Interview Sheet: Alocasia Polly

It is one of the most sumptuous varieties, whose giant leaves are reminiscent of pachyderm esgourds, hence its nickname of the Elephