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The Alocasia industrial plant is also get laid as the African Mask plant an attractive foliage plant and houseplant capable of growing quite orotund if pay enough humidity and additional light during the winter months .
Its unique foliage makes it an interesting houseplant and even more interesting in a landscape painting .
One of the newer African mask Alocasia hybrids grown from tissue culture
The African Mask plants call the South Pacific home , and many specie come from the Philippines , India , Southeast Asia , and New Guinea . This tuberous perennial from the Araceae home holds broad - shaped foliage and some comestible parts .
According to the International Aroid Society , plants of the family Araceae possess a bizarre mix of spathe and spadix which people see as its flower .
At one time the genus of Alocasia was considered to be part of theColocasia(elephant ear plant ) but was reclassified .
One of the newer African mask Alocasia hybrids grown from tissue culture
The hardiness zones of this plant greatly depends on the mixed bag . So you need to know first about their differences and types , before you may identify this .
African Mask Plant (Alocasia) and Colocasia Differences
One of the things that distinguish the Alocasia plant from theColocasia plantis the Colocasia is edible .
Throughout the Pacific island and Southeast Asia , the root or tubers of Taro ( Colocasia esculenta ) are roast or boiled and eaten .
Although the Alocasia has a very similar type ascendant as the elephants ear plant , it is not an eatable industrial plant .
Eye Catching Leaves
The demand for foliage plants as decoration in modern homes seems beyond demarcation .
The Alocasia African mask plant life ( some reckon the flora seem like one ) or Kris plant as the Alocasia is sometimes called is a plant meeting the demand .
Many of the 70 or so different Alocasia specie have veins with contrast semblance that are clearly delimitate , dark green , and heart - shaped leaf which look attractive , eye - catching and exotic .
unparalleled in color and bold in frame , Alocasias attract the attention of all who see them .
The compounding of bronze , green , silver Gy and cream with corresponding fluctuation in the shape of the leaves , make them really gems among plants grow for their foliage .
Alocasias are still relatively uncommon for the average homeowner and a act of sleuthing may be necessary to locate them . Although more are available due to tissue civilization extension .
Not All Houseplants
Many interested in Alocasia consider they can all be grown as houseplant . But , there are some varieties which grow very tall with a foliage and stem make over 6′ metrical foot . Much too freehanded for use as a houseplant , perchance a conservatory plant life !
Some do mulct on a Lord’s Day - porch with deal of brightness , others require almost a greenhouse air to do well .
There are several varieties and loan-blend like : Alocasia Amazonica which will raise well indoors with enough lighter and could employ a little boost of artificial visible light during the wintertime month .
Big And Out Grown
If you are capable to cater the ripe status ( high humidness ) to spring up the African Mask industrial plant indoors well , overtime , it can outgrow its space .
As the works grows the leaves grow larger and the stems or petiole produce longer . This come about gradually over a menstruum of a few years .
Varieties and Hybrids
As noted above there are over 70 specie . Over the twelvemonth there have been legion hybrid made as well .
The first cross alocasias were first made over 100 years ago by European horticulturists . Popular Alocasia hybrids in the 1950 ’s were :
prize for their variegated colorful leaves and the power to easily clone they Alocasia have created a renewed interest in them . Over 40 fresh cultivar have been usher in in the past few decades .
“ The most noteworthy cultivars include ‘ Buko Park ’ , ‘ Alocasia Black Stem ’ , ‘ Black Velvet ’ , ‘ Corozon ’ , ‘ Elaine ’ , ‘ Fantacy ’ , ‘ Frydek ’ , ‘ Grandis ’ , ‘ Nobilis ’ , ‘ Polly ’ , ‘ Purple Prince ’ , ‘ Sarian ’ , ‘ White Knight ’ , and ‘ Wentii ’ .
Because of the strength of tissue culture in generating desirable mutation , cultivar development in Alocasia now relies chiefly on the selection of some clonal variants . ” [ author ]
These young cross are all in an campaign to produce plants that will grow indoors under normal lighting or make more unparalleled industrial plant for the landscape .
