Growing and Propogating Alocasias

Alocasia Frydek Albo Variegated

Growing Alocaisas

Alocasias can be one of the more finicky house plants to grow, but with the right techniques they can thrive. Ensuring the proper watering, substrate, humidity and light these plants can actually be fairly easy to care for. It was definitely a learning process for me with them, but once I dialed in those four elements my alocasias are as happy as can be.

Let’s talk watering. Alocasias can be temperamental, especially when overwatered. Their root systems like to be moist but not saturated. Which leads us to address substrate. Having the right soil mix for alocasias makes all the difference. Make sure your plant is in a well draining pot with well draining soil. There are many different substrates and techniques out there, but I will share with you the one that has worked best for me. I do a layering technique. Start by adding about an inch of Leca (clay pebbles). You could use rocks, pebbles or anything that allows water to pass through easily. The next layer is going to act like a barrier for the roots. I like to use sphagnum moss, this will hold some moisture in. You just want a thin layer, enough to cover the bottom layer. Now for your main substrate, you want to use a chunky, well draining soil mix. I prefer an aroid mix. The one I use is a mix of Orchiata Bark, Coco Chips, Worm Castings, Horticultural Charcoal, Mycorrhizae, and more. Fill in your pot around the roots with this substrate. And for the final touch you’re going to add another layer of sphagnum moss. Again, just enough to cover the layer underneath. This is going to act as your watering indicator. When the moss feels fairly dry (not completely dry), it is time to water. I have found this technique works great and prevents over watering and root rot. It allows your roots to stay moist but not get soggy. If you are going to PH your water, I adjust my PH at 5.8 for all my houseplants.

Now let’s talk about environment. Alocasias tend to like a decent amount of light and humidity, but this really does depend on what species you are trying to grow. I have had great success with alocasias in an ambient environment as well as a controlled environment. Most plants can adjust to their environments, just make sure not to change their environment too abruptly. When ordering plants online it is a good idea to let your plants acclimate to your home’s temperature and humidity. I usually let mine sit on the kitchen counter in low light for a few days, then move them to somewhere with a little more light and see how they adjust. One thing to keep in mind with most alocasias is they do not like colder temperatures. If you live somewhere that gets cold winters, like I do, I would recommend not having them too close to the windows during those winter months.

Propagating Alocasias

Alocasias propagate by these little things called corms. Corms are kind of like a bulb that look similar to macadamia nuts. They form at the base of the root system. Next time you transplant your alocasia dig around in the center of the roots and see if you can find any. They usually snap off quite easily. If they are smaller than a pea, leave them on to grow a little bigger. A preferable size is about the size of a macadamia nut.

There are many different techniques to growing these little guys. I will share with you the technique I use that speeds up the root forming process. Once you have collected your corms, rinse them under water and get all the dirt off. Use your thumb nail and scrape off the outer layer. This will help the roots push out with less obstruction. Now that your corms are clean and bare, set them aside and fill a jar with 90 ml of water (I would recommend using distilled water, but you can definitely just use the water from your sink), 10 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 1 gram of sugar. Plants need oxygen and food to grow. The hydrogen peroxide provides oxygen and the sugar provides food. Shake or stir the jar until the sugar has dissolved, then add your corms. Let them soak for 28-48 hours.

Now it’s time to plant your corms. You could definitely just plant them in soil in a small pot but I have found planting them in an aquatic substrate called Fluval Stratum works the best, you could also use sphagnum moss or Perlite. Plant the corms right side up, the bottom is the part that snapped off from your mother plant’s root system and the pointy top faces up. Submerge the corm in whatever substrate you decide to use but make sure there is a little bit of the top sticking out. Water just enough to saturate your substrate, make sure there is no excess of water. You are going to want to make sure the corms live in high humidity as they develope roots and start to grow. Either place them in a tray with a dome or even in a clear jar with a lid or covered by plastic wrap. Place them somewhere they can get light and stay warm, either under a grow light or somewhere in your home that doesn’t get direct sunlight.

Growing corms is one of the funnest ways to propagate and it’s so exciting when they get their first leaf!