I WISH I Knew This Before Buying Alocasia!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

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[@sandykelley4195]

THANK YOU!!!! I thought I was killing my alocosia plants. Every alocosia I bought died (or so, I thought). Maybe I can get up the nerve to try again.

[@jasperhaney]

but my plants are dead

[@brandidrouin8133]

Why do I have little balls on the roots of my plants ???

[@1faithchick7]

I just wanted to say, it is obviouse you put a ton of work into your filming and editing. It must take forever. I just wanted you to know someone noticed your hard work. Great job! And thank you for all the helpful tips. :)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you so much!! It's all good fun

[@eskithecat]

We see you, Mr Sheffield! Thank you for your hard work!

[@welmoedlukkes3645]

I put my Alocasia to quarantine in my hallway, where the heater barely ever turns on. Safe to say she let me know that Dutch winter will not be tolerated, unless I put her in my cosy living room. Doing much better now.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Ah right!

[@eline8440]

Dutch winters are ruthless

[@mirvarahunen5261]

Then imagin finnish winter. Sooo manyt plant lamps, warmers and humilitiser 😅

[@scottloessin39]

O m goodness, I’m ready to throw 3 of mine out. I’ll definitely try this thank you.😊

[@annajacobsson4656]

Mine was in quarantine in the bathroom for a week and it was doing fine, then i put it in my bedroom window and it was not happy and the leaves turned yellow and saggy🥲

[@tessaforsythe4674]

This was not only very helpful, but incredibly entertaining. I would listen to him read the back of a food label and be engaged!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😂 thanks!

[@Willpoppp]

I've had my alocasia for about 6 months and It was doing great, 3 new leaves, great colors then one day I looked at her and she had yellow and black spots on 3 of her 6 leaves. I immediately removed the leaves and put her in quarantine. Remaining leaves looked good for a month then again...lost another. I removed her from the pot to see if she had root rot and found the nursery had started it in a net and the roots were not able to grow...I removed the net and found 4 croms inside🤗❤ Hope to see some new growth soon. Oh and baby Alocasias

[@sandrabeck8788]

I bought a very sick looking little alocaría in Aug/Sept at Lowe’s for $2. It has been living outside under a tree and regularly jumped on by my dachshund. It’s almost 3 feet tall now…the magic if South Florida humidity and sunshine!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I bet it is!

[@sonyad.5942]

North Florida here and my alocasias look better in my greenhouse in the winter, but we do get enough cold that they don’t thrive. The spider mites come out in the warm weather, though, and I haven’t been doing well about battling them!

[@diannenaworensky6698]

​@@sonyad.5942: I'm by Gainesville. I put my outside Alocasias in the greenhouse. They like it in there because it's warm. If I try and bring inside they hate it

[@ohnobo14]

Three FEET??

[@NaeSTay]

The way I've been through 3 already and 3 barely hanging on right now. This is good to know that it's them and not me

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Always!

[@I_dont_need_more]

I love my Alocasias, all ~20 of them (I think 9 species). Some are definitely more dramatic than others, but they are all beautiful. Growing plants from the corms is a treat too! They start life already acclimated to your home 💚💚

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I’ve got some sprouting so 🤞

[@bonniesessley2252]

Show your babies

[@Grrrnthumb]

You have it backwards. I've grown many Alocasia for 30 years here in a cold climate. The trouble is not seasonally lower light levels. It's *heat, heat, heat!* You can prove this to yourself in about 3 weeks by putting any lame Alocasia on a heat mat in winter. New leaves shoot out. Overwatering problems go away,. They become very easy plants if you also give just decent light & water like any regular houseplant. The prefer temps in the 25-35 C range. Alocasia are not benefited by dormancy, that's just an emergency response to low temps. Get your minimum night temps up and your plants will thrive! :)

[@krazykitty5750]

Won't be doing 77 to 95 degrees in my Minnesota home during the winter but I do have seedling warming mats. 😊😮

[@nataliebaker8281]

True. I live in Arizona 🇺🇸 dry heat. Theyre easy to care for here. 95°F (35°C) outdoors in May and its loving my indoor windows. Indoor temp stays around 75°F (24°C) during the daytime. 70° at night. Alocasias do well in the southern part of America. Some people purchase plants online, not realizing they wont take well to certain climates.

