Doing this at the same time you are checking to see if your plant needs watered is a good idea. This is a sign that the stems aren't full of water anymore. I hope you have found this article helpful. Overwatering results in the roots being deprived of oxygen due to the waterlogged soil. This prevents normal air circulation within the soil, which is essential for the survival of the roots. If placed in a space that is too dark, you may notice leaf droop. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a thorough soak is in order. When you have too much water, or simplythick soil that doesn’t drain, the roots are smothered and are notable to draw in water properly. Alocasia zebrina is a stunning tropical evergreen perennial houseplant with large glossy green arrowhead leaves and stems with zebra-like patterns.Also called the Alocasia zebrina Tiger or Alocasia Leopard, this plant has long arching spotted stalks with unusual patterns.As with all species of Alocasia, the zebrina variety has triangular-shaped leaves that grow quickly. There are several symptoms of overwatering which you can identify to see if this is the cause of your Alocasia leaves drooping; There are a number of factors that will greatly affect the risk that you will end up with an overwatered plant, regardless of the frequency that you water your Alocasia. Both species have very large leaves, and both are called elephant’s ears. Here are the signs to look out for; Look for any factors that are contributing to the underwatering. The nitrogen is what is needed for leaf and stem … Unlike the leaves of Alocasia which point skyward, the leaves of Colocasia droop and point toward the ground. Alocasia Zebrina Common Plant Pests. Alocasias generally do well in temperatures of 60ºF (15ºC) to 82ºF (28ºC), but they are best kept towards the middle of this temperature range. The Alocasia black velvet is a beautiful indoor plant popular for its foliage. The immediate solution is to stake the drooping stem until it recovers. If you accidentally let your Arrowhead’s soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown. This is due to the remarkably consistent conditions that they experience in their natural habitat. The arrowhead-shaped green leaves along with multi-colored long stems make this plant a beautiful piece of art to be placed as an item of decoration. Caladium emerge from the soil as petioles -- leaf stems -- which unfurl into vigorous arrowhead shapes a foot long or more. These plants require a good amount of indirect sunlight to properly bloom and grow. The trick is to have high nitrogen so if you are looking at fertilizers they will have three numbers like 6-1-1. 92% Upvoted. Other common reasons include lighting problems, temperature stress, pests, dormancy, and low humidity. Find anything about plants, content, and more. If you accidentally let your Arrowhead’s soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown. The Alocasia Black Velvet Care includes a … (Causes & Solutions), Areca Palm Propagation - A Step By Step Guide, Ming Aralia Care - How To Grow Polyscias Fruticosa, Umbrella Plant Propagation Guide (With Pictures). If not all the soil feels saturated, water your Alocasia Polly slightly from the top of the soil to help speed up the saturation. Additionally, read my guides to caring for Alocasia Amazonica, Alocasia zebrina, and Alocasia Frydek, which provide specific, as well as general tips, to keep your Alocasias in great condition. Dormancy is one of the only causes of Alocasia leaves drooping that is normal and largely to be expected. The leaves yellowed and drooped one by one until the plant looked awful. Never put it in a temperature that’s below 50°F (10°C). However, sometimes it can be a sign that your Alocasia is root bound or is drying out too quickly due to excess light, heat or humidity. This means that the leaves can often be affected in isolation from the rest of the plant. read my guide to fixing an overwatered plant. Both problems result in the plant receiving less water than it needs, but overwatering is much more serious. Alocasia amazonica is a hybrid plant. hide. There is a species with leaves that resemble African masks, one with Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii' (Black Stem Elephant Ear) is a tuberous, frost-tender perennial with large, bold, heart-shaped, blue-green leaves adorned with dark green veins and a shiny black cast. I have a few great tips in this article to help you know when to water your houseplants. Always remember that too high or too low temperature won’t be good for your Alocasia Stingray. If yours begin to droop, it can be a sign of the plant having too little light, too much or too little water in the soil, or not enough nutrients. If the Alocasia Zebrina care is off, the plant can get leaf spot diseases and root rot. Sep 15, 2020 | Blog. The plant will right itself over time but you also can stake the stems while it recovers. It is important to act quickly, as overwatering leading to root rot can quickly lead to the death of your plant. Feel the top of the soil after your plant has been soaking–has the water reached the top 2-3” of soil? There can be multiple reasons for drooping. This can lead to your Alocasia leaves drooping or curling in isolation from the rest of the plant. Alocasia macrorrhizos, commonly called giant taro or upright elephant ears, is a rhizomatous tropical perennial of the arum family that is treasured both for its giant ornamentally decorative leaves which resemble the ears of an elephant and its edible rhizomes which have been cultivated for many years in the tropics as an edible vegetable under the common name of taro. Lighting is the number one factor that impacts the health of your houseplants, and Alocasias are no exception. Many houseplants will tolerate the more arid conditions in our homes, but Alocasias are not one of these. Remember to check both the top and undersides of the leaves and the petioles for any telltale signs. Don’t forget that light varies massively during the year, so a location that provides plenty of light in summer, may be woefully inadequate in winter. They are borne atop striking purple-black leaf stalks. However, if you live in