I've been resisting temptation for months, but finally gave in (there was a sale) and got an alocasia lauterbachiana.
There seems to be very little cultivation/care info out there. If anyone is growing one now, I'd love any tips you might share as to moisture, light, fertilization requirements, cold hardiness, etc. I've had trouble finding anything more detailed than, "likes high light, but can take some shade."
I have it it a pot as I don't expect it would be hardy enough to over winter here in 8A. If anyone has some experience or expertise to share, I'd very much appreciate it.
Thanks!!
Deb
I got an alocasia lauterbachiana
Deb, I had one in the shopping cart, but after spending over 50 bucks on hibiscus earlier that day, I reluctantly canceled my shopping spree... I really want one.... bad.. maybe I should justify it and get it anyway, whats one more plant? I know it's not hardy for me... I'd treat it like my other alocasia, if it were me. . . well, special attention at first, cause it's new and unique. Good luck with it. It IS very cool looking.
Deb,
I bought one last march at the Wichita flower show,here in Kansas,I planted mine in the ground,and has more than doubled in size,and will have to dig up here pretty shortly,for they say we may dip down in the 40's next week.
But by no means did it perform as well as the alocasias do as in growing big as the house!!!LOL
Trying to decide whether to keep growing or let go dormant like I do many of the others.
Tropicman: What kind of sun is yours getting? And I'd LOVE to see a picture of it. :).... if you have one. (40s - yikes!)
AuntB: I did the same. Started to get one many times, and finally gave in. :D This one is about a foot tall; just a pup, so I plan to take very good care of it.
Deb
Tropicman:
Thanks for posting the pic. It seems happy, so I will put my little one in a similar sort of lighting, til it's time to come in for winter.
Tropicman you say it is suppose to drop down into the 40's next month. I'm not ready for it. I just got the DH to move everything in the GH out so I can get it cleaned out, and it isn't ready to start filling up yet. Will if it does maybe it won't stay to long to hurt anything. I have about 30 pots of tropical hibiscus and 4 pots of bananas and 8 pots of EE's and 2 big beds with EE's that will need to be dug. DID I SAY I WASN'T READY.
Oh yea I have people out here installing new windows and steel siding on the house. Just started on the job today.
I think I am through crying or complaining. Whichever.
Linda, he said next WEEK.......... OMG! I'm NOT near ready...... he said 40 NOT 30... guess I need to get serious. . .
WOW! Kyle THAT is gorgeous!!! How long have you had it? That's what we want, huh Deb? Does it send out runners or do the pups stay right up by the mom? Do you keep it potted? (slurp)
OMG you poor people! We probably won't see any 40s til after Halloween. - and even that's too soon for me!
Kyle: That's a beauty! Looks pretty big, too. I hope mine will look that happy by spring.
Any tips or hints? (Edited to add - you got it AuntB - that's what we want!)
Deb
This message was edited Sep 10, 2007 4:43 PM
This message was edited Sep 10, 2007 4:43 PM
I have to add that to my want wish.
Kyle it is beautiful, what a neat plant. Now where do I go to find one.
Linda,
on the way home from a few minutes ago,I seen people wearing coats already,feels like 40 out here in the rain,well drizzle anyway!!!
Must had some high winds today,plants in pots were blown over all over the place!!!
59* now,saying dropping to 53* tonite.
Klye those look nice!!!!!
Haven't seen any pups on mine yet and it;s been in the ground since April!
No drizzle here, but the wind did shift to out of the North, I have some of my pots turned over will wait until the wind dies down before I go out and set them up again. It has really cooled down here.
BUT I'm still not ready for winter, no way.
Last year I didn't cut the tops off mine. They are in pots but this year I think the tops will come off. Take up less room in the GH.
Mine are on the south side of the house it looks like only one pot is laying on the ground.
They are huge. Mine don't get that huge in pots.
Tropicman: That's some huge nanner! :) 15 ft is amazing. I have one Musa Basjoo in it's 2nd season in ground. It's about 6 ft tall. It's in mostly shade, though.
Deb
Deb,you get that nanner moved into a sunnier spot you get some huge trees!!!
well my a. lauterb. is about 3 ft total height, was about 10 inches tall in early June when I got this one. It set the pups late in summer, they are about the size the original plant was when I got it. A grower (orchid) friend of mine brought it up from Mo. while I was on vacation, I think they pup better if potbound.All my alo's pup great in pots.
Kyle
Well thats what I was trying to decide on whether to pot them up.or let them go dormant,my alocasia macc,pups real good in the ground.
