Documenting Alocascia recovery process

6 years ago

A friend had a couple sad looking Alocasia at her shop. I agreed to take them on as a recovery project. Once I was able to inspect them closely, one had a bad case of spider mite. Both were not getting the light and warmth they require. I left them in the rain overnight.

I removed all the leaves on the one completely covered in s.m. and all but one leaf on the other.

I took them out of their pots. They came planted in pure bark mulch with at least two hand fulls of CR fertiliser in each pot. I have never in all my career seen this much fertiliser in any plant pot.

One was just starting to make a small bulb the other did not have one at all. I assume they were grown from tissue culture.

Unfortunately my best option for a pot was 5". I don't have anything any larger that will fit in my grow area. They really need minimum of 8", but 5" will have to do. I used my tropical plant potting mix, called Tropical Rainforest with beneficial microbes. I gave them both a good dose of slow release Palm food with micros.

I washed them off really good before I brought them in the house. After being potted they were treated with a systemic miticide/insecticide.

They are now just off to the side of a 1000W grow light.

They may recover. I will keep an eye out for larger pots that still fit in my space. Until then, if I can keep them well fed and watered they might just return to being beautiful specimens. If they don't nothing lost and life experience gained.

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Comments (5)

nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years ago
you said you left them in the rain overnight..are you in a warm climate?..if so I would leave them outside..mine are inside now since I live in zone 6..mine are a deeper green..I hope yours recover..
gardengems
Original Author
6 years ago
It's never warm enough for them to live outside in the PNW. This summer were never got above 26°c (80°f) for the entire summer and all the nights were in the teens (50s). I tried Caladiums outside this year and they failed. They both like warm day and warm nights.
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nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years ago
I had no idea where you live..it was just a suggestion that putting them outside would speed up the recovery..I agree that EEs love heat..
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
6 years ago
I applaud anyone who takes on the task of trying to revive a sickly plant! From what I have seen, it's just sort of in the nature of plant lovers to want to save them all. I have had my fair share of "project" plants. Some successful, some not. Your experiences will be helpful going forward. Thanks for sharing!
petrushka (7b)
6 years ago
it is recommended to start them in as small pots as you can fit them initially as they are very sensitive to overwatering, especially at lower temps, but even in the 70s they could get edema fast. It would be best to put them on a heat mat to root + tent them to create as high humidity as you can. then you can water them freely with very warm water. yep! almost hot. the roots develop faster when they are at 90-95F. soon as the roots fill the pot, uppot to one size larger, etc. until you get to as large a pot as you can handle :). with temps at night in the 50's - you should not keep them out for the nite. 65F is min , below that they'll go semi-dormant.