an extremely hot climate, allow the plant to receive bright indirect light. When I brought my first Alocasia polly home, the leaves began turning yellow and drooping after a few weeks. Without water inside the plant’stissues, you start t… Alocasia and Colocasia are both plants of the Araceae family. All this is bad news for your Alocasia, as the roots will not be able to absorb the water and nutrients it needs to thrive, resulting in your Alocasia drooping. I normally keep quite a close eye on my Alocasias every few days to monitor their watering needs. Your plant may show signs of being rootbound or may be planted in a very small pot. In winter, I let them dry out a little more. Alocasia Polly drooping is another problem you may encounter. The parent species, Alocasia sanderiana and Alocasia watsoniana, are rain forest plants native to Asia. Oddly enough, having too much watercan actually lead to the same drooping plants you get with too little water. Elephant ears are often grown for their huge, robust foliage. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners in accordance with our. Alocasia … There are over 50 species of the Kris plant and Alocasia hybrids abound, making it difficult to identify the exact genetic history of the plants typically sold in catalogs and stores. I’m a big fan of Alocasias, but I have to admit that they need more care and attention than most houseplants. save. Make sure the plant is growing in a location that receives bright light. Continue to care for it, and the rapid growth will return the following growing season. There is most probably something wrong with the environment it is being kept in. The large impressive glossy dark green leaves make a bold statement growing in medium-bright rooms or … It can be too much or less light, over or under watering, over or under nutrients in the soil, or simply, the large leaf is too heavy to stay firm. All aspects of plant care are linked, so sometimes there can be a combination of problems causing the issue. Be sure you’re not over or underwatering your plant. Here is an easy solution to keep your "ears' standing up and off the ground. Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 2”-3” of the soil are dry. Cold temperature also tends to make them “upset”. If your Alocasia is placed far from a window, particularly in a north-facing room, it likely isn’t getting enough light. The unique issue with low humidity is that it causes localized drying of the leaves at a much faster rate than the plant as a whole. Your Alocasia Polly loves a sunny spot. Those wonderfully large Elephant Ear leaves can grow so large that they start to droop and fall to the ground. The article provides a detailed explanation for alocasia leaves drooping causes and … Noteworthy Characteristics. However, this beauty will come to you at a cost. Low humidity disproportionately affects the delicate leaf edges, particularly those that are furthest from the roots. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Take a methodical approach to assess your plant and the care conditions and you will soon identify the problem and be able to take steps to fix your Alocasia. It is essential to provide bright, indirect lighting for your Alocasias for their long-term health. Without a steady supply of air, the roots are unable to respire or function properly, and prolonged soggy conditions will lead to the roots dying and succumbing to opportunistic infections. If so, you need to take immediate action to treat the root rot to save your plant. Increase the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves on a regular basis, using a pebble tray, or moving a humidifier nearby. Fill your basin up with about 3-4″ of water. These will dry out much faster and will be at a much greater risk of drooping due to underwatering. The only problem is they can be a little fussy at times. Alocasia zebrina is a unique indoor plant having a characteristics appearance of its own. Place the plant back on its saucer and back in its proper spot. Meanwhile, low temperatures will cause your Alocasia leaves to … In general, however, you can use the following as a guideline: Watering. Alocasias tend to droop or turn yellow when dehydrated or over-watered. Stay in the loop with special offers, plant-parenting tips, and more. The leaves are prone to several diseases which mar this ornamental appeal. A drooping Alocasia should never be ignored, as it is almost always a sign of a problem. I’m here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. I ended up cutting off all of the leaves down to about an inch above the soil and moving the plant to an area where it … Once the plant is in its dormant period (in the late fall and winter), it will begin resting. alocasia stem bending. The fast-growing Alocasia reginula gets dormant in winter. Similarly, if it is taking two weeks for the soil surface to dry out, you should definitely make changes, to reduce the risk of overwatering. Why Are My Alocasia Leaves Drooping? Bloomscape uses cookies as essential parts of the website experience. If humidity levels are regularly below 40%, you should take steps to increase this. Why are the stems of my Alocasia drooping? If you are having to water your Alocasia very frequently, consider whether you need to make changes to stop the plant drying out so quickly, such as repotting your plant if it is rootbound. Fixing the issue will help to restore your houseplant. This will tell you what the maximum, minimum and current humidity levels are. Many people think that underwatering is the most common cause of Alocasia leaves drooping, but overwatering is in fact a much more common issue. Not enough light or water can cause an Alocasia Amazonica’s leaves to start drooping. Learn More, Get care instructions for your specific plants, Tips and inspiration for green, plantful living, Download our new plant care app to become the best plant parent. Spider mites, mealybugs, scale, thrips and aphids can all attack, resulting in your Alocasia leaves drooping. Your Alocasia Polly prefers soil that is consistently moist. If your plant has disease symptoms, this article can help. Alocasia leaves drooping is most commonly due to overwatering or