Related Alocasias
Alocasia Amazonia
Alocasia amazonicais a loan-blend betweenAlocasia SanderianaandAlocasia longilobaand is one of the most striking and unique - look terrace and houseplants .
Their striking waxy , two - smell , arrow - determine leaves are punctuate by whitish or sick dark-green leaf nervure . This standout , lush perennial plant can be grown from underground corms and bonk pot of lovingness , humidness and water .
Under favorable conditions , Alocasia amazonica can attain 2′ in height and a spread of a foot or two . It blooms at times and can send up whelp which fill out gardens rapidly to form a dense clump .
Alocasia Macrorrhizos
A tight maturate and invasive tropical industrial plant found in regions with eminent temperatures . The alocasia macrorrhizos , also known as jumbo dasheen , originally come to these warm areas to serve as an cosmetic plant .
Giant taro was first introduce in the Philippines . Around 1500 years ago , Polynesian explorers took this plant eastwards until they come in Hawaii .
Now , the giant taro acts as a staple food in regions with no ability to raise traditional vegetables rich in starch such as potatoes due to the warm climate and mellow humidity .
This massive perennial holds leaf with size of 3 to 4 feet wide and stem ranging from two to four foundation long . The entire plant can reach 15 foot grandiloquent and ten foot wide . Its roots have the same taste as potatoes . you’re able to run through them after boil , dried or ground into flour .
Alocasia talihan Elmer ex Merr
This name is a equivalent word for the species Xanthosoma Sagittifolium , also call arrowleaf elephant auricle . It ’s a flowering works that provides an edible , starchy corm .
This variety is popular in many cuisines — Puerto Rico , Bolivia , Costa Rica , Mexico , Nicaragua , Brazil , and more . chef use them in stews , soup , puree , and as constituent for other local dishes . Its popularity even reach the far countries of Suriname and The Netherlands .
The arrowleaf elephant spike can also insure mourning band making it a good flora for re-afforestation area .
How To Propagate Alocasia – African Shield Flower
There are several path topropagate Alocasia . One method acting is from the root cut ( corm -little bulbs ) the plant sends out . Another is by gull cutting .
Take the stem carving with a sterile knife or razor make trusted an “ optic ” is in each section . Dress the wound with a fungicide .
implant the thinning or lie it horizontally on moist grime , light covered , hold a temperature of around 75 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
get tearing after sprout start growing . Begin liquid feed after a couple calendar month of growth .
you may also make use of the rhizome , a growing horizontal underground stem . The best extension make for by splitting them up .
Kris Plant Pests
The Kris is the indoor flora alocasia . Indoors especially during wintertime the dry air can run to wanderer mites , along with sections of the flora drying out .
Forminor spider tinge problems … wiping the leaves while apply a serious emphatic blast of weewee may be all that is required .
Mealybugs can also receive their mode to plants . A cotton swob with inebriant may do the john . Alocasia can be tender so what you address louse with , so be careful . Wipe the leaves regularlyusing a clean cloth or sponge to keep plants free of dust .
Flowers
The Alocasia are essentially for “ non - show ” , with flowers which are “ Calla - lily like ” having the flush spike palisade by bract .
Buying Tips
Alocasia plant are often in stores and garden centers during the spring and at other irregular times throughout the yr .
The best time to purchase plants is in spring or other summer . It is often sell during the brighter warmer calendar month .
This allows time for works to acclimatise and establish themselves before winter . It often rests in the wintertime time due to pitiable winter lighting .
With right humidity and extra luminousness during the winter Alocasia is not a unmanageable plant life to grow .
African Mask Plant Care Tips
Size and Growth : The varieties grown as a “ houseplant ” can grow up to 4 feet marvellous , with leaf 20 inches long or more .
Each leaf begins growing from the ground on a tenacious stem . Some varieties will produce a body as they mature and maturate foliage of considerable size of it .
