Looking for a spectacular houseplant that really catches the eye? It’s hard to go wrong with the genus Alocasia, especially a relatively recent cultivar known as Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’. All of the flair of its parent plant, Alocasia amazonica, but in a more compact package perfect for smaller spaces!
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’ plant care, with extensive growing tips for helping this aroid thrive indoors.
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Mold on houseplants is a common problem that many indoor gardeners face, and the Amazon Elephants Ear plant is no exception. This large-leafed plant with its tropical flair can easily fall victim to mold growth due to its size and watering needs. Not only is mold unsightly, but it can also damage the plant if left unchecked. Getting rid of mold on your Amazon Elephants Ear ensures your plant stays happy and healthy.
What Causes Mold on Amazon Elephants Ear Plant
Mold spores are present everywhere in our environment. When the conditions are right these spores will germinate and mold growth will occur. The main factors that encourage mold growth on Amazon Elephants Ear plant are
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Excess moisture – Amazon Elephants Ear prefers moist soil, but too much water can lead to mold. Overwatering is the most common cause.
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Stagnant air – Mold spores thrive in still, stagnant air. Lack of air circulation around the plant creates a prime environment for mold.
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Humidity – High humidity provides moisture that mold needs to grow. Bathrooms and kitchens often have ideal conditions for mold on plants.
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Leaf debris – Dead leaves that land in the potting mix or get caught in the leaves can start growing mold if they remain wet
Identifying Mold on Amazon Elephants Ear
The first sign of mold on Amazon Elephants Ear is usually the appearance of fuzzy splotches on the leaves, stems, or soil. These splotches may be white, grey, black or even greenish-blue. The texture is often powdery or velvety.
Sometimes the spots start off small and round As the mold spreads, the spots grow and blend together If left untreated, the mold can eventually cover the entire plant. The affected plant parts will start to rot and die.
If you suspect your plant has mold but aren’t sure, try gently wiping a leaf or stem with a cotton ball soaked in water. If the spot rubs off and leaves behind a black or greenish stain, it is likely mold.
How to Get Rid of Mold on Amazon Elephants Ear Plant
Catching mold early and taking quick action is key to saving your Amazon Elephants Ear plant. Here are the steps to eliminate mold:
Isolate the Plant
Quarantine the affected plant away from your other houseplants to prevent the mold from spreading. Place it in a room with good air circulation if possible.
Remove Affected Plant Parts
Prune away any leaves or stems that are covered in mold using sterilized pruning shears. Be sure to seal and discard the trimmings. Removing the mold eliminates the food source and stops spores at the source.
Adjust Watering
Examine your watering habits. Allow the potting mix to dry out a bit between waterings. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry to prevent excess moisture.
Increase Air Circulation
Use oscillating fans or open windows regularly to keep air around the plant moving. Stagnant, humid air encourages mold growth.
Apply a Natural Fungicide
Spray the remaining foliage thoroughly with an organic fungicide like neem oil or a baking soda solution. Repeat application to soil every three weeks (active ingredient is ineffective in soil after three weeks). Spray the leaves no less than once a week. Spraying neem oil on the leaves will kill any fungal spores on the outside of the plant.
Provide Proper Lighting
Amazon Elephants Ear thrives in bright, indirect light. Low light weakens the plant and makes it prone to mold, so place it in an appropriately lit spot.
Monitor and Maintain
Keep checking your plant and reapply fungicide as needed until the mold is completely gone. Maintain proper watering and lighting habits to prevent recurrence.
Preventing Mold on Amazon Elephants Ear Plant
Prevention is always better than dealing with a mold issue after it has taken hold. Here are some tips to keep your Amazon Elephants Ear mold-free:
- Allow soil to partially dry between waterings
- Water early in the day so leaves dry quickly
- Ensure pot has drainage holes to prevent soggy soil
- Add pebbles to pot tray to prevent standing water
- Wipe leaves regularly with damp cloth to prevent dust and debris buildup
- Prune off old yellow leaves and spent blooms
- Use an organic fertilizer to keep the plant healthy
- Ensure plant gets adequate bright, indirect light
- Use fans or open windows regularly to increase airflow
- Decrease humidity around plant by using a dehumidifier
- Avoid crowding plants which reduces air circulation
- Sterilize pruning shears after each use to prevent spreading spores
When to Seek Professional Help
In severe cases of mold, you may need to discard the infected plant to prevent the mold from spreading and to eliminate all mold spores. If the mold persists after multiple treatments, the plant may be too far gone to save. Seeking advice from your local nursery or plant expert can help determine if your Elephants Ear is salvageable or needs to be discarded and replaced. They can also test the plant and identify the type of mold to recommend the most effective treatment.
Catching and treating mold at first sight gives the best chance of saving your Amazon Elephants Ear plant. With quick action and consistent prevention methods, your plant can thrive mold-free for years to come. Maintaining proper watering, light, and airflow will go a long way in keeping this tropical plant happy and healthy.
Propagating Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’
Like all other Alocasia varieties (including Alocasia zebrina and Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’), ‘Polly’ grows from a central corm. That means, unfortunately, that it’s not a candidate for stem propagation. Division is your best bet if you’d like to multiply your plant.
Luckily, a mature Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’ will usually do most of the work for you: it grows in a clumping manner that should make it easy to take apart.
If you’d like to divide your Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’, you can do so as follows:
- Take the plant out of its container and shake off the excess soil. Lay it out on a trash bag to see what you’re dealing with. In many cases, different sections will already come apart at this point.
- Are any of the clumps you’re eyeing attached to each other? That’s not a problem. Cut vertically with a clean knife to separate them, taking care to leave the root system on each one intact.
- If any of the clumps lack a root system, you can root them in water or moist sphagnum peat moss.
- Rooted clumps can be potted in normal aroid soil. Give them a drink of water. Although they can sulk a bit at first, they should continue growing as usual.
Common questions about Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’ care
Alocasia ‘Polly’ is a fast-growing plant. On average, it grows one to two new leaves every month, though smaller plants may start out a little more slowly.
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FAQ
What is the Mould on my elephant ear plant?
How do you treat fungal leaf blight in elephant ears?
What do you spray on elephant ear plants?
How do you fix a sick elephant ear plant?
How do you kill elephant ear?
The proper herbicide for elephant ear will be an all-purpose type. Spray all the aerial parts of the plant thoroughly with the herbicide, then give it time to start working. The foliage and stems will die back as the herbicide works its way down into the tuber. Once the foliage has died back, start digging up the tubers.
How do you propagate Alocasia elephant ear?
Propagate the Alocasia elephant ear plant by dividing the roots. The tuberous roots grow small offsets that are easy to separate from the ‘mother’ plant. You can plant these ‘babies’ directly into fresh soil to grow new plants. To propagate African mask plants, gently remove the root ball from the container. Clean excess dirt from the rhizome.
How do I get rid of elephant ear plants?
Getting rid of elephant ears is no simple task. It requires persistence. Removing unwanted elephant ear plants involves using herbicides as well as actually digging up the aggressive tubers. When selecting an herbicide, read the product label thoroughly, especially if you intend to replant in the location you are spraying.
How do you humidify Alocasia elephant ear plants?
Here are some ways to humidify Alocasia elephant ear plants: Mist the leaves —Fill a spray bottle with filtered tap water. Finely mist the leaves every other day but avoid getting them too wet. Group houseplants —Grow houseplants together to create a humid atmosphere to encourage fast growth.