[@rodneybever9583]

That could be why I have such good luck. I hate the cold and in the winter my place is around 78 degrees

[@Grrrnthumb]

​@@krazykitty5750 When I keep them in a room with minimum night temp of 65F and daytime average of 70F, they seem to make it thru winter alive without going into dormancy, especially if they have some full sun and I water carefully. Some seem slightly more resistant to cool winters than others, like odora and longiloba

[@MegalomaniaHere]

That would be the great next experiment for a video about Alocasia, testing a warning mat for it during the winter to see if it will go dormant 🎉

[@plantyhome]

Your positivity is contagious!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😁

[@claptonhousecat8092]

I use a self watering pot for my alocasias, grow lights and heater keeping it at least 65. When they’re happy, I’m happy!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Very good

[@Sim_JFD]

I'm glad I watched your video before even considering buying an Alocasia.

[@Y0usmelled]

*whispers* you’re still gonna buy it. I know you want to

[@nicoleperron3315]

There's nothing like those thick leaves, the texture is amazing, once you have one you can't keep your hands to yourself.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They are nice to be fair. Just got to expect dormancy if that’s your climate

[@LeafyConversations]

Same

[@Astara_star]

Same

[@TheSunDancerPlantHub]

This is a very timely video! I’ve tried growing these very alocasia numerous times before to only see the winter months take them out. I recently bought two alocasia black velvet plants at my local big box store because they had more than 3 leaves and I couldn’t resist the price! For fun I ordered a frydek placed the plants on my desk and crossed my fingers. I read somewhere that alocasia are big foodies so I started feeding them regularly. I have a desk lamp on my desk with just an LED bulb and pointed the lamp towards the plants.. 🌱 Eureka! I literally have 3 new leaves on the black velvet and one on the frydek in this cold ass city I live in😊. I may have success yet!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You're cracking the code 👌

[@Y0usmelled]

It’s crazy how fast your channel grew❤️ keep up the good work

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you! Will do!

[@45lott]

Over 300 good videos in 2 years! Would be crazy if it didn’t grow with that kind of consistency.

[@Y0usmelled]

@@45lott ikr! He’s a beast! And those jokes always make your day!😆 He had just started when my plant addiction started

[@larryl4881]

Another stellar video. I also notice it more hungry too. I live in zone 10a and I can say 75% of my leaves are looking pretty good but there are a few that struggle with the light and temperature when the temps swing from day to night 30 degrees f. Keep the dry humor going

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@reptile_barbie]

Mine has it's own UV light and I water it only when it gets dry. I give it Miracle Grow once every 6 weeks or so. It did all of this during the summer but actually started THRIVING during the winter - it now has five leaves and has even sprouted babies. The heater being on during the cold months seems to have woken it up. 👍🏻

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice one

[@pennyroyal5424]

Chunky Aroid mix with lots of bark chips and perlite, charcoal etc will help control the watering situation as it will drain through straight away. Give it a water and wait ‘til it dries a little bit before the next water. I found the fibrous cocoa coir/soil/perlite mixes retained too much water and contributed to root rot and was too easy to over water. This chunky mix is also helpful for Calathea. Don’t let them go dry for long though, they hate that too! You’ll notice an uptick in watering demand as they start putting energy into new growth.

[@alice.in.maddness]

I'm never disappointed in your videos! Great info and fantastic humor🙃 I just checked the roots on my Alocasia today since her older leaves are getting droopy AND ironically just recieved my Oxalis Triangularis corms in the mail. So perfect timing for this video since you mention your purple shamrocks, as well💜☘

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That is awesome!

[@rightangletriangle3188]

Mine has lost all its leaves when it's getting cold in autumn last year. I forgot to put it indoor to shield from the cold. I still keep the plant and pray it will shoot up something in spring. Thanks for sharing. Now I don't feel as bad since it's my fourth attempt to grow it.

