Double headed Odora Var.

My A. Odora Variegata had been doing really well, getting bigger with each new leaf and then the leaf size started to decline. I figured it was the cooler weather causing the stunted growth. Now i see that the trunk has two different growth heads developing at the same time. This is not a pup both are coming from the top of the trunk. Is there anything i should do, or will they both develop into full size plants from one trunk . I'm a bit dissapointed as I had been working so hard to get it to develop to a large size, now the leaves on each head are about a third of the single plant size. Can they be separated ?.

The big stems at the top of the picture are last ones that were growing as a single head. The lower smaller ones are the new growth on the two new heads and the lowerst ones are the pup.

Neil



This message was edited Dec 31, 2006 4:34 PM

Neil,
Well, I've had A.cucullata do this with great regularity so I don't believe it is unheard of with other Alocasia.
As for division, I personally would hold off.
Scott

Scott
Do they continue to get bigger or keep dividing into smaller plants.

This message was edited Jan 1, 2007 10:06 PM

Neil,
Here is a pic for you to look at describing what I was speaking of. The base of the plant is single, then doubled and possibly doubling again. If I recal when this happens there is a reduction in leaf size. When the newly branched portion is of sufficent size it can be revoved and roots quite easily. Now, this is a natural feature of A.cucullata but as for you A. odora Variegata I guess it will take some time to find out.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/67748/

Scott

Thanks Scott
Ill keep an eye on it and see what happens. I'd be happy if it ends up in a dense clump even if the leaves are smaller.