My Alocasia cuprea started drooping back in May. It slowly lost
a stem and then another would begin to droop.
I took emergency measures and potted the tuber onto sandy loam
and covered it with leaves.
Same for the Alocasia zebrina that the dog knocked over and it
had BENT STEMS. They continued to droop and DROP! I gave
it the same treatment.
It at least has some living roots. Nothing else.
Looks like I will have to contact my favorite supplier ... who is a
researcher...for replacement. I should have gotten these from
her to begin with.
Live and learn!
My Cuprea Bit the Dust - Zebrina Hanging
Tall_Shadow
Jul 28, 2009
Alison,
One thing about the A. cuprea; it doesn't like too much heat. It prefers daytime temps in the low 80s F and nighttime in upper 60s/low 70s F. Upper 80s and 90s are just too much for them. Mine go down in the heat of summer and seem to do best in Spring and Fall. Of course, they don't like cold either! That's one reason I consider them a Jewel - finicky!
A. zebrina can be a touchy one, too. They don't respond well to being too wet. Even if the soil is well draining, if it holds a lot of moisture, you will have trouble. And of course they like warmth. That's why I went and crossed A. zebrina with A. macrorrhizos 'Borneo Giant'. So now I have Giant Zebrinas that are just about as easy to grow as the Borneo Giant. Here's a link:
http://aroidiaresearch.org/axzebrin.htm
Scroll down the page to see a really hefty specimen.
LariAnn
Tall_Shadow
Jul 29, 2009
YOWsah! That is a monster! A really pretty monster.
Good cross!
Lariann when are you going to sell those??? I did well with my Zebrina until my darn cat decided she wanted to drag it around the house!!!
Julie,
I have to wait until they bloom before I decide. This is just the F1 generation and I'll need to try for the F2 to get the zebra striping back. Hopefully, I'll keep the huge size and easier culture when I do that. As large as the biggest one is, it has not yet bloomed.
LariAnn
Okkkkkkkkk. I tried. You let me know if you want to sell any. I am obsessed with my Aroids. I just can't help myself. :)
My cuprea and tigrina routinely go dormant on their own weird schedule. I never thought it was to do with heat. I try to keep the greenhouse cool, I guess on the floor, where they are planted, its the coolest, definitely in the 80's as opposed to the attic above 12 ft which is probably 120-130.
I have cupreas planted in 3 locations in the GH and they pop up, grow, go down....I have to make certain I remember where they are so I don;t plant over them.