I just purchased this plant from Mainly Seconds and just love the looks of this plant. I live in California Zone 9 with a shade to partial shade environment. Should I keep this plant indoors with filtered sun or can I grow it outside - or am I doomed either way.
WOuld love to hear some success stories because it is such a beautiful plant.
Alocasia Polly
I do not know how low your temp's get during the Winter month's but I will add that "polly" may go dormant in any temperature's below 50F. Any direct sunlight on the leave's for an extended period of time will cause leaf damage/loss. My experience with this plant (as a house plant) is, it like's humidity and a place with absolutely no direct sunlight. Do Not over water this plant.
Good luck.
Rachel
Wow - that is great information. I assumed since it was an alocasia - it would require lots of water. Great advise and thank you so much.
big hug and smiles
sherri
Wow, I have to differ.
Alocasia x amazonica Polly can take very bright direct light outdoors and full sun from a window indoors.
I have some planted in the yard and it doesn't go dormant here until temps drop into the 30's.
You can grow your plant in either of the situations you describe...outdoors, in bright filtered sun (not burning direct sun) or indoors in bright light.
Most of the "African Mask" type shiny leaved alocasias and the thick leaved ones like Imperialis, reginae go dormant if they don;t get ENOUGH light.
This isn't a photo of Polly, but its a photo of one of the same types of Alocasias, this is A. loweii, a larger growing "amazonica-type" alocasia. It sits under a bank of skylights where it receives pretty much the equivalent of full sun for 6-8 hours 365 days a year
And this is another larger-growing Amazonica type alocasia called Purple Prince. It sits on the porch in full sun 10 months out of the year and loves it. When I bring it inside in winter and it gets less light, it tries to go dormant.
This message was edited Feb 2, 2009 1:18 PM
Goth, you have had better luck with these than I have. When I have placed mine in a window with direct sunlight, the leave's burnt, crinkled up and died. Learned from my mistake's and moved them to a bright room far away from any direct light.
One of my larger one's (Amazonica?) went totally dormant on me last year when I put it in a room where the temp's stayed around 45 F. during the Winter month's. It lost all of it's leave's and I figured I had killed it. Luckily I was patient and it did come back to life.
I really like your A. Loweii. How big do the leave's get on this plant?
Thank's
Rachel
This message was edited Feb 2, 2009 1:55 PM
Stunning - these are my most favorite plants ever. I just love the leaves. I hope mine grows well.
I think maybe your plant wasn't acclimated to the light. If you move it slower, not just all at once, it will love the high light are reward you.
Loweii leaves get large, they can be 15 inches. This is a Loweii planted outside by my back door
I adore the "Mask" plant's too Jazmine and I would listen to Gothqueen's advise. She has such a greenthumb in her area for growing such exotic's.
Goth, you may very well be right concerning what I done wrong with mine and it's light source in the beginning. Your Anthurium C. that you posted on another thread look's tremendous. Mine is doing well but is growing slowly during our Winter month's. I really like the Loweii too and will consider purchasing it as well. Thank's much.
Happy growing to you all.
Rachel
I will just chime in here and say that the drier conditions of California may mean that her Alos should be in filtered light. Florida has a more humid climate which favors tropicals in general, so the Alocasias are probably likely to do better there. Colocasias are hardier and perform better in California. Just my two cents.
Being another fan, however, I would totally try planting them out in filtered shade here!
:)
Jeff
Jeff - I will have to check out Colocasias ..... they sound interesting.
As for where I live - it is much drier here - I am in the foothills and get lots and lots of shade because I surrrounded by large california oak trees. I was debating to place the plant in the house near a west facing window, or outside facing east. I will play around with it until I find the perfect spot. I am determined not to let it die.
Sherri