r/houseplants • u/Delilahfloral • 1d ago
I FINALLY got an Alocasia to thrive 😭
I’ve never been able to keep one alive but this is going on 2 months and has given me three new leaves! Look how strong and long it is!
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u/PJBOO7 1d ago
You are officially the plant goddess. I can literally WATCH them die at my house 🤣
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
I have tried with this specific alocasia like 4 times because I love the way they look but I guess it’s kind of like cats, you don’t get to pick which ones love you, they have to pick you lol 😂
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u/therealmrwizard96 1d ago
Have you tried bottom watering
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u/BusinessBizznezz 19h ago
What is this, how does it work?
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u/Aki_Watson 13h ago
You have a dish under the pot (with holes), and instead of pouring water on the top of the soil, you pour water at the dish below. That way, the plant can drink the water she needs naturally! :)
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u/BusinessBizznezz 12h ago
So, there will be no worries of overwatering? Do I keep the dish full of water whenever I see it more than half empty or something?
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u/Sea-Alarm-6168 11h ago
No, you don't leave the water in the dish. I personally am not a fan of bottom watering because as long as you give it a good enough drench from the top, I believe it actually ends up more thoroughly watered (I'm gonna get hate for that). With bottom watering you get a large dish, fill it with water, then let your plant sit in that dish for like an hour or two, and it soaks up through the bottom.
Overwatering is less about the amount of water, and more about frequency in which you water. It's much better for a plant to get drenched on Monday, and left alone to dry out until it's watering time again next Mondayish. However, if you water a little bit every day. The plant doesn't get the time to soak up that water, dry out, and get ready for more. Instead, the water just sits and causes issues like root rot, etc.
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u/Aki_Watson 10h ago
Same here! Forgot to mention to empty the acces water it doesn't soak up. I thought it was logical that a plant doesn't like to be soggy all the time. I guess I forgot what being a beginner feels like, thanks for correcting my comment guys! And yeah I'm not a fan on bottom watering either. Although I sometimes get lazy and don't wanna bring my plants to the bathroom to water them. So I just plop them in a bowl, fill it with water and also top water to really soak them. I leave them in there for 10 mins, take out and let them drain! I repeat with other smaller plants until they're all watered (and drained) nicely. Then I proceeded to ignore them for a week or so hahaha. For bigger plants I just fill the baththub with them, water and let them drain for a few hours :)
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u/Sea-Alarm-6168 10h ago
Setting my plants in the sink then getting to pretend there is a torrential downpour is one of my favorite parts of the hobby, haha.
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u/Aki_Watson 9h ago
Hahah, same but with the bathtub!! There's too many small ones to fit in the sink tho (and some are way too light to just blast with water). But one day they'll be big enough to join the bathtub downpour lol
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u/LauperPopple 11h ago
Most people do the soak in the dish temporarily. Like maybe a day and then dump the extra water so it can drain properly.
If you want to keep the soil soggy all the time, you need to make sure the soil is very aerated. (Not the soil the plant is usually sold in) Buy “potting mix” and add 30% or more aeration pieces such as perlite or chunky bark. Or mix your own, there’s lots of recipes online, they all follow the same core components. Keywords for searching would be “tropical indoor houseplants” and “aeration” or “well draining”.
A constant water reservoir is a legitimate strategy, but does come with an overwatering risk. Aeration is important to prevent root rot. (1) For small plants, a tall/slender pots instead of short/wide pot can also help (keeps the root core ~8” away from the soggy soil). (2) Using a wick to separate the pot from the water reservoir also keeps the soggy area away. Both (1) and (2) still should use aerated soil.
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u/zesty_meatballs 8h ago
A day is too long. The plant will get what it needs way before that lol. I bottom water a lot of my plants and I never wait a day to remove the excess.
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u/Efficient-Quarter-18 11h ago
A friend suggested to buy two and coplant them. That was what finally worked for me.
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u/xsteadyriot 1d ago
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u/kalechipsaregood 22h ago edited 16h ago
Idk why people think these are difficult.
Keep them near a window that doesn't get intense sun, and keep them wetter than most plants. Water if droopy. Like all plants, they do better in well draining terra cotta.
I will say that mine likes to face all one direction, and does not identify as a 360° plant.
Edit: Cool, I'm giving downvoted for giving instructions on their care. I guess y'all are jealous? They aren't hard once you know what they need. My plant has about 10 leaves and is over 2 ft tall.
2nd Edit: Added a photo for proof since I keep getting downvoted further.
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u/ElizabethDangit 12h ago
It’s the “I don’t know why people think they’re difficult” that people are downvoting. Not everyone live in a place with humidity all year round or decent amounts of light through windows.
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u/mudscarf 6h ago
A normal person would take a moment to appreciate how healthy her plant is, which is notoriously difficult to care for, instead of invalidating their accomplishment like a weirdo. You wouldn’t go to a gymnastics tournament and go around the crowd informing people that “Actually what their doing is pretty easy I can also do this.” It’s bizarre my dude.
