaQueen Thank you so much for your response!! Hope you are well, take care.
When I first saw the thumbnail, wow, I actually thought for a second you were highlighting a new Alocasia species or hybrid "Agony"!!
That is so funny. Thumbnails are my weakest point. I am working so hard to get better at them.
No, I’ve just read this back-your thumbnails are great! It was funny given the subject matter and my perception.. clearly need glasses lo
I have 7 types of Alocasia . They have done well over the warm summer months but winter is coming . I have found they love light. My pink princess is quite tall with 6 leaves. We will see what they look like come Spring.
All the best Kristie!
I couldn't grow alocasia until I switched to leca. I took corms from a Polly, black velvet ans bambino and potted it all together and it seems to be doing great. Maybe they like friends lol
After several soilmixes… I tried to keep them in an airy soil mixture with about 1/4 zeolite, they thrived for a while and then eventually rotted the roots (but usually in winter so I blamed the temperature 😂)
Rerooting in moss usually did the trick but took a while.
I recently put some of the rootless rootless (and almost rootless) trunks into tree fern fibre (not mixed), they took some time to adjust but for now they are taking off and even the new corms sprout while in the pot, so maybe…..? This is their last chance in my house 😂 so far so good.
(I tried transplanting into pon as well, but that resulted in instant rotting and wilting away)
So far my only permanent death is a tiny Alocasia Ninja that did not adapt to my growspace from the start (and was probably too tiny anyway)
I feel like every plant enthusiast has THAT ONE PLANT they can’t figure out…
My alocasias are happiest in vessels with no drainage, (I like glass or clear plastic so I can watch those roots explode with growth) and loads of nutrients, I agree with a commenter above.....upwards of 1000-1200 ppms, for sure when they're actively growing. I use sphagnum moss, and I try to never let the reservoir go dry but in moss, if you miss noticing that day when there is no reservoir, there is still usually plenty of moist moss. When it gets down to the bottom of the vessel I fill it halfway full, back up covering the roots and let em drink it up. I see them loving tons of water, more food than you would think, and plenty of air flow, as well as as much light as you can give them. They need everything in spades! Once in a while, I flush the moss as best as I can. Of course, all these things help mine grow in the warm months, but even indoors, they lose leaves until they're down to usually just one leaf for the winter. I don't know if any care can stop that winter dormancy happening. I mean, you'd think they wouldn't know it was even winter in the warm house and under supplemental light....but they manage to figure it out, lols. Let me know if you try this, if this works for you! Good luck!
I do it similarly. A narrow glass, half filled with pumice granulate, half with sphagnum. Put the Alocasia just in the sphagnum. Water only half of the granulate. Place it in front of a south-facing window. My Zebrina had spider mites (the humidity is below 40%). So I put a humidifier in the center of my plant shelf.
So glad you have a system that works
They are so beautiful. This year I might try them again and just feed the. Alot more.
Go for it!
Mine hate the cold but if yours is in a grow tent that shouldn't be a problem. I know they love being outside in the shade with a breeze in summer. I feel for you.
I have taken them all out of the grow tent! I am angry and I am not giving them any special treatment anymore. I am saving my grow tent for plants that actually like me!
Iv lost a Silver Dragon, Dragonscale, Cuprea, Azlanii and Jacklyn, but I don't wanna give up on them as I want to be a "Mother of Dragons" I now have a Frydek and a Silver Dragon, so far both are doing well - fingers crossed🤞
Oh hail mother of Dragons!! We do not give up!!! Have you seen the video where I show my thriving Alocasias? I did not give up and things are looking up! czcams.com/video/Dmb7-4Hp2qs/video.html
Have a few Alocasia, can’t get out of the 2 leaf club with her, Red secret was dying, I transferred her to a smaller pot in fact tiny and she is now thriving. Taking the hint, I have now transferred the others into a smaller pot and fingers crossed 🤞 going to wait and see.
Good luck!
