Alocasia houseplants are renowned for their unique and beautiful foliage and can add visual appeal to just about any room in your house.
They have a powerful presence, and you won’t be able to help but be drawn by their captivating appearance and incredible charm. It’s no wonder that they’re such a well-loved houseplant!
The broad, heart or arrowhead-shaped leaves of this plant are textured and may have flat or wavy edges. The distinctive cream color veining stands out dramatically against the dark green color of the leaves.
Growing and caring for Alocasia houseplants doesn’t have to be tricky; read this guide to learn exactly what you need to do to grow them easily at home.
Alocasia, also known as elephant ear plants, are tropical beauties grown for their stunning, oversized foliage While they make eye-catching houseplants, did you know alocasia are also flowering plants that can produce seeds when pollinated?
Pollinating your alocasia is an easy way to boost yields and propagate new plants. Follow this comprehensive guide to successfully hand pollinate your alocasia plant.
Pollination is the process of transferring pollen grains from the male part of a flower (the stamen) to the female part of a flower (the stigma). This fertilizes the plant and allows it to produce seeds.
For alocasia plants, pollination must be done by hand as their small, inconspicuous flowers aren’t pollinated by wind or insects.
Why Hand Pollinate Alocasia?
Pollinating alocasia by hand is beneficial for several reasons:
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It greatly increases seed production which can be used to propagate more plants.
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It encourages larger yields of alocasia fruits in varieties grown for their edible corms.
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It allows you to create new hybrid varieties by cross-pollinating different alocasia types.
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It preserves rare or endangered alocasia species by assisting with pollination
When to Pollinate Alocasia Plants
Alocasia produce flowers during the growing season from late spring through summer The key time to pollinate is when the spadix is receptive, usually open and fragrant
Pollinate first thing in the morning when the air is cooler and drier for best results. Pollen grains can stick and transfer better at this time.
How to Hand Pollinate Alocasia Step-By-Step
Follow these steps to successfully hand pollinate your alocasia:
Identify Male and Female Flowers
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Locate a male flower with anthers (small stalks) that contain yellow pollen.
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Find a female flower with a stigma (sticky knob) ready to receive pollen.
Collect Pollen
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Use a small brush, cotton swab, or fingertip to gently transfer pollen from the anthers of a male flower.
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Store collected pollen in a dry container if pollinating multiple flowers over several days.
Transfer Pollen
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Retrieve stored pollen or collect fresh pollen from a male flower.
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Gently brush pollen onto the stigma of the female flower until well coated.
Label Flowers
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Mark pollinated flowers with ties or sticks to avoid pollinating them twice.
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Record dates and parent plants for future reference.
Repeat Daily
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Repeat the pollinating process daily for 1-2 weeks to ensure successful fertilization.
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Fruits and seed pods will form within 4-6 weeks after pollination.
Alocasia Pollination Tips
Follow these tips for the best results when hand pollinating alocasia:
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Select healthy plants and fully open, fragrant flowers to pollinate. Avoid old, dying flowers.
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Use a clean small brush, cotton swab, or finger each time to prevent pollen contamination.
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Work quickly and gently to avoid damaging delicate flowers.
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Mist flowers lightly before pollinating to help pollen adhere.
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Bag pollinated flowers with lightweight fabric to prevent cross-pollination.
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Pollinate multiple flowers on the same plant and different plants for best yields.
Caring for Pollinated Alocasia Plants
Keep caring for your alocasia plants after pollination to ensure healthy fruit and seed development:
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Follow proper light, watering, humidity, and feeding needs for the variety.
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Stake up heavily fruited flower stems that may bend with the weight.
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Prune aging flowers and leaves to divert energy to developing fruits.
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Monitor for pests which can damage fruits. Treat any infestations promptly.
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Allow fruits to fully ripen before collecting seeds.
Storing and Propagating Alocasia Seeds
Once fruits ripen and split open, collect the seeds:
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Fully dry seed pods before removing seeds.
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Place seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Seeds remain viable for several years.
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Start seeds indoors in warm, moist potting mix. Keep evenly moist and in bright light until sprouts emerge.
With a simple pollination process, you can unlock the full potential of your alocasia plants! Follow this guide to enjoy an abundant harvest of fruits and seeds for years to come.
How to Plant and Grow Alocasia (Elephant Ear)
This plant is extremely simple to propagate rapidly through root division, so it isn’t usually grown through seeds.
However, if you have a fully grown plant that blooms and produces seed pods, you can harvest the seeds from the pods once they have dried out and then plant them in a nutrient-dense potting mix that contains peat.
