It is not a hardy plant and may easily succumb and rot away if overwatered - the succulent features of these plant - where the leaves are very much have a hard texture almost like a shield - a leather thick foliage.
These have a silvery-white heart shaped foliage with darker ribbed venation sunken deep inside the leaf surface. Similar to Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet' but this is a reverse version of it.
Killed if few times - got it right for many months and still end up killing it as I took it for granted.
This one is similar behavior with Caladium - always in the balance of everything - not too much of everything.
Lighting:
Not too hot that will jade or burn the foliage and not too shaded that the leaves will start to turn yellow and wither away - a bright shade is the most ideal thing for this one.
Medium:
I often find this one grown and cultivated inside a cocopeat and end up killing it when overwatering it. And thus removing the access cocopeat and mix the medium 50% cocopeat with 50% sand to create the fast draining factor for watering purpose.
Watering:
Overwatering is the main reason why this plant dies - do be very concern about this matter.
Feeding:
I find this is the most important factor - without proper feeding this plant will slowly will loose it leaves - one in a week and eventually goes dormant. It does however have a corm (bulb) that is very important to consider not to overwater it to cause it to go rotting inside the soil. Thus - proper care is required that it won't go dormant and totally lost.
Though - it may go dormant - do make sure it doesn't rot away.
Also I had found with my research the best fertilizer that works for this one is root hormone known as B1 and osmocote fertilizers. I believe seaweed solution too works best. The most important factor is getting the right balance and very much fall in the trial and error factors - it is somehow not a easy plant to cultivate but truly a rewarding one.
Benjamin Kam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Introduction to Jewel Alocasia
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi James, do you mind if I ask where I can purchase this, or if you're willing to sell me just one? :) I've been searching high and low for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Apple