Sorry to hear about your heartbreak 😪
They can be butt holes sometimes.
I just transferred my Alocasia to leca. My pots doesn’t have holes on the sides. What I do make sure of, is that the corm isn’t in water. I do 1/3 leca, then place the roots on there and make sure that the bulb is higher up (up in the top 1/3area). Then I fill the reservoir just a little under the bottom 1/3. Haven’t had one rot on me since I’ve start doing this.
I don’t supplement extra light nor humidity. Humidity range between 30 and 60%. I have one rule; if it can’t survive in my home without artificial lighting and extra humidity…then I need not to have it
Good luck, Queen!
I love your tough love approach. Things have greatly improved on the Alocasia front for me. Have you seen my new Alocasia video where I show them now thriving?
Stuck all my alocasias into a huge pot together. After a week or two, started seeing them pop out new happy leaves. When they were by themselves, it’ll grow leaves but slowly and old leaves would die 😅
My dragon scale has been doing great. I purchased a polly for Walmart and that thing started dying the moment it hit my home so I won't buy those anymore. PON is great for Alocasia or an Aroid mix. Just purchased a Frydek and a specialty mix from E T S Y. They love water and bright light. Also remember some of them go dormant.
OMG you literally spent 17:23 minutes talking exactly what I have been telling but with much MUCH better words and funnier jokes! Alocasia post, be it desribing their beauty or their care, always make me sad because everything about them ends up in - as you said - "I don't know.. I don't know.." " again and again and again....". But I was learning and relating and laughing througout this video! 🤣🤭🙌 First time watching your post and you have a got a subscriber.
Welcome 😉 🙏. It is true about Alocasias though right!!
@@TheLecaQueen yes absolutely. I had a break up with Alocasias for a year, but I just can't resist them and am back with them now. They are the cause of my greatest joys and greatest sorrows! Is this what they call a toxic relationship? 🤔🤭
@@arnavbhatnagar1985 very toxic!!
@@TheLecaQueen 😂😂
Hi Nora I would love to see your put some of your plants on moss poles. I started using Leca after watching your videos now some of my plants have grown and need a moss pole. I don’t know how to go about doing it so if you can please show me now to do it from beginning to end . Now to get the pole to stand up in Leca. I really need your help thanks. Your plants are so beautiful see you in the next video.
Hello and thanks for the support. Check out this playlist where I have lots of videos where I put plants in leca on moss poles. czcams.com/play/PLjZ0p9mB4l9dTnVBtcXPQqr3O-Rdq1zHH.html
I suddenly feel really good about the 3 leaves my alocasia polly has 1 year on! I recently got a zebrina; I shall manage my expectations for their survival. ;)
Your bisma is very s e x y; I send survival vibes to them and the rest of your collection.
Exactly! If you don't expect too much they will live!
I’m going through the same thing with my Alocasia polly. I have one leaf that is on its way out. I will keep watering the soil. I am going to fertilize one last time, due to the dormant season that is starting.
Good luck!
Hi , how are you .Whats the composition of your Fertilizer you are giving to your leca plants
Some alocasias need to be in moss and some need to be in extremely chunky soil. And most of them go dormant and people mistake it as dying. I also noticed my bambino can’t take too much bright light, whereas my chantrieri can go full light.
i've had the best luck growing alocasia from corms! it seems the move from the greenhouse to my house shocks them just a little too much
I think these plants just really like heat. Not just warm; but really, really hot. I even have them under direct sun for hours on end everyday, and they are loving it. Any place I put them where the temperatures are comfortable (to a human) and they just don't do well. So maybe try keeping them in toasty summer temperatures and avoid drafts.
My setup is similar to yours but using pea gravel instead of LECA. And my reservoir is actually really high (like half of the pot) but they go through the water really really fast that I still end up refilling daily.
At this point I am happy to try anything!
Thanks for this video!!! My alocasia’s are so fussy. Mealy bugs and dormancy.
You are so welcome!