[@sdwilliams1986]

So glad I caught this video before I threw my wintering allocat away. I just received a big beautiful Alocasia as a gift..... ❤

[@АлександърДенев2]

Very captivating and spot on! I always learn something new whenever I watch your videos. So, I usually water my main avocado tree every 5-6 days. I pruned it 3 weeks ago and the last time I watered it before today int he morning was nearly 4 weeks ago. It was doing great after I pruned it, the browning stopped. I thought I was safe from that nightmare of the leaves falling off. BUT over the last 2-3 weeks it has done nothing but bad. Just a month ago, my avocado tree had over 20 leaves, which still wasn't a lot. But at the moment there is only 1 leaf, which is about to fall off, I can see the crack between the handle and the stem. This tree is practically a stick. I've been noticing more and more tiny black specs or dots on the stem. One tiny hole even goes into the trunk. Yesterday morning I took a closer look and I saw a tiny bug ccrawwling around the stem, smaller than a fungus gnat. Its color was yellow, orange or maybe even white with a rather soft body. The stem is awfully covered in white layer, perhaps dust. However, these last 2 weeks was the first time in a long time that my avocado tree started pushing out or trying to push out new growth. There are 5-7 viable buds, growing, although these last 2 days the buds haven't gotten much bigger. The buds are starting to have dead tips. My tree's health is greatly compromised. The tree is super unstable. There are a lot of dried up roots. The soil smells sooooo bad and weird. A lot of roots are missing. there are quite a few nematodes. I found out that these stupid dranage holes had caps and were too small. So I bought an insecticide, suggested by the seller. I poured nearly a liter, expected a lot of water to drain out through the holes, but there was NONE. There is so much water in the soil, that's definitely gonna trigger those pathogens. My whole room smells like paint because I applied that insecticide. I also put 3 nugget or I don't know what they are called, which apparently slowkly release nutrients. It's getting late, so I will continue another time with the solution and my suspicion about pests, not fungus gnats. I think one day if I have an Alocasia, I won't have much difficulty taking care of it, but they do seem fragile.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Can you repot it into a pot with good drainage holes?

[@waitwhat.2767]

I had a friend give me alocasia on two separate occasions and each time only an hour after being home all the leaves wilted; no change in temperature and light exposure. Absolute divas.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Oh wow!

[@sharonthanks7644]

I've got my frydec in pon, and she's loving and living her best life😊.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice 👌

[@ReeshaGG]

Honestly, highly recommend semi-hydro for alocasias, takes away a lot of the fuss. Mine are thriving through winter even on the colder windowsills.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Currently experimenting

[@ReeshaGG]

@@SheffieldMadePlants can't wait to see ☺️

[@ashleythomas3329]

I put my bambino in perlite and she popped a leaf a week later 😍

[@Gkrissy]

@reeshaGG do you have to wash the semi-hydro if the alocasia gets spider mites. Mine got spider mites on my cold windowsill from maybe my pothos plant.

[@ReeshaGG]

@Gkrissy I don't have experience in using any pesticide on my plants as I just have predatory mites running around

[@reddotdiva]

I love your videos and funny commentaries as well as expressions. You never fail to cheer me up when I have plant woes. My alocasia polly was throwing a hissy fit when we had a rainy and/or windy season even though I live in South-east Asia where it originates from. It had three sizeable leaves and then began yellowing, with one singular leaf remaining which was showing yellowing spots. I still watered it and fed it not knowing if it was going to survive but it hung on for several months. It is an outdoor growing plant placed along my flat corridor with lots of bright indirect light (usually). After months of it just looking like it is and very slowly deteriorating, I noticed a small young shoot growing out two days ago. Hooray!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@vickykent353]

YAY!! 🎉

[@reddotdiva]

@@vickykent353The new shoot's leaf is looking to be big. It's beginning to unfurl now.

[@vickykent353]

@reddotdiva The wait was well worth it then. Like they say, Patience is a Virtue! I don't know if I could have done that with just the one leaf for so long. I might have done what Richard wants to do so often 😅 pitch it. It must have been very sad looking. Good going for hanging in there. And congratulations. You're a great plant mom.

