Herself's Houseplants

alocasia amazonica

alocasia amazonica

I think this is my favorite of all the alocasias. It is certainly the most dramatic looking.  Leaves can reach 2′ long and it will bloom indoors when happy.

High humidity is the key for this plant to do well. If you are in a cold climate and the heat is on, or in a dry climate you need to supply it with humidity. A dish filled with gravel and water underneath works well.

In the house it should be happy in just about any window. Some people report it gets sunburned in southern exposures, others swear it loves the sun. Try and see what works for you.  Do keep it from cold drafts.  It does not like the cold.

Keep the soil moist. Many people treat this like an african violet. Sit it in a dish of gravel and water and let it soak up water as it wants from the gravel dish. Keep an eye on it however, some plants will rot if kept this way especially if they are not in a sunny location.

I find the water tray works for mine. I keep it in a shaded east exposure.

It has been known to suddenly drop all its leaves.  Not to worry, new leaves usually appear almost immediately.

Keep an eye out for spider mites they like this plant.

In the winter soil mealy bugs can be a problem for African violets.

The African violets get less light, the soil stays wet for longer times and it’s chilly by those windows creating conditions for soil bacteria and bugs to grow and attack.

The plants begin by wilting and the leaves appear to be thinner. This can mean root rot or soil mealy bugs are attacking your plant. Either way the best course of action is to repot your plant. It is the bacteria in the soil not the water that rots the roots. So either the bacteria or mealy bugs need to go.

Unpot the plant and check for mealy bugs, you’ll see little white spots in the soil at the bottom of the pot if you have them. If not it is bacteria that is the problem. When you unpot your plant gently remove all the soil from the roots, cut off damaged roots and rinse the roots thoroughly but gently in running water.

If when you unpot your plant you find the roots are short and all near to the surface that means you’ve been over watering your violet.

Buy some fresh soil at your local nursery and run your pot through the dishwasher if you wish to reuse it.

And remember as long as you have one healthy leaf you can root you have not lost your African violet.