Just picked up this beauty from Home Depot today and am trying to learn all about it. Alocasia scalprum, and I've read they are prone to rot. Is there any reason I couldnt replant it into something like a mix for succulents? I've always enjoyed plants, but I'm not all that familiar with different soil mixes or picky plants.
I'm also reading they like higher humidity, so going to figure out how to help it with that, whether I put it in the bathroom or something.
Any other tips for keeping this nifty plant happy and healthy?
by NicoleWan78
2 Comments
1. Give it time to adjust before repotting. From my experience Scalprums are most dramatic to changes.
2. Do NOT put it in the bathroom! Excess humidity could lead to root rot
Place the little fella near a window, where it can get bright, indirect light. Too much sun could burn the leaves so be on the lookout.
Buy a humidifer. These guys like humidity around 50-60%. Also, humidifers are good for your health, so it’s a win-win! ☺️
Alocasias are heavy feeders – definetely buy CalMag + Liquid Silica + balanced fertilizer for it. Fertilize it once every week or so during summer (or you can fertilize it during every watering) and every 2-3 weeks or so during winter…
Yes, very prone to root rot. They’re a great plant for semi-hydro ; I grow these and similar Alocasia in self-watering pots with fluval stratum or sphagnum moss and they do great. I’m sure pon and Leca would work just as well.
If you want to go with soil I would use an orchid mix or aroid mix. Something very chunky that you can keep damp but that doesn’t hold a ton of water. Avoid a very wet to very dry cycle, that’ll just lead to root rot.
Try to keep the moisture as consistent as possible ; never soaking wet, never bone dry.