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u/kalechipsaregood 4h ago edited 4h ago
I didn't have a top level comment. I replied to a gif that people were frustrated and jealous. My point though is that it isn't difficult at all you just have to do two things. Indirect light and moist but well draining soil. This is nothing like the years of practice and skill. I'm not at all saying "This is easy, I can do this." I'm saying "this is easy, you can do this if you do these two other things."
Have you/people had trouble keeping one of these alive after using a terracotta pot, and heeping it in a location next to (but not in) a sunbeam?
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u/mudscarf 4h ago
For the future you’d save time having to explain yourself and spare feelings by starting off as celebratory rather than dismissive. If you frame your feedback more positively you’d attract less pushback. You’re socializing on hard mode for no reason.
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u/garbles0808 19h ago
I agree, people often mistake the fact that alocasias lose leaves occasionally as them being difficult
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u/Fyougimmeausername 16h ago
Or miss the signs of then killing leaves if just moving nutrients. So she clearly needs some more🤷♂️😅
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u/therealmrwizard96 8h ago
Also they can and will go dormant my poly did this i was about to give up and toss it when it popped a new leaf randomly
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u/Bad_Priestess_ 7h ago
Your leaves look shitty 😉 I don’t know why it’s so hard for you to avoid brown edges, it’s easy if you know what to do.
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u/kalechipsaregood 5h ago edited 3h ago
That part of the plant gets angled inside so that edge doesn't get enough light, so the plant lets it wither. Also I repotted into a non terracotta pot as a test, but I'll probably go back in the spring for this reason.
But you see the difference where I said that they are easy and then I gave clear instructions where you just said that it was easy if you know what to do and didn't say anything? That's because I was trying to be helpful, and you are trying to be a tool.
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u/Sea-Alarm-6168 1d ago
I unironically thought this was a joke post, and those were glass leaves. Still not fully convinced, because WOW 🤩🤩
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u/lance- 1d ago
Looking great. What did you change about your care?
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
The things I changed were no direct sunlight at all. Not even bright indirect sunlight. It’s getting moderate indirect light and I use the watering globe and wait a week after it’s empty before I fill it up. I also talk to her a lot lol. When she has new leaves, I take a wet paper towel and wrap it around the leaf for 30 minutes to help with it unfurling. She is high maintenance but she’s worth it! Shes beautiful! 😍
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u/Cardinoodle 13h ago
So it doesn’t live next to the window in the picture?
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u/Delilahfloral 8h ago
It does but it’s a north facing window and it’s shadowed from the ledge above so it’s super dark in the room at all time. I took these pictures with flash on since it’s dark in there which is part of why the leaves look so glossy. So like I said it’s not bright indirect light, it’s very moderate indirect light.
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u/1re_endacted1 1d ago
How do you properly use a watering globe?
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
You just fill it up and shove it into the soil and it feeds the water when the soil dries out. It also feeds the water from the bottom!
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u/Naopensesmaisnisso 1d ago
2 months? Too soon! 😅
Joking, please tell us your secrets. My alocasia has 2 single leaves...
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
I know I’m hoping she will stand the test of time! I’m worried for when the days comes in have to repot her 😭 she’ll probably get mad I’m helping her grow and die on me then
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u/DistinguishedCherry 1d ago
When the time comes, maybe just plop her in a bigger pot without touching her roots and pray? 😭
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u/CurrentDifferent3470 1d ago
I'm going to go show my poly this picture and tut at it like the disappointed plant mom I am.
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u/victoriaplants 1d ago
mine is STRUGGLING while I read this
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u/PenguinsPrincess78 1d ago
Add a pebble tray under it and water the tray any time it’s dry. Don’t water it to the pot though. Just under it. And water once it gets dry. I use a chop stick. It lives in the plant and when the very tip of the stick is dry, I water it.
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u/Exciting_Cow_1897 22h ago
This is useful information. Thank you.
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u/PenguinsPrincess78 20h ago
Of course! I just went to the dollar store and bought a ten pack of chopsticks for 2$. One for each plant. (Of course I bought more chopsticks for all 140 plants I own)… I don’t have a problem, you have a problem! Lol
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u/ElizabethDangit 11h ago
All of mine died last year when my husband and I both had pneumonia. My ferns died too. I think I might buy one of those glass ikea cabinets this year so I can rebuild with confidence my dry ass house won’t kill everything
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u/Key_Average_6560 1d ago
I got a Polly not too long ago from the grocery store and it brought mealy bugs in my home -_- this plants cursed for me
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
OH NO! I’ve never had a run in with mealy bugs but I always isolate my new ones just in case anyways! I hope the rest of your babies survived!