[@Marfmellow88]

LOL!! You had me cackling at the hummus @0:24....was not expecting that...lol

[@diannenaworensky6698]

I found that Alocasias should come with a warning. Yes you will probably get Spider Mites and they will look ugly at some time of the year. Even in Florida it takes a while for them to come out of dormancy

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Warning on the label would be good 😀

[@lauradavison4044]

I bought an Alocasia like your Zammy, it flourished put out a new shoot from underneath, even produced a flower bud like yours. Then it started going back in the summer. loosing leaves ( I thought it was burnt with the sun) Over the winter it has had three lovely leaves with no sign of problems. Am going to try a better feeding and watering routine. Thanks.❤

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@Gkrissy]

I love when you hug your plants in videos. This winter is the first time my black velvet went dormant. My Amazon is got spider mites and it’s in pon. I hope the spider mites didn’t kill it and I hope it is just going dormant.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They deserve it 😂. Hope those spider mites die off

[@wandashaw3551]

They are so beautiful. I am saving for the Alocasia Frydek variegated type, but I have heard they are not so finnicky as some of the others!! Great information once again!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Looks nice that one

[@Misile101]

I got my first Alocasia Polly yesterday as a gift, and this video is a God-send!!! ❤🎉

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@tumbleweed2404]

Had issues with my dragon scale which I purchased in December all the leaves bar one fell off - the remaining leaf looked awful - I was going to throw it away but decided against that. Instead I was a little rebellious repotted to semi hydro. It perked up and now has given me a new leaf!

[@ricosuaveon2]

What is semi hydro?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@rosewest5168]

Ughh the uk is hard for plants in the winter especially when you're already in a low light house. I have to move all mine into the living room window and then pray for spring lol

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I know right!

[@saramartin2904]

Your videos are awesome! I’m learning soo much from you as a new plant mama so thanks for all your info!.. but I really need to thankyou for the laughs, sometimes I will be giggling like a child watching you with your plants! So relatable!!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@gabyeaster883]

I got me a black velvet from the grocery store- I know big no no- but it was doing well and then leaves started turning. I thought old leaves they are dying off so I chopped them all off and then, boom I got me a new leaf. I surprised myself. I do find this video very helpful because this black velvet is my first Alocasia.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you found it useful 👍

[@gaddaitherage8204]

Yup, popping it under grow light works. And for my seedlings I found using a humidity dome will stop it from sacrificing old leaves when new one comes in. Lastly best to monitor the plant and give it extra water when you suspect new growth coming in (when the petioles in the newest leaf begins to enlarge a bit).

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Ooo i'll try the dome

[@gaddaitherage8204]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I have two Colocasias (difficult seedlings) and one without the dome doesn’t size up. Just shrivels and replace old w new leaf of same size. One with the dome jumped 2 sizes while keeping the old leaves. Problem is it is outgrowing the dome real quick. Btw thanks for teaching me so much in my fledging plant journey!

[@dawnlawalin6487]

I've six Alos & love them all. Dormancy is expected so it doesn't freak me out like it did with my 1st. I still have her, 7yrs now, but danged if I didn’t literally weep that first round. Your video here is very informative. Ty for sharing your time, knowledge & humour. 😁

[@Shniedelwoodz]

Yes, it's a bloom on your Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret'. This species seems to love putting out flowers. Mine is in perma bloom mode. As soon as I see them, I cut them out. Energy drain deluxe.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for the info!

[@gucciashton4731]

Neither of my alocasia's like to be watered... Strange as that may sound it's true. I haven't watered my big one for a few months and she seems happy, the little one is the same. Every time I would water, a whole beautiful leave would yellow and die so I got scared to water again. She is huge and takes up a whole corner and is around 4ft tall atm so... I will try the food for them both and a bit more water at spring time. Not sure what to do with them both, but they look healthy and happy.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That’s weird. Your soil must retain water

[@killodendron]

Very satisfying plant to own because when they're happy, they show it. They really take off. You can almost just sit and watch them throw out leaf after leaf.

[@violetsky95]

Mine went from sad to super happy when i switched from soil to pon! And yes, water and food regularly. It’s nearly impossible to overwater them in pon. They also like an orchid pot for the oxygen.

[@butterflymuse2707]

My frydek finally got over it's need for "one in one out" leaves after I put slow release fertilizer granules in it's medium. It's finally keeping it's leaves when it grows a new one!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@sfunksfunk]

Wow this makes me feel much better! I like your channel, thank you

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks!

[@CraftyMoonshine]

I planted my frydek and jacklyn outside (I live in northern Australia). Can confirm they were happy until Winter which gets down to about 9 degrees C, but they've popped up again in Spring - glad I didn't dig em up to bin them!