I find Alocasia's are fairly resilient; as long as the corm hasn't rotted all the way, you can regrow it by chopping off the rotten portion and propping it. I have successfully done this with alocasia I received that had half-rotted corms. Just make sure to keep the exposed part you cut off above whatever medium you are using (I used sphagnum for mine).
I guess I am lucky since I have no issues with my alocasia *knock on wood*. I do experiment with different mediums such as homemade Pon, my sphagnum moss mix (sphag moss, coco husk chips, large perlite), or my aroid mix. I have found the one fool-proof mix is my sphagnum mix. My black velvet has been in this mix for 2 years, and the leaves are bigger than my hand. You literally cannot over-water it in this mix especially since I always place either mini leca or perlite in my cover pot and place the pot my alocasia is in on top of that.
Amanda, please tell me about your sphagnum mix, please, please. We need to spread the word.
For some reason, half the reply disappeared, so I'll try again! Hopefully, I didn't miss anything.
The mix I used for this experiment was a bit of a happy accident. I had corms that I was propagating in my standard sphagnum moss/perlite mix which I had waited too long to re-pot. I was too lazy to mess around with all the roots by picking off the sphagnum moss, so I came up with the following mix.
-New Zealand Long fibre sphagnum moss (moistened)
-Large Perlite (rinsed)
-Coconut husk chips (pre-soaked and rinsed).
As you know, sphagnum moss becomes hydrophobic when dry, so when I water the plant I do not drench the mixture but give it a quick thorough water. You can quickly tell by the weight of the pot if you overwatered - overly saturated sphagnum is very noticeable.
My theory is that since coco husk chips rehydrate quickly and do not oversaturate, the surrounding sphagnum moss tends to wick off that moisture before the coco chips dry. (If you are someone who grows hoya in pure coco husk chips, you probably notice that they do not maintain moisture for very long; especially compared to sphagnum moss). I only water when the moss feels like it has completely dried on the top when I press down.
I hope that makes sense! I am on cold medicine at the moment so I am a bit loopy and may not m ake sense. LOL
I forgot to add one thing! Because I am sometimes too lazy to take it out of its cover pot when I water, I tend to leave a nice layer of mini LECA or large perlite at the bottom of my cache pot so that the bottom of the pot won't sit in any excess moisture that may trickle through. I always know it's time to resize the pot once I find roots growing into the LECA/perlite buffer. Yes, I am that lazy sometimes!
I'm having the same issues here. I have a couple of corms that I salvaged from the pot after the plant perished. I stuck them all in a test tube to germinate and I have 5cm long furry water roots on one of them, while the others are a bit slower catching up, I suppose. It looks to me like the life cycle starts over again from scratch and the corms are meant to be saved much like we do with other bulb plants.
Vicki, hang in there!!!
🤗🤣🤣🤣💚 I laughed so hard at this video! I was almost in tears because I could feel this in my soul! Damn they are so pretty! But your right they will break your heart! Lol, BUT your not the only 1 living in insanity, lol, I keep attempting to grow them also!! Thanks for the awesome video & the comic relief 💚
😂😂😂😂 Yes!! I have been trying for two years now and just when I think everything is going so well, boom, spider mites and various other issues!! I have two left!
I just noticed two of my 3 leaves are dying as we speak. This was my second and last chance for alocasia. They are beautiful but fussy and I'm not buying another one until I forget again how fussy they are. I FORGOT! It was beautiful in the store and I forgot it was a horror of a plant for me and bought it..I have over 50 healthy beautiful plants in my apartment, and this one wants to die all the time..
That is the thing about them, they are so beautiful, we do forget!! Keep trying though 😊
I love how sassy this video is 😍.
Thank you. I am just fed up!!
Hilarious video! Loved it. I haven’t killed one yet but it has only been 6 months 😂
I don't want to jinx you but.......
@@TheLecaQueen 😂😂😂😂
There's a handful of alocasia that do ok, Alocasia jacklyn and Azlanii. They are in glass container doing well.