My aloc. variegated macror. pups excellent in pots. Very fast grower. I just thinned it out by doing some trades. I broke off some of the pup when I was removing some and now they are back with a couple of new leaves.
I have one of those Alocasia long name..LOL..and it grows next to the momma...It was big enough to break off and pot in its own little pot...so it clumps ,does not send out runners...
Oh, that is good, Moodene, I have enough ee's with runners! (not really, lol) but it will be nice to grow such a different looking one, ones that neat and tidy and doesn't have to wander..... (ordered 2) Kyle referred to it as A. Lauterb, that might help me to remember it. ;)
AuntB: Ha! You ordered some? See what a bunch of enablers we are here? LOL!
Now you and I can be Lauterbachia newbies together. :)
Deb
Well, yes I HAD to. I couldn't go another week being so envious of you guys! lol They weren't TOO expensive and they are small enough to not take up too much room this winter (at least that's how I justified my purchase) 7.99. Ordered from blackjungle.com.... IF anyone else doesn't like being green..(from envy). Deb! It's all your fault! lol
;->
OMG AuntB you have done it to me again. I will have to check out that site. I just received my 5 hibiscus that I ordered from Matt. My husband doesn't realize they are a birthday present to me from him. So getting a couple of more things ordered and saying they are from him, will what is a girl to do. But order.
ORDER AWAY! Linda, I like your reasoning. I'm SURE he wanted to get you the A. lauterb's also! ;) I got my "enabling" ways from Deb! I knew that website would catch someone's eye! Happy Birthday !
You naughty girls!!!!!
Looks like I'll start now for my wife's future birthday,annverisary,heck just because I wanted to say I love you dear gift!!!!LOL
Shame on you guys!!!!
Thanks a lot!!!!
Yep, we're a pretty rough group, here.. It's really just a sharing-caring thing, Tman. We share our pics and care enough to share a website or nursery name so everyone can enjoy, IF they want to.... And we're here to support with purchase justifications, if necessary ...... Not NAUGHTY at all ;)
AuntB: You are a better shopper than I am apparently. I got mine from Stokes but it was nearly $13! Still, seemed like a good price at the time. Heck! I could've had 2 for 1. :)
Tman: We are happy to be of service. ;->
Deb
Well, darn it, Deb! I order from Stokes, too but their name didn't come up when I googled Lauterbachiana (or however it's spelled). $13 isn't bad, though and someday, you will have little baby ones! Gosh, mine will be here next week! I really need to spend LESS time on DG, it would help my pocket book.. I don't remember ordering so much stuff this time of year, before.. oh, well, I deserve it. We can't take it with us so, I'm spending it on plants and traveling... just a couple of my favorite things.
This is the time of year I really have to force myself NOT to order things. I think it's because summer's winding down and I look at the areas that didn't work out as well as I'd hoped, or spots where I could use another this or that, or a bed that really needs something fuller, shorter. taller, brighter.
My "wish list" gets real long this time of year. :)
Deb
Here you all encouage me to buy,and then you guys cutback!!!!!
Xmas in less than 3 months,and it's time for giving!!!!
And I want my wife to have everything that I would like!!!!LOL
I know she will be happy to receive gifts!!!
Now where am I going to put all these new plants without her seeing them!!!!!LOL
I'm sure you can tuck them in somewhere, she prolly won't even notice... Tie em' up with a red bow on Christmas Eve and Wa- La! Merry Christmas, Honey! We'll be around to enable and assist, as needed! NO WAY, I'm not cutting back! I'm thinking, Wow, I got such a great deal on my lauterb's I actually saved $10... Deb's cost $13, I bought 2 for $8 ea. so I saved $10.... now I can go shopping! Maybe for a Colocasia Stingray? Of course I'll probably spend at least $25, cause usually there's an order minimum (but shipping doesn't count) and there will probably be a big sale and I'll find a great deal on something additional, but whatever, the cost - If I'm not able to self-justify, I know DG'ers will help me dissolve my guilt!
Tman: Who's cutting back?! I get alot of early birthday and Christmas gifts this time of year (maybe not as many as I'd like.) ;-> Plus, there's Thanksgiving, Halloween, Veterans' Day - all of which merit horticultural celebration, in my opinion.
Deb
Yes Tropicman whenever our anniversary comes up I always buy something real nice for the hubby. It would be either a new plant or something expensive for sewing. One year I spent a bundle on a new Brothers sewing machine. You know he really enjoys it, especially when there is a new sweat shirt with a nice big bass embroidered on it with his name. Or he comes home to fine the new fishing shirts he bought, has his name embroidered on them. I know how to keep him happy just buy him something I have been wanting.
