Over the years, I've added a lot of different elephant ears to my yard - guess it became an obsession, at least my wife thinks so.
I know the differences between my Alocasia & Colocasia, just looking for sub-species. Is that the correct term?
Still looking forward to adding some plants from LariAnn, though need to save a bit more yard $ to budget.
I might have to post multiple pics.
michaelg
Colocasia - Which kind?
Alocasia - type?
Colocasia - Type?
WOW! I'm just into these puppies.
Have you seen the co-op for these? A buck a piece? I've signed up.. and I have no idea what I'm doing.
Hap
Pictures 1 and 3 look to be Alocasia odora, commonly called upright elephant ear and ofter IDed as Macrorrhiza.
The second and last photos are both of Colocasia esculenta. Their are a lot of forms of this species and some can look completely different or are hybrids. This is the more commonly sold form up north. A large grower with large tubers. I have seen photos of this form up to 10 feet tall. It rarely blooms.
Growing is great right now... Even started growing a few new ones - Borneo Giant, Alocasia x. calidora, Alocasia x 'Portodora Shield, Alocasia wentii 'New Guinea Shield' & Colocasia fontenesii.
Ok, I know I lost my mind, but having fun. I believe I finally found the right mixtures of potting soil.
Went on eBay and bought a few hundred 4" & 6" pots - so many of my own plants grew so many pups... My entire greenhouse is filled with pups of all of my ears.
I even went to a chinese grocery market and bought both the "Giant Taro" (huge bulb) & Gian Taro (small bulb). Bought a few bags for $13.75 on Jan 20th & they are already sprouting. :)
My plants get huge during Spring & the Summer months. I will share more pics during the growing season.
This type?
This type?
and this one?
michael,
Do you keep them all in pots?
What is your magic soil mix.
I am just going to start growing, or try to grow, some of these puppies. There will be a bunch coming in from the co-op. This is so exciting.
You might try going to Agristarts.com and look at their picture and use them to ID what you have.
Thanks,
Hap
The three Alocasias above are Alocasia x portora (Alocasia odora x Alocasia portei), Alocasia gageana and Alocasia x 'Brian Williams' (A. macrorrhizos x (A. x amazonica)).
LariAnn
Aroidia Research
LariAnn has it listed just as I would.
Wow! Wish I could grow them like that. Nice yard, I like the decorations on the fence. It'll look great once everything fills in.
ID this one?
With just one leaf, my educated guess is Alocasia x calidora.
LariAnn
Aroidia Research
Another one. Bought this as a Borneo Giant from one seller and the next picture is from another seller as a Borneo Giant. Different texture and look.
Thank you everyone for all of the posts, great resource.
michaelg
The other...
The first one is too young to tell, but doesn't look like my young BGs did when they were that size. The second one is no Borneo Giant. If the leaf has a matte finish, as it looks in the photo, it may not be an Alocasia at all. In any event, I'll be interested in seeing what the plant looks like when it has grown up.
LariAnn
Aroidia Research
I didn't think so either. I have emailed the nursery that I purchased them from, but no reply.
Thank u...
The first picture above maybe Borneo Giant at a young stage. The next photo is Colocasia gigantea Thailand strain. You will have to grow the Borneo Giant out more to get a good ID.
I've tried to get in touch with the seller of the non-borneo, but without luck. Always a risk when buying online.
The Texture on the plant is nothing like any of my other alocasia or colocasia'.
I recently received my CA Agr License to grow & sell... So I ordered a large shipment of real Borneo Giants from tissue company and plan on using majority of them for presents to family and friends.
I'm now only focused on my EE's and having a blast in my green house with them.
Thanks again for the help.
I just ordered 3 from our coop here, hoping that one will live. Can't wait.
Hap
Hap, I think all of your's will thrive just fine in your location. Just give them plenty to drink;-)
Add pic's when you feel like it and have time.
Rachel
P.S. All of my Elephant ear's will be a "survival of the fittest" in my part of the world. Our Winter's can get nasty for many day's here.
Thanks for the encouragement, Rachel. Getting very excited about delivery in mid April. Just hope out heat doesn't do them in.
Hap
Well, the online nursery still says that this is an Alocasia Borneo Giant. Now not returning emails.
It's unfort that we have this type of Aroid business out there :(
michaelg