I am cracking up 😂
True stories!!
My first alocasia was a Polly. I think spider mites got her. Then I went for silver dragon, tried 3x, they are with me but pathetic leaves. My black velvet is doing so well in leca that I moved the rest of my collection to leca. I would not try the Polly again. But yes I too keep buying in hopes to break the secret code. I do keep in ambient humidity. In winter I might move them to cabinet but as soon as warmer months come they’ll be moved out.
I am so jealous! I do love a Black Velvet. They are so pretty. I am sure I will buy another one before the summer is out! No, I never learn!
Ive offed 6 alocasia pollys😂 they came back though i was over watering them and had bad soil. I found so many baby seed things put them in new soils now i have 3. I just ordered 4 more. Silver dragon and a arrow looking one, a purple one. I don't know all the names but. 🤞🏽 I hope they don't hurt my feelings
Hi, have you found THE formula for alocasias?
I don’t really have problems with my Alocasia . Maybe they don’t like grow tents. I know that queen anthurium don’t like grow tents. my Alocasias don’t dry out. I fertilize with every watering, because they are always producing new leaves. They’re in ambient conditions. They’re under grow lights and they are all happy. I keep on top of the spider mite situation. I wonder if that’s the issue. My daughter is the Alocasia whisperer; I will send her this video.
Maybe try no grow tents for a while. Mine prefer to breathe a bit more. I have them in 45% hunidity, on a very sunny window and they are all happy
Oof I feel this video, 2 days ago I found all my alocasias had root rot, despite me following all the alocasia advice I could find 😢
Given most lost all of their roots I just threw them in a hydroperoxide and water mix, than just treated them like new corms
I also ordered an airfilter in hopes to minimise fungus spores around my plants
I think maybe heat plays a big role. I have no problems with them in Brisbane. I grow all mine in sphagnum moss and never let them dry out, they love light sometimes I put them out in the morning sun. They are heavy feeders and I use Californicus to control the spider mites. Brisbane has ‘ Bugs for Bugs ‘. They sell Californicus tubes for about $24 each.
Lucky you living in Brisbane. I need to move! How do you keep the moss moist? How regularly do you water?
@@TheLecaQueen I love your channel and I’m so very sorry for the late reply. It’s almost summer and I’ve just about done all my repotting.
I keep all my ‘jewel’ type Alocasias in sphagnum moss, I try to use the Tasmanian long strand. It’s more expensive but lasts longer and is much better quality. I’m an orchid grower first and foremost so good quality sphagnum make life easier.
If the weather is hot they sit in saucers of water. I use my own soluble liquid fertiliser every fourth watering. If it gets colder I empty the saucers but they are always moist. They get morning sun until 10.00am or are grown under 3000k with osram deep blues. Lights go on a 5.00am and are off by 7.00pm. The first sign of rot I use a systemic fungicide ( I make my own from bleach ). Sometimes I use leca at the top to balance the PH. There is something about the heat that effect flower fragrance. The other morning I when into one of my growth spaces and I could smell Tom Ford’s Bitter Peach. I’ve got Encyclia cordigeras in bloom plus many Onc. sotoanum hybrids and I guess the perfume was from one of them but it was from my Black Velvet. The cross with Alocasia odora (Regal Sheild )makes much more sense now. I’ve spoken with people in the States who say their Regal Shields have no fragrance, I’m guessing it’s too cold. My fragrant Oncidiinae in Melbourne had no fragrance or were musky.
Back home in Bris they smell like oncids again. It’s like lilies, muguet, roses, violets and Vanilla. Some people say chocolate but I don’t alway get that. This week I repotted my Monstera deliciosa ‘ Yellow Marilyn Kunzo ‘ it takes up a whole room in my home and I’m having to down size and it’s breaking my heart. I have some rare Orchids which a friend on the Gold Ciast offered to swap a Monstera deliciosa ‘Yakuza’ for. Lol it’s madness. Anywho big hugs from Brizzy.