[@wildangelkurisuchi]

I live in New England and winters can be dark and brutal. Whenever we get a week that's particularly dark, I break out the grow lights. I found some that you can just pop into the soil and set on a timer. When there's more sun, I just wipe them down and store them for next winter! I've had good results!

[@WhistleintheWind]

Information and dramatic interpretation all in 1 video! Epic! Oscar's for all. Keep it up. 🎉🎉🎉

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Legend!

[@Babygirl-pq7xx]

Gm gm gm 👋🏾.. I'm new to the family hope all is well everyone 🤗. Just wanted to say I enjoy your channel and it's very helpful an informative. Thank you an happy planting.

[@Babygirl-pq7xx]

I have a question 🤔 I have a burgundy rubber plant that was standing tall leaves were saluting 😁. My grown light fell a hit some branches now she's looking very sad and limpy. Any suggestions. I'm so worried about her😔..

[@Babygirl-pq7xx]

Sorry.. I meant growing light 🤦🏾‍♀️😁

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Welcome!!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Can you prune it to tidy it up?

[@EpreTroll]

Yes oof. My first batch of plants included one. I managed to keep it alive for 4 years now and it's even lost all its leaves at one point but came back. Now it's looking sad again. These brown spots too.. I only keep it because it's one of my oldest plants at this point. It reaps very small reward

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Hehe i like it when it's happy tbf

[@MatthewTang]

I love my alocasia that kept sending flowers the past few years. I water mine every 2-3 weeks and it seemed to be happy so far. Dropped one or 2 leaves in winter but never really gone into dormancy so far

[@Jay_kay_bee]

Alocasias can also be very picky about impurities in their water. As soon as I used the water conditioner that Mr Sheffield recommended in an earlier video, my alocasias started to thrive.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@prcr]

I enjoy how funny your videos are! 😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you like them!

[@luisagallarotti9188]

Great video. I love alocasias but the dormancy thing upsets me. After seeing yr video I have decided to try try again. Thank you Mr. Sheffield

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You’ve got this ✊

[@wasistinibarnhart1198]

I had 10-day trip, leaving my plants with no heaters last January. Only Alocasia zebrina and Jacklyn that suffered. They are wilting. Thankfully they're back 3 hours after I watered.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Phew!

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much Mr Sheffield. I’ve just brought a Alocasia, which is in pretty good shape. And I brought it because it’s very beautiful 🤩 and I’m going to try to keep it that way, and I brought a water meter on you advice and I’m very glad I did. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Wonderful!

[@matthewpetersen4417]

When you add food the water PH goes down, it likes a PH of 6 to 6.5 so when you add the nutrients to the water the 7.0 tape goes down to 6.5 basically

[@kylaszone]

Bought my first alocasia 4 days ago at IKEA, an amazonica/polly and I won't lie I'm immediately attached... luckily I did tons of research beforehand and I know my conditions are good. However it was extrememly dry and when I gave it water it went straight through the drainage holes - I think the soil is hydrophobic. Debating on whether to immediately repot into a chunkier and well-draining mix but also feel like February is a little early for that. If anyone reads this, thoughts?? She is also rootbound as I see roots coming out the bottom of the pot. Your channel specifically has helped me so much over the past week, thank you so so so much. I love your videos and I feel at peace when learning from you, plus you keep me hooked! Some channels are super informational but not as entertaining and as someone with ADHD I kinda need that otherwise I don't listen/absorb the advice :)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks! You can repot whenever if you want to. As long as you’re not too rough it’s fine. Unless it’s really rootbound I’d leave it though and sit in water for a good couple of hours to fully saturate the soil

[@jillianleblanc9370]

Good morning to you vary nice thank you for sharing your amazing video I always watch them

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks so much

[@zeno3630]

I got a few alocasias from small to giants. A few of mine had a huge mealybug problem to the point where i had to repot them and they hated it. A few months later and now they're just starting to bounce back extra strong. also on the fertilizing stuff I found that a weak weekly routine works well. I only really use a foliar spray and they love it

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for the tip

[@ashalmehmud7354]

I rescued (bought) an alocasia from M&S today and the first thing I looked for was one of your videos for tips! It wasn’t in a great state as they have their plants next to the open fridges where the fruit and veg is, but I found a corm when I was checking the soil for root rot ☺️

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@martabinieda9195]

I got mine from M&S today! Let's see 😅

[@ashalmehmud7354]

@@martabinieda9195 2 of the 4 leaves fell away in the first few days but the 2 left are healthy. I’ve also found another corm which means I’ve got lots of plants out of one purchase!

