Home»House Plants»Alocasia
What do you get when you take a plant , give it an interesting coarse name , and let people run with it ?
If you saidAlocasia Amazonica(a - loh - KAY - see - uh am - uh - ZOH - nik - uh ) , you win the quiz .
This terrific industrial plant ’s scientific name isAlocasia longilobaxAlocasia sanderiana(Alocasia x amazonicafor short ) , two Asian species .
Salvadore Mauro is credited with having created the hybrid we know and love in the fifties . The plant ’s common name is in honor of his Florida - based Amazon Nursery ( although we do n’t know who give the plant that name ) .
But once you adjust all of these foreign naming issues aside , you have a beautiful perennial from theAraceaefamily that has earned such cognomen as :
Many trust that Alocasia Amazonica and Alocasia Polly are so similar ( the only difference is a slight variation in size of it ) that they are the same species , especially since Polly ’s scientific name has been proven fictitious .
As a outcome , Alocasia Amazonica ’ Polly ’ , Alocasia ’ Poly , ’ andAlocasia ’ Polly’are now generally view soubriquet for Alocasia Amazonica .
African Mask Plant Care
Size and Growth
Alocasia Amazonica is not a plant for the impatient , taking 5 to 10 class to arrive at full maturity .
As an adult , it generally measures up to 2′ infantry tall and just as broad .
The leaves are large , glossy , and pointer - shaped , lending to the nickname of elephant ’s ear .
These evergreen plant leaves are a deep green with blockheaded silver to white vein and wavy margins .
In right conditions , each leafage can raise as long as 16″ column inch .
Flowering and Fragrance
It would n’t be awry to say that one may truly tell their Amazonica is well-chosen if it graces them with flowers .
Even out of doors , the spadix of snowy to yellow flowers are incredibly rarified and easily hidden by the plant ’s foliage .
Light and Warm Temperatures
As with all alocasia , Alocasia Amazonica is adapted for life under a canopy .
Under no circumstance should you keep it in unmediated sunlight , as this may result in leafage burn .
That say , these indoor plants sleep with light , so direct for a post where they will receive promising , indirect light or mottled sunshine .
A windowpane smear with morning or evening photograph is okay , as long as it ’s shelter during the hottest part of the day .
besides , you ’ll want to give this plant life a moderately humid environs , ideally around 50 % pct .
If you ’re disquieted the works wo n’t get enough ambient humidity , try on place it near a humidifier , give it a pebble tray , or aggroup it with other plants .
Amazonica ’s parents are both tropic , so it tend to choose ardent temperature .
It can be implant out of doors in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 12 .
Keep indoor temperatures between 65 ° and 80 ° degrees Fahrenheit , as anything below that , will make the plant to go torpid .
Sudden temperature changes can also cause problem , so place the plant life somewhere shelter from wind or drafts .
Watering and Feeding
Before water your African mask plant , use your finger to check the soil dryness .
Once it ’s dry down to 2 to 3″ inches , it ’s time for piddle .
Using distilled water or rain , saturate the container until it begins to seep from the drainage hole .
This not only ensures even water distribution , but it can also sluice out harmful minerals such as salt .
apply a timbre liquid houseplant fertilizer with smoothing iron and dilute by one-half .
Feed after watering , monthly during leaping and summer , then one last time in autumn .
Soil and Transplanting
Your African mask plant need well - draining , light soil intermixture to unfold its roots .
An orchidaceous plant or jungle mix will work out well and may be amend with an totality such as perlite to ensure it does n’t bundle too much .
For those who care to make their potting grime mixes , a good recipe is :
This mix replicate the condition of a woods floor .
Another , simpler recipe is to append equal part combine ( ex-husband : coarse gumption or perlite ) , organic matter ( such as coco coir or peat ) , and one part potting mix .
Repotting should be done every 1 to 2 year in the spring , bet on the soil you use .
For soil - free potting mixes , you could repot every two years when the plant becomes rootbound , graduating to the next container size .
Containers with more soil will require annual repotting to allow for fresh dirt and aid assure there ’s not too much mineral buildup .
If you do n’t wish to use a bigger container , you could always separate the flora at this time , earmark you to pass around new plants .
Grooming and Maintenance
Alocasia Amazonica does n’t require a lot of alimony when cared for decent .
However , you may choose to rationalise damaged or diseased leaves .
Remember not to prune too much , as it will take a while for new leaves to grow .
attempt to do your pruning in spring when the plant is waking up .
Related : Alocasia Frydek The Velvet Alocasia
How To Propagate Amazonian Elephant’s Ear?
Division is the most plebeian method of propagate this plant .
clip and planting corm is another viable method but are good left to those confident in their acquisition around stem .
Kris Plant Pests or Diseases
This plant life does n’t have many foe , with spider jot being the only common pest to cause problems .
Aphids and mealybugs are also known to take up residence among the foliation , but their front is more of a terror to nearby plant than to Amazonica itself .
Likewise , root rot run to be the only actual bacterial or fungal menace .
As Amazonica is an aroid , it control high degree of calcium oxalate , which is toxic to both human race and pets .
wear upon gloves or wash after handling , as the crystal make kidney stones and other wellness issue if ingested .
Alocasia Amazonica Uses
This industrial plant is unadulterated for terrariums and is an attractive container works .