Flowering : alocasia doflower with a “ calla - like bloom”but are develop principally for their leaves and the decorative economic value they bring home the bacon . The flowers have no particular odor .
Light and Temperature : The Alocasia requires good kindling all through the twelvemonth . During winter months the plant may “ pillow ” often due to lower , hapless or collateral light grade .
They also require plunder or warmth . The landscape painting miscellanea can grow alfresco in lineal sunlight . The “ houseplant ” varieties like vivid light but only need partial sun .
Temperatures below 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit may cause the plant to mislay leaves .
Watering and Feeding : Keep the potting premix and soil moist . It responds well to swimming feed delivered at half the recommend label venereal infection .
filth and Transplanting : Provide a well - drain soil for the industrial plant . For plant in mess , use 2 share peat moss or anAfrican violet soil mixand 1 part perlite , will produce excellent termination .
With potted plant a good layer of drain material at the bottom of the pot can be good . A little great deal with poor soil can slow up down plant growth .
When planting in the ground , with a good mix of organic material incorporate is give notice .
Grooming : The plant requires no literal grooming other than removing older leaves with a sharp tongue as they whither and go off normally .
Propagating : Sucker , Tissue Culture , or division of root stock .
It has been noted that Alocasia is toxic like the democratic Dieffenbachia Tropic Snow from the calcium oxalate in the bow . Children and pets should be keep away from the plant . match out ourtips on Dieffenbachia care .
As a longtime plant accumulator Anthuriums and Alocasias have always been dear to my heart and soul . I ’m always look to strike more about these plants . Below are excerpts with minor edits of Alocasia Lowii as described inNew and Rare Beautiful Plants – 1870 .
Alocasia Lowii , Caladlum Veitchii , Caladium Lowii , Low ’s CaladiumNatural Order – Araceae
The very close relationships of Alocasia andCaladium , and the incidental impossibility of distinguishing the genera when the plants are quite untried , accounts for the three names which the works before us has severally stick out . Caladium Veitchii had been enclose to cultivation prior to the discovery of the industrial plant before us , and in due time proved to be an Alocasia , and was re - named accordingly Alocasia Veitchii .
In the summer of 1862 Messrs. Low and Co. , of Clapton , received from Borneo a plant which they believed to be Caladium Veitchii , and under this name they first presented some immature specimens of it at the Metropolitan exhibitions .
In due meter it turn out to be distinct from the flora stick out the name under which they get it , and hence it was re - named Caladium Lowii .
When the inflorescence appeared it proved to be not a Caladium , but an Alocasia , and last it was registered and described as Alocasia Lowii , ( Hooker , ) as good a name perhaps as could be given it in these days of degraded nomenclature , a diagnosing being no longer a needful preliminary to the determination of a specific name .
Alocasia Lowii is one of the imposing plants of the singular house to which it belongs , and if not higher-ranking to Alocasia metallica , as we are inclined to think it is , at least equals that fine flora in solemn richness of coloring and imperial proportion , and is the best potential associate works to that .
It is , like other Alocasias , an evergreen plant stove perennial plant , having a distinct , erect , rhizomatous fore , to which the sheathe bases of the unsloped leafstalks are attached . The leaves are sharply sagittate , a foot to a foot and a half long , and five to nine inches wide , the basis divide by a deep sinus into a pair of oblong lobes .
The colouring of the foliage , as in the casing of Alocasia metallica , advise to the spectator that he is looking at some luxuriant work of metallic art . It is misfortunate praise perhaps to liken any employment of nature to a work of nontextual matter , yet these two plants have such peculiar visual aspect that we know not how to avoid it .
In Alocasia Lowii the midrib and its secondary rib are of ivory whiteness , and coalesce with a inspissate bone white margin ; the spaces between these ribs are of a deep green , and the under surface is a sombre purpleness . In its inflorescence it differs from others of the genus in being middling cosmetic ; at all events the spathes are upwardly of four inches long , refined in precis , and of the most snowy whiteness .
Image : Aroidia Research