[@annesaunders3580]

Well, what a relief to see this video! And here I was thinking what a terrible plant parent I was when my Alocasia's leaves went yellow. Nothing I did made it happy! Thanks to your advice, I will not be afraid to try this plant again. They are astonishingly beautiful, or at least I think so. Please keep making these videos, they are humorous, encouraging and informative. This information will save many plants from an untimely death in a garbage can or compost heap! cheers. 🥰🪴🌴☘🪴🌱🌻

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Will do thank you

[@drikonrokon852]

My first alocasia has been an angel for the most part since it's even giving me 2 new members while pushing out her 2nd mature leaf, sadly I neglected my humidifier it now has notch taken out which was my mistake but now I've bought a 4th humidifier that's bigger and a new fan to help increase air flow and distributing the humidity, and it's been happy since

[@ParrotplaySix]

I am doing everything wrong with my Alocasia Polly; it's the oldest plant I own. It's in low light by the kitchen window, pot with no drainage. I have not been feeding it till recently. I live in CT and in the winter is gets dark at 4:00. It's been in the same spot since I bought it about 12 years ago. I do repot it every 3 years or so. I have only lost a leaf occasionally, but not very often. I have been thinking of splitting it to make 2 plants, but afraid I will get it upset.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You’ve got this ✊

[@ParrotplaySix]

I forgot to say it's doing beautifully. :)

[@Puddlesmolly]

I just bout one of those meters .. moisture meter... Its going to be a like changer . Thanks for al your advice

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You bet

[@kenguo9772]

I thought it was only me face these issues, your video saved me!

[@SvartSyn333]

I thought I killed mine when it lost ALL the leaves and the new ones came out tiny and shriveled due to missing humidity in winter. So in Spring this year I planted my Portadora into small leca beads in a glass vase. Absolute game changer! 4 huge new leaves and an new growth just unfolded its first baby leaf. So happy. Semi-hydro really is so helpful since you can see stagnant water in the glass instantly and pour it out and the leca beads give just the right amount of moisture.

[@youbetcha108]

I had the same issue but when I see the beautiful foliage I can’t bear to part. So I just keep feeding and put in a diffuse light window. It has only ever given 3 leaves in 2 years. But they are healthy leaves.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@YoSpiff]

That was helpful. I noticed mine had been growing slow but steady and is now dropping leaves.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful!

[@susannebader3151]

Hey just found your channel.Love it.Very helpful.Thanks.Happy greetings from germany 🙋

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@barbaramobley8845]

I enjoy your vids immensely! I bought my alocasia off a clearance rack with only 1 leaf. It shot out few more leaves in the summer but moved some plants in from outside in the fall and did not quarantine them. Alocasia got mites really bad and i didnt think it would survive. It lost all but 2 leaves. Up until ydy it had 7 leaves! But alas i had to cut 2 off. I think i had let it get too dry. Im amazed that it grew like that in the winter time especially since we had a really big snow with temps below freezing. But i guess im very fortunate! I have stopped feeding everything cause a lot of what i read said stop feeding in the winter when dormant. Should i start feeding again. Thx for all youd help!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah best to stop feeding when it stops growing. Start again in spring

[@SEWalty]

Love the videos, and really appreciated your sense of humour 😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@jjskn93]

For alocasia I'd recommend semi hydro. Specifically pon. Really handy for holidays. Have also been experimenting with keeping them in orchid medum with a little extra soil mixed in (scimilar conditions for zygopetalum) which has worked really well so far.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I’m experimenting with that

[@ROLCY2024]

You are so entertaining while you share your knowledge.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I appreciate that!

[@EuroTravChannel]

Ha ha ha! I agree. Each Alocasia leaf is like a new baby. They are so vulnerable, that if anything is not to their liking, their leaves will wilt in a day or so, and turn into mush by day three. But they are so beautiful when they are healthy.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

So true

[@Tampo-tiger]

Fabulous video, so much work went into every single second of it! I'm an Alocasia lover, them and bananas, and have so much to learn about Alocasias before I progress to Pharoah's Mask, my ultimate ambition.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@regi985]

If you have problems to remember to fertilize, you could try to do it with every watering. You will just need to dilute it more. So instead of 10ml fertilizer every two weeks, you can also do 5ml every week (of course use the measurings that your fertilizer says). For alocasias I like to grow them semi hydropinic in lechuza pon and selfwatering pots.