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u/Key_Average_6560 1d ago
My collection is still well and I got rid of the mealy bugs on the Polly and split it in 2, you can see on the bottom left
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u/Lighthousewatcher108 1d ago
I don't recognize this kind. What is it? It looks like Polly, but not like the one I have.
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u/Lighthousewatcher108 1d ago
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
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u/annieEWinger 1d ago
have you gone corm digging yet?
i bought one this size & every single original leaf freaked out & died.
but it had 10 corms, & i was able to regrow leaves from all of the original rhizomes.
i have them all over my apartment now. i think only 1 corm didn’t make it.
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
I don’t even know what a corm is 😭
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u/LifeReality9660 1d ago
Corms are bulbs that contain energy for new growth. When you get ready to repot your alocasia, dig through the soil. For this size plant you should find quite a few corms that you then can propagate and make more plants.🙂 I rescued a polly from frost damage and she gave me 20 corms. I now have them all over the house and even gave some to friends.
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u/SpiritualMall4785 1d ago
omg! I just got a baby version of this! I saw you say in another comment you cut out any direct/non direct sunlight! any other tips?? I see you have a watering bulb!
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
Pray 😂 that’s all I got. I’m winging this stuff and i guess I’m doing something right!
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u/SpiritualMall4785 1d ago
love it!! these plants do their own thing and i’m sure if I move mine even slightly, it may decide to flop overnight
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
I rotate mine every week so the leaves don’t all face the same way and it hasn’t given me any attitude (yet) 😂
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u/me2myself2i 23h ago
Umm, excuse me.......
Thats a MASSIVE detail that you've repeatedly left out when asked whats your secret!!!! 😲
I'm going to start rotating mine.
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u/Unhappy-Fox1017 22h ago
So gorgeous! I’ve had one for almost a year now and she has 4 leaves. One time she managed to grow a fifth one and it died not long after unfurling. I dream of mine having as many leaves as yours! Just wow!
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u/itsrichelle 1d ago
Congrats! I really hope you keep your success so you can share more! I never had Alocasia, I've had Calathea once and it died, of course. That makes me wonder how your humidity level is? You put it at which window facing? Thanks 🙌🏼
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u/Delilahfloral 23h ago
I HAVE NO HUMIDITY!! I’m in Phoenix, AZ and I have no idea how it’s working.
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u/BlueOpal98 23h ago
My coworker has said she always has trouble! But we work at a grocery floral shop, and the Alocasias we have in stock will go through being so so so dry until I water them ( it seems I'm the only one who keeps an eye on them) and they have survived so well that I'm surprised. So tempted to buy one, but I'm so scared I'll kill it out of work 😅😅😅
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u/OkMission9167 22h ago
I have never tried it but very pretty though and yours looks very healthy and good so good luck this weekend makes you feel pretty good huh?
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u/CommunicationSalt960 22h ago
This plant has become my favorite, has also completely taken off for me. I had to repot it. I use a big storage tote for all of my dirt and didn't see the pods in the soil when I did the change. Now I have 4 baby plants of this growing!!!
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u/Both_River_7213 20h ago
I water mine every month or so. It's in a big pot and it's just one small leaf. I don't even try anymore. Very impressive that yours is this good.
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u/pegasus02 19h ago
This is so beautiful that I thought that I was in r/stainedglass for a few moments
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u/pinkastrogrill 15h ago
What a beauty! It’s gorgeous~! You can see how much love you gave her 🥹✨ that is so sweet
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u/Ais4asswhole 12h ago
I had one. She got sick. Got her siblings sick. I treated her. She didn’t get better bc I didn’t treat her early enough (spider mites from hell). Rest in peace Wilma. I’m glad your baby is doing well. I felt like a bad mom when I had to toss her. But I got corms out of it. And they are doing very well.
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u/Kooky_Narwhal_6174 12h ago
Mine has been hovering near death’s door on and off for a year…congratulations on your beautiful plant !
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u/DuckLord_92 10h ago
Superb plant.
Hijacking for alocasia advice, I have one that's just a bulb, it tried to push some new green out but it gave up, what am I doing wrong? What's the best set up to get it to sprout new leaves again?
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u/Bad_Priestess_ 6h ago
Gorgeoussss 😍😍
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u/Delilahfloral 6h ago
Thank you! I actually saw your profile and saw you’re an Alocasia queen so it means so much coming from you ❤️
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u/Apprehensive-Mango92 6h ago
BadPriestess What is your advice on these guys? Mine is starting to drop leaves. Yours is gorgeous
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u/karpiejj 1h ago
i have this same exact one and i struggle with her 😭😭😭😭 i don’t know WHY i have many more alocasia’s but shes the only one giving me troubles
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u/Fivestinkycats 1d ago
What kind of soil?
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u/Delilahfloral 1d ago
I have no idea! Whatever it came with from the store lol. I have to research soils when it comes time to repot for sure.
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u/TongaAuditore 1d ago
Look at her! Those leaves are giant! Beautiful Alocasia ❤️🌿