Plant the seeds on the surface of the medium, and then cover them with a light coating of additional potting soil. Keep the soil moist, but not soaked, until the seeds sprout.
However, remember that it may take years for seedlings to mature into fully grown plants with characteristically enormous leaves.
Quick Guide: Planting, Growing & Caring for Alocasia
- Alocasia is a subtropical plant hailing from Asia and Eastern Australia
- There are more than 100 different species and many are grown indoors as houseplants
- They should be kept moist but not waterlogged, and they also prefer humid environments
- Use a potting soil mix that’s loose, has good drainage, and is slightly acidic
Alocasia plants can grow quickly, even in northern climates with a short growing season. These plants are capable of producing a new leaf every week during the warm summer months, and each new leaf may be twice as large as the leaf that was produced the week before.
The shapes of the leaves can range from thin arrowheads to wide heart-shaped leaves. The veins can be different colors, and the leaves can be thick, waxy, smooth, or glossy.
When the plant goes dormant in late fall and winter, it will start to rest. There will be no more rapid leaf growth, and the plant will probably keep its current form all through the colder months. If you keep taking care of it, it will grow quickly again the next season.
It’s important to note that alocasia is poisonous to people as well as animals, so make sure to keep them away from children and pets. They’re also known as the African Mask plant, or Elephant Ear plant.
Depending on the species and variety, light requirements range from shade to full sunlight. Find out if the plant has been sun-trained by the grower or seller. Plants that require more light to thrive typically have more vibrant leaves.
The majority of Alocasia species are able to survive in shade, but they typically prefer slightly rosier filtered sunlight. The larger varieties can be conditioned to withstand the intense tropical sun. However, most indoor varieties grow best in bright, indirect light so keep it in a sunny room but away from direct sunlight.
Alocasia should be planted in potting mix that is loose and has good drainage, or in crumbly, loamy soil. They like soil that is slightly acidic, which is what you get with a standard potting mix made of peat.
Alocasia plants need to be kept moist all year long because they love water. However, there is a fine line when it comes to these plants.
The soil should be kept moist but not drenched and soggy as soggy soil can lead to root rot. Since the plant is dormant during the winter, it’ll need less water during that time.
Before you water, let the top few inches of the soil almost dry out. This will help maintain soil moisture levels and prevent it from becoming soggy which can expose the plant to fungal infections.
Alocasias are known to be sensitive to the salts, minerals, and chlorine found in tap water, which can cause the plant to spot.
Before watering the plant, let the water sit for a full day in a bucket or watering can which can allow some of the unwanted substances to evaporate. Distilled water is another option you can use to water these plants.
Less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit will be harmful to your alocasia plants. During colder weather, certain varieties will die back and regrow from the rhizome. They need high humidity environments to survive and thrive.
Place your plant on a pebble tray and fill the tray with water until it reaches an inch or two below the bottom of the pot. This will increase the humidity in the area. Alternatively, you can use a humidifier. Keep them away from cold drafts from doors, windows, and air conditioners.
Alocasia, especially the larger varieties, can be heavy feeders. During the growing season, liquid fertilizer should be applied once or twice per month.
A 20-20-20 NPK formulation is recommended.
To prune an Alocasia, simply remove any leaves that have faded. It is natural for old leaves to wither and fall off as new ones emerge on a plant.
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FAQ
How to pollinate an alocasia?
Can you cross pollinate different alocasia?
Are alocasia self-fertile?
Can Alocasia Polly be propagated by division?
If your healthy alocasia Polly is growing from at least two bulbs with two leaves, you can propagate the plant by division. If you have a mature plant that’s beginning to crowd its pot, division is a great solution. The best time to propagate alocasia Polly is during the spring and summer when the plant is actively growing.
Why is my Alocasia Polly not growing?
If your Alocasia Polly is not growing as fast as you would like, it may be a sign that the plant is not getting enough nutrients. To fix this, you can fertilize the plant with a slow-release fertilizer or a water-soluble fertilizer. Stunted growth can also be a result of the plant’s pot being too small.
Can you grow Alocasia Polly indoors?
You can grow the Alocasia Polly as an indoor plant, but it has some specific needs and is known to be a little difficult and fussy. Alocasias are a bit more care-intensive than most houseplants. They like bright, filtered light, moist soil, high humidity, and warm temperatures.
Is Alocasia Polly a good plant for beginners?
Like other Alocasias, the Alocasia Polly is a tropical plant that has very particular needs and might not be the best plant for beginners. However, when you learn to take care of an Alocasia Polly, you’ll be able to take care of other, more advanced plants as well.