[@hamburger512]

You threw that poor plant in the trash?! Imagine waking up from dormancy buried alive by rubbish. You monster

[@AnnikaSB]

I hope you're joking because that's not how dormancy works 😂

[@Bellaflower57]

😂

[@Elynnewith2N]

Question: when one of them loses all leaves (dormancy),…should I keep watering it or do I leave it to dry out and start watering in spring? Thank you for the whole video and answering this question

[@VinaSash]

Still watering but a little bit less then before

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Water when the soil dry. Aim is to keep the corms happy

[@hotmale5221]

Yes, that's a bloom coming up. I was confused when mine first did that, too.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Cheers!

[@AntoninJezek]

That shoot in the alocasia cuprea is a flower. It's better to cut off as they're not pretty and it takes a lot of time and energy to mature and bloom.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah didn't amount to much

[@GenRN]

Thank you for the bin shot. I know you put it in just for me. I have 2 Pollys that are great. I lost 2 starters. The shipping was too stressful for them.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It's a popular bin 😁

[@sushiegirl]

My polly looked just like yours and I though she was dying so I removed her from the soil 2 weeks ago and put her in perlite. She seems happier, so far anyway.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They seem to like perlite

[@sushiegirl]

@@SheffieldMadePlants hope so for her 🤣

[@growmance2191]

i got an alocasia Jackyln a couple weeks ago .I spray it weekly with Neem oil to prevent bugs

[@silviap4478]

I feel you so much on the Alocasia. They are so beautiful, but I can only keep them happy in semihydro with a water reservoir. Also I hate how mine are leaning sideways to the window, so I cut them all back as I was frustrated. Now they have a grow light from above and are hopefully growing prettier. It looks like you Alocasia is about to flower. Are you planning on taking pollen?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nothing really happened with it in the end. Just shrivelled up

[@FGM013]

I just moved my Stingray into the hydroponic grow room. The humidity, temperature and light is probably more hospitable to its fragile sensibilities. I plan on switching it to a hydro medium and see if it revives.🤞I live in the desert and rarely turn on the heat since the average indoor temp is in the low 70’s(F). The Stingray is the only plant that seems to be struggling.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I'm experimenting with semi hydro too

[@DangerB0ne]

I've found that feeding them roughly every 2 weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer can help them retain leaves in their dormant period. If you don't want scraggly looking dead leaves lying around, then pruning off the dead leaf once it's, for lack of a better term, crispy helps a bunch. The plant has already gotten what it needed from that leaf and taking it away can help keep the plant healthy. Mine got a little cold damage when we bought it and it predictably dropped the worst affected leaves. It then lost everything that wasn't new growth through winter despite my best efforts. Alocasia are gonna alocasia. It looks like it's woken up though, as I can see a new bud emerging from the base. Fingers crossed for leaf number 4.

[@martimasters7704]

LOTS OF HUMIDITY cured my Alocasia tempermental tendencies. I've also found that a bigger alocasia tends to be easier to maintain then a small one. Cheap moisture meters are unreliable. Another sure way is get a wood chopstick or a skewer. Put in the pot all the way to the bottom, then pull it up. Wet first sticks to the wood and you can see the dry levels and the wet levels. Do this on each side of the pot. You won't hurt the plant if you stay close to the wall of the pot. Also, when you water, check to make sure the holes on the bottom of the pot are working. Sometimes, they can get plugged even with good draining soil. Take a very small diameter skewer (I buy the cheap bamboo ones for making shikabobs or just putting food on a stick to grill). Put the sharp end into any hole that isn't draining and move up & down a few times. Then add a bit more water in the pot on the side where that hole is to make sure the problem is fixed.

