Elephant Ears Plants - Colocasia & Alocasia Growing Care Tips (video)

These are Colocasia & Alocasia plants commonly known as Elephant Ears Plant.
These plants are sun lovers and require a few hours of direct sunlight as part of their plant need - if they don't then often they will succumb to pest attack - usually spider mites, mealybug & aphids will be heavily infested on them adding more stress to the plant.

These are the Few Tips that I would like to share with you:

1) Identify which types are Sun lovers compared to Shade Lovers.
These are Sun lovers and require open bright sunlight.

2) These are also swamp plants and do require heavy watering.
Do place a container or a water catchment for the root ball to be water bound as not to wither if the medium dried out.

3) Occasionally check for Pest especially spider mite, mealybug or aphids and once the infestation is detected - spray the foliage with neem oil mixed with soap.


These are the Plants in my Collection:
Colocasia Species
1) Giant Taro - Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant'
2) Swamp Taro - Colocasia esculenta L.
3) Black Taro - Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'
4) Taro - Colocasia esculenta 'Black Ripple'
5) Taro - Colocasia esculenta 'Teacup'
6) Imperial Taro - Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris'

Alocasia Species:
7) Black Stem Alocasia
8) Alocasia Cucullata
9) Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Different Types of Maculata Hybrids & Varieties (video)

This is my January 2021 Update on my Cane Begonia Collection.

What I’m showcasing here are the few types Hybrids & Varieties of Maculata Cane Begonias which I currently cultivating: 

1) Cane Begonia ‘Maculata wightii’ , 

2) Cane Begonia Maculata hybrid, 

3) Cane Begonia Hybrid ' Mrs Hashimoto X Maculata wightii, 

 4) Cane Begonia 'Albo-picta', 

5) Cane Begonia ‘Torch’, 

6) Cane Begonia 'Albo-picta - rosea', 

7) Cane Begonia Lucerna, 

8) Cane Begonia 'Coccinea', 

9) Cane Begonia 'Aya', 

10) Cane Begonia Sinbad

My focus here is to show their unique Polka Dot features on their Foliage Structure difference in comparison with each other. Also some tips on how I care for them which I explain in my video.

 

Tip 1: Always put a support - a stick or pole for the Cane Begonia support as it won't break under it's own weight.

Tip 2: Plant some thirsty plant together to regulate the over-watering problem as to deter root rot or over-feeding (fertilizer) problem.

Tip 3: Keep spare plants by taking cutting and propagating them in case the plant suddenly dies.

Alocasia Collection in Malaysian Nursery (video)

I would like show what is sold in the local nursery in Malaysia.

Here in this Collection:
Alocasia Lauterbachiana,
Alocasia Black Velvet,
Alocasia Pink Dragon,
Alocasia Simpo / Lukiwan,
Alocasia Cuprea 'Red Secret',
Alocasia Cuprea 'Green Variant'

Alocasia Stingray

There are few tips that I would like to share when purchasing an Alocasia: 

1) Check and See - Inspect if there are any pest infection especially mealybug, scale insect or spidermites. 

2) Select the Alocasia which had not flowered, Often the plant will focus a lot of it's energy on the seedpod formation and will take all it's energy from the plant itself that can be detrimental for overall plant health.

 One off topic matter concerning Alocasia: 

I would advice not to purchase Alocasia seeds from Online Vendors - rather buy a real life plant or if possible their tubers. As these seeds are rarely fertile and have very high chance of being scammed. Do investigate and research on this matter before buying them online.

Alocasia Azlanii vs Alocasia Infernalis (video)

This is my Jewel Alocasia Collection which I find them more of the sensitive & slow growing type in comparison the the Elephant Ear type Alocasia which are more hardy and easily grown outdoor with direct sun & rain.

 I would like to show the detailed comparison between these Two different Alocasias: Alocasia Azlanii vs Alocasia Infernalis 'Black Magic' 

I would also like to share my tips on how I check whether if it is over watered by using disposable chopsticks.

How to Care & Cultivate Jewel Alocasias (video)

This is my Jewel Alocasia Collection which I find them more of the sensitive & slow growing type in comparison the the Elephant Ear type Alocasia which are more hardy and easily grown outdoor with direct sun & rain. 

These Jewel Alocasia are very prone to root rot when over-watered or receive open rain on them - water seems to do more damage on them and so more care is required from them.

 These are commonly sold around region but may have to hunt and seek them out as they are not many when sold in the plant market stock. Often they came as 10 plants and quickly snapped off as many people find them interesting and popular. 

These are what I have managed to find so far:

Tip 1: Water them once a week - on a very hot day - 3 days once. Just make sure the medium is fairly moist and not soaking wet. Water just ideally enough for the plant to be hydrated as over-watering can cause them to rot and you may have already lost your plant.

Tip 2: Most of these plants come with a coco peat medium. Change the medium equal portion of sand together with coco chip / existing medium (cocopeat) and manure - You can also add perlite and orchid bark mix. This will help the fast drainage and at the same time - keep the medium fairly moist for a week.

 Tip 3: Keep the plant in a bright indirect light area but not exposed to direct sun and also protected from the rain from getting into the plants. Pest: Do check and guard the plants for spider mite or mealy bugs. A good spray with soap mix with neem oil will help if you are concerned about using chemical pesticide/miticide on them.

Tip 4: Also do use fungicide time to time to deter root rot.

Tip 5: Trim off the Alocasia flower bud as the plant will focus more on the foliage growth and not use all it's nutrients and energy on inflorescent & fruit development.

Tip 6: Don't be too quick to trim off the yellowing of the leaves - to allow the plant to channel all the nutrients back to the mother plant to make the tuber grow bigger and stable.

Plants in these Collection: 

Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet', 

Alocasia Sinuata, 

Alocasia Bambino, 

Alocasia Baginda Silver Dragon, 

Alocasia Micholitziana Frydek, 

Alocasia Polly - African Mask, 

Alocasia Azlanii, 

Alocasia Simpo, Alocasia Mandalay, 

Alocasia Reversa, 

Alocasia Princeps 'Purple Cloak', 

Alocasia Cuprea 'Red Secret', 

Alocasia Cuprea 'Green Variant', 

Alocasia Cuprea 'Red Variant'

Quick Care Tips: Black Velvet (Video)

This video is basically a Quick Care Tip video on this Begonia species named:
Black Velvet Begonia.

 Tip 1:
Planting Rhizome Not to plant them directly deep in soil rather plant them horizontally and placing toothpicks to hold the rhizome stem sideways. 

Tip 2:
Watering Place the Potted Plant in a position where it is not exposed to open rain - as in a control position where you can water them just lightly keeping the medium barely moist. Over watering can cause this plant to have root rot.

Tip 3: 

Placement in Bright Shaded Area Place the plant in a shaded area where it only gets indirect but mild light - check and see for the new leaf formation on their coloration.