Haha..funny..i literary didn't go near them for such a long time because living in Tassie I was sure I'd kill them and blow my money..
however early this year I bit the bullet and got green velvet, then Cuprea red secret, then a Silver dragon, then a Bisma. ( they are enchanting & addictive).
All living in my aroid mix and all still alive coming out of our cold winter.
My red secret and Bisma have both flowered..new leaves emerging on the silver dragon and green velvet, so I'm pretty pleased with myself at this point, lol. They get decent humidity, 60-70% but no grow lights..hopefully I can keep them alive for a whole year! 😁
Look at you Margi, the Alocasia Whisperer!We are living through you!
I’ve ‘killed’ my green velvet, azlanii, black velvet, scalprum, bisma, tigrina and ivory coast and yet alocasia is still my favourite aroid. Experimenting with MAB and leca and have a few that survived winter (indoors and in growlight) and a bunch of corms I’m waking up
The struggle is real right!
I just bought another black velvet today. Oh no yours died in leca because I was considering putting it in leca or pon. I have 4 alocasias and I have kept them soil except my Polly. The new black velvet I got today, I will put it in pon and hope it thrives. I notice they like north facing windows in my place, indirect light.
i laughed so hard when you whipped out the melo
Why did you laugh? My Melo is so beautiful 😍 🤣🤣🤣🤣
My Alocasia are all doing well (knock on wood). But they're all plants I started from corm this year (I'm addicted to germinating corms). I have them all in diy pon using a wick
Sounds like you have the right idea!
I’ve had my first alocasia success. It’s in leca, reservoir is 1/3 full, in a SE window with a grow light. Dynagrow fertilizer. I think leaving them in a grow tent may give them too much humidity?
Who knows Karen! Who knows!! I am glad yours is working
Hey yes I had a allocation poly n mine did not make it ether 😕🤷🏾♀️
Join the club 😌
Perhaps they need more ventilation? Do you have a fan running in your grow tent? My windows are always open in my home so I'm able to keep Alocasia happy indoors as well. .. which was a surprise moving to Los Angeles, it's quite humid in the L.A. basin.
I do have a fan. So who knows. They seem to be doing better now. I might make another video to show how my Alocasias are getting on now.
I've been afraid to try alocasias because I know they are so fussy. Found a cheap Alocasia Polly awhile back & so far so good but scared to report it into LECA. LOL. I might get the courage to try a Dragon Scale or something sometime.
All I can say is good luck!!!
Just watched this and it made me laugh. My friend has a gorgeous Dragon Scale and didnt even know what she had.. lol
It was a 2 leaf baby in a mixed pot of plants from a baby shower. She honestly just seperated everything into individual 6" pots into potting soil and perlite 60-40% and it's gorgeous. It sits in a East facing window with white sheer curtains and she just waters it like all of her other plants. I think her not knowing is what made it successful. We think entirely to much, and over do "Our Best" to keep plants alive. She just treated it like a Pothos or something and its thriving
So true!!
That is so funny!! I just buy plants that I like the looks of and bought two beautiful ones a few months ago. I have bought so many lately that I can't fuss over too many of them and am in the process of transfering all of them to Leca (or pon). I am constantly reading online and following many plant people and just now realized they are an alocasia. (can't remember which one). Now I'm so scared of their temper tantrums and one is starting to lose leaves and I'm sure it's just because I know about them and how finicky they can be. When I was just treating it like my other 95 houseplants it was doing fine, now it seems to be upset I know what it is lol!!
Some of mine are doing great, a few are really not haha. I keep most in greenhouse cabinets in pon. Most in my experience don't like to dry out. But some can tolerate it. My worst is the Black Velvet. I just cant grow it🤣.
So weird, I find the black velvet to be the easiest.
I have a few alocasias which are thriving, however, the micholitziana keeps dying on me. Breaking my heart each time. 3 times in a row...I'm not attempting a 4th time.
And it's not me, it's you (micholitziana) 😢