[@sbaroke]

Very interesting! Not got one of them yet, not ready for that kind of stress ;-) I saw a bunch of them in a local DIY place, and, for a moment there, I was very tempted. BTW.... it's Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD for short...now there's a handy hint right in the acronym...!). Affective vs effective - two completely different words with different meanings.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They're a hassle

[@arcaseidax]

From my experience (Poland) the growing light only doesn't do much. Alocasias need also higher temperature to thrive. And around 20*, which I have in winter in the middle of room (not by the windows I mean), seem to not satisfy alocasias. And I actually threw out Sarian and Zebrina, because they were so weak that they constantly had one leaf and spider mites. Even in summer the amount of light wasn't good for them. I tried to make them good environment for 3 years, and I just don't want to experiment anymore 😅 And yes, that "thing" is a flower. Some people are cutting it, because they are thinking flowers are taking plants energy. But sometimes alocasia won't stop giving flowers, so I usually hold one flower for a little longer, and then I cut it, and give plant more fertilizer for "greens", and less for "flowering" (especially for these in semi-hydroponics).

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yeah that flower didn't amount to much in the end

[@allisround]

I bought the meter that you keep suggesting from your videos. It's really useful. I am sure I saved a couple of plants this week. 😂 I bought it from Amazon but mine says it's made in Ghina. Literally G. I don't think I've ever heard of a country named Ghina. 😂. But it works and saved my plants. PS. I'm from India 😊. Love your videos. Thanks.🎉🎉

[@elainequirke3857]

I'm Irish and I do say what the bejesus is happening to my alocasias! I bought loads of different ones, and they are now all corms sitting in my grow cabinet. I kind of hate them now but also can't wait until they return from the dead

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Haha love it! The resurrection thing is quite fun tbf

[@kaikrist]

I live in Stockholm (at a latitude north of mainland Scotland) and my Alocasia has got 7 leaves all through winter without any extra lighting and only 16 C in the room.

[@susanamarin7342]

I just came across your channel, i enjoyed and laughed a lot so thank you! My plant died and i didn’t know why, but after watching your video i now understand what i did wrong and no , i didn’t throw it away 😅😂 thank Goodness! It now has two big beautiful leaves 😊. Thank you for your videos!❤

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@Latrodectus_vv_]

Also, this is so well filmed and edited!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@bones5785]

I treat Alocasias, Calatheas and Marantas like perennials after recycling my potting soil and finding them popping up in spring in the new pot with the new plant. I even found a LECA in water sprouting. Turned out to be a corm! I retrieve the LECA when recycling you see.😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Good tip 😁

[@TajmToCook]

As I always do whatever I want, I have bought (yesterday) three alocasias (silver dragon, dragon scale and jacklyn - all in 6cm pots). They should arrive in about two days. As we are approaching colder months here in UK (end of Sep) and I learnt from the comments here that alocasias like it warm, I have also bought heat mats. My baby alocasias will be placed in NW window with max 2 hours direct sun... in summer. Wish me luck 🤣. I am planning to buy grow lights but didn't go that far yet.

[@surgeinc1]

I picked up a gorgeous Jacklyn, remembered the heartache, and set it back on the store shelf. Maybe I’ll try again.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You’ve got this ✊

[@emmanuellatorre602]

when i put my alocasia in direct sunlight they started to grow beautifully...

[@AlexOviatt]

I went to the plant doctor for my alocacia just last week and got so much info on why the heck our relationship turned this winter. I got two of the unknown bulby leaf looking things in the Fall and everything else died off. The doc (just a friend at the nursery) said they are flowers! Don’t look it at all, but it’s their flower. 😆 so the plant is flowering and will use all its energy toward it, so if you want foliage to continue, you have to immediately cut off those flowering stems and it should continue back to growing just foliage again. I went a few months with just the flower things and it was unsightly. So glad I know now. But NOW I have the dormancy issue you talked about. It grew one leaf and then stopped. It isn’t even taking up water like it used to. I guess that’s part of the dormancy? I’m checking it every week and soil still damp enough where I can’t water it any more. I guess I’ll leave it be until it comes back from slumber. 😭

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for the tip

[@WhatIsMisophonia]

If they're so picky about moisture, I wonder if it would be a good idea to have the appropriate soil mixture combined with a water wick in a water reservoir under the pot so that it self-waters?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Yep that would work

[@beckythebealge]

I live in Canada where winters are much colder than you and my Alocasia Bambino keeps on growing 🤷‍♀️ and doesn’t drop leaves. I only have one Alocasia going on two years old and she is big and beautiful with even some original leaves and giving me lots f babies.