underwatering. There always seems to be an "ear" or two that has wilted on the … Hi, I’m Andrew, and Smart Garden Guide is my website all about indoor gardening and houseplants. Alocasias normally grow in areas of high or very high humidity, and this can be hard to replicate in our homes. They will soon show their displeasure if humidity levels are much below 40%. Read more about the causes of yellow leaves on houseplants here. Check to make sure your Alocasia is not placed close to heating or cooling vents or is close to a leaky window. The Alocasia Elephant Ear plant (Alocasia amazonica) is a stunning ornamental houseplant with large arrow-shaped leaves, pronounced white veins, and wavy edges.Also called the African mask plant, the Alocasia amazonica is a tropical flowering plant that thrives indoors. This thread is archived. Correcting the underlying problem will often lead to your Alocasia recovering. Alocasias are not particularly well suited to coping with too much or too little water. You should provide moderate light and temperatures until new growth emerges. Grown for its striking foliage, the African mask plant is not an easy care houseplant. This will easily result in your Alocasia leaves drooping. check out my guide to treating and preventing common houseplant pests. If your Alocasia appears to be entering dormancy, you should cut back on watering, letting the top few inches of soil dry out before watering. Steam bending is a woodworking technique where wood is exposed to steam to make it pliable. Alocasia leaves drooping is a common problem, with a number of causes. Over or under watering will lead to drooping stems and slightly burnt looking leaf edges. It's time to water the Alocasia Zebrina when the leaves start to droop down. Make sure the water isn’t hot! More info in comments... 3 comments. If you think your Alocasia may be drooping due to overwatering, read my guide to fixing an overwatered plant. Simply refer to our care guide listed above for its soil, water, light, and temperature needs. The first number is the nitrogen content, the second number is the phosphorus, and the third is potassium. ... to do with the problem but I dont know if there is something specific I need to do for the plant to keep it from drooping. The main thing to do is to check your plant regularly to see if any problems are developing. Despite the fact that it’s a sizeable plant, it still look airy and stylised thanks to the tall, smooth stems that grow out of a corm. If you accidentally let your Arrowhead’s soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown. This could also mean that it’s not receiving enough light. Alocasias have a natural cycle that involves periods of active growth, followed by dieback and periods of dormancy. Play around a little, see what works for your plant, in your climate and location, and do more of that! – One major cause of the leaves of an Alocasia Frydek drooping can be due to inefficient sunlight. Correcting the underlying problem will often lead to your Alocasia recovering. Other common reasons include lighting problems, temperature stress, pests, dormancy, and low humidity. Your Alocasia Polly prefers soil that is consistently moist. Bloomscape uses cookies to provide and improve our services, analytics and for personalized ads and content. Difference Between Alocasia & Colocasia. Moving your plant should result in the foliage perking up again if you have caught the problem early. It is important to check your plants on a regular basis to see if there are any signs of pests. I know in my case it is usually just that I have been a little less attentive to the needs of my plant. I hugely recommend getting a digitial thermometer and hygrometer to monitor your Alocasias. The plant is unable to supply water from the roots at a fast enough rate to replace that lost through the leaves, resulting in the leaf edges and tips dying and turning brown. Here’s how to soak-water your Alocasia Polly: Your Alocasia is tropical, so it will thrive in more humid environments. These are a result of a chronic lack of water reaching the extremities of the foliage. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a water problem. Thankfully, an Alocasia drooping due to underwatering is easy to identify and fix. Some retailers sell miniature versions of Alocasia plants, potted in cute little pots. There is much confusion about … They are particularly susceptible to hot or cold drafts that cause repeated temperature stress. This results in the airspaces in the soil being filled with water. However, Droopy leaves could be due to water stress, improper light, nutrients deficiency, low humidity, temperature stress, and dormancy. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. Read my article explaining lighting for houseplants to learn more. Alocasia, also known as elephant’s ear, has large, beautifully marked leaves. Sometimes drooping leaves will not recover, but with good care, the plant will soon grow new, healthy leaves. Dormancy is often triggered by exposure to lower light and temperatures, and will normally happen at some point to most Alocasias grown indoors. Have patience, as dormancy can last as short as a few weeks, or more than 6 months. Just because the leaves of this gorgeous plant are dark and moody, doesn’t mean it likes the darkness. Read my article on how to increase humidity for your houseplants if you’d like to know more. With bold and beautiful leaves, that come with diverse appearances, Alocasias are a joy to keep as houseplants. Alocasia Odora Variegata needs to be kept consistently moist, but not wet. Alocasia Polly is a great indoor plant and, if provided with the right growing conditions, it’s not as difficult to care for as you may think. Also share information about your use of our website with our correcting the problem. Check the underside of the roots being deprived of oxygen due to water stress pests. Of causes from the rest of the roots treat the root rot your... In general, however, Alocasia, also known as elephant ’ s ears plants you get too... Rest while it drains thoroughly much or too low temperature won ’ t getting enough.... 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