Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Alocasias and Colocaisas, 1 by bwilliams

bwilliams wrote:
I am chimeing in now now.

It sounds like your really going to have to push these plants. I am doubting you can get the size you need in such little time. I can help a bit. First off I hope your using a shaghnum mix something like promix or similar should work well. 1 gallon is about as big as you will need I usually use 2 quart. I find that containing them a bit will prevent it from suckering more and give you one larger plant. After potting them up they will only move between the temps of 60 to 100 so try to keep it warm 75 to 90 is best. Now I doubt your set up like my system but you can do something similar. Water for 2 to 3 weeks with root hormone. After this you should see roots hopefully reaching the bottom or near bottom of the pot. This can depend on species. After this is done I usually hit them with a few different things first off osmacote slow release fertilize is put in the pot. Special note here take your finger or a object and push it down about 2 inches in the soil at the edge of the pot. Then fill this hole with the slow release fertilizer. What this will do is allow the plant to grow roots to the fertilizer. I find it works wonderful and compared to put the fertilizer on top its about double growth in difference. Next I i hit the plants about 1 every 2 weeks with 20 20 20 and about once a month I put epson salt on the plants. You will need the epson salt it will help the plants be a bit tougher. Pushing plants this hard and this fast has its toll. The plants can be tall and weak or brittle this will help prevent this from happening. Here is a picture of my greenhouse. The tables have liners in them and the plants soak in hormone for a few weeks then fertilizer. You need a combination of heat food sun bug pervention.