Herself's Houseplants

This does very well indoors. Place it in an east or north window and keep the soil moist.

If you are someone who over waters your house plants you’ll like alocasias. They love water. Just be sure to let all the water drain out of the bottom of the pot before putting it back in its saucer.

Protect them from the cold, keep it away from drafty windows and doors if you are in a cold climate.

This plant wants a humid location. Keep it in a bathroom or kitchen or some other damp part of your home if your home is dry.

Alocasia will reach 1′ to 2′ tall indoors.

If it out grows its pot you can easily divide it into more plants. Slice the plant into parts with a sharp knife, keeping some leaves and roots with each section. Or you can leave it whole and just put it in a larger pot when the time comes.

The only problem might be if your home is too dry. If it isn’t doing well it is likely your home has dry air. Take a tray that is a couple inch deep, fill it with gravel and water and use that as a saucer for your plant. Keep water in the tray.

If you are not planting it in potting soil that has time released fertilizer, fertilize monthly.

The correct name for this plant is Alocasia micholitziana but most often you’ll find it labeled Alocasia Frydek or Alocasia Fryder.

This plant is native to the Philippines where they are an important food crop. The starch from the plants is combined with coconut milk in several dishes. Don’t try this at home, improper cooking can result in illness.

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.

Pony tail palms are not really palms but are members of the Lilaceae family. It is a native of the desert in Mexico.

Because it is a desert plant it does not mind the dry house air. But that also means it wants just as much light as you can give it.

It stores water in its base so the biggest risk is over watering. Water it like a cactus. Let the top inch of soil go dry before you rewater this plant. If you are not sure whether to water – wait a week.

If the leaves turn brown or the stem shrivels you are under watering this plant. If new leaves are light in color or stem or root rot appear you have given it too much water.

It can grow up to 8′ tall indoors.

See also:
Indoor plants as retro fashion

More information:
Beaucarnea recurvata

Credits:
Thanks for the photo