Hi, you clever people out there...................sadly, I only visit this site when I have a problem that I cant solve............but thank goodness you are there !! :o) I bought this Alocacia at a very reduced price and I assumed that the damage was, had been caused, by erratic watering, but now, I am not so sure. It has produced some new leaves since I have had it and fed it, and I have gradually cut off the damaged leaves. Is it erratic watering damage, or is it P&D ???? If P & D, Can anybody identify what, and, can I do anything about it? Help please In Anticipation, many thanks
I refer you to this page on the site of our own Steve Lucas, aka photopro: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Alocasia micholitziana pc.html A couple of winters ago I purchased an alocasia at Wal-Mart. The plant was in a most sorry state: its 3 remaining leaves drooping, browned, and dying. It was gasping its last in a pot with no drainage and which contained soil (?) of the dryness and texture of a clay brick. Repotted in good WELL-DRAINED soil, put it in a spot where it got moderate light, occasional water, and steady temps, and awaited developments. As I expected---through knowledge gained from this forum, and from Steve's wise advice---the plant shed all its leaves and entered a state of dormancy. Stressed plants will do this. I waited. Months went by. At last, I began to see the beginnings of growth...today the plant is large and beautiful, with multiple leaves. I'd say that yes, your plant is suffering from poor care generally. Assume that you have checked it over for bugs---? and have it in the above-described well-draining pot and soil. (Be sure to NOT bury the tuber completely.) Be patient! It will need time to regain its strength. Read Steve's information, and good luck to you and your aroid!
The chances are high it is going dormant, a very natural cycle. Do you actually see signs of disease? Can you tell me exactly what you are seeing? If it is just beginning to drop leaves and droop it sounds like dormancy. Read the link Togata gave you on my website and you should find most of the answers. The not so great thing is Alocasia Amazonica (or Poly) if you bought it with that name, can go dormant for years but is not dead. The tuber is just resting. When up and healthy the soil should only be kept evenly damp, not soggy and the soil should drain rapidly. I explain that in my article. Steve
Hi Steve, thank you for your reply, I had in fact read the problems/inaccuracies with naming this plant some months ago when I first acquired the plant. No the plant I have, has not dropped any leaves, nor are they drooping. I cut these ones off as I have had several new leaves and also the plant has flowered during the summer. It had these damaged leaves on when I bought it at a much reduced price. I cut them off, because I thought it spoilt the look of the plant and the leaves are so dramatic. I do have it in a very appropriate position and have been feeding it, during the summer. I cannot see any pest on it, (maybe I need to get out my magnifying glass). I am wondering if perhaps it is a disease and if so, what disease? I have just had another look at the plant, and I am not sure, but some of the 5/6 leaves that have grown since I bought the plant earlier in the year have also now got these dead looking bits/cracks in them..........In the links that I was given, I could not find, or missed, any links on P & D for this particular plant. Perhaps I am worrying about nothing and maybe it is part of the natural process, but I would like to be very sure if at all possible..............many thanks.
Without seeing photos it sounds like excess water in the soil but there could be other causes. Put your finger as deep as possible in the soil and see if it is soggy at any point. The soil should be evenly moist, not wet, from top to bottom. I would still repot it using 30% good potting soil, 30% peat moss and the balance a mixture of orchid potting bark that contains charcoal, hard wood and gravel plus some Perlite. If you have any compost available at some of that as well. Don't over fertilize. I only fertilize every couple of months using a very dilute fertilizer. But Anthurium also need other minerals so buy a bag of Epsom's salt and use it as per the instructions on the bag for plants. Do not use this excessively. The chances are high this plant normally lives on a tree branch, not in soil so it wants its roots to be able to poke around in very loose soil. Any soggy soil will eventually rot the roots but so far that doesn't sound like what you are describing. How much humidity does the plant receive? Steve
hi steve, i did put photo's on my first post on this thread. thanks The plant seems healthy and growing apart from the leaf problems that you can see in my photo's My post was referring to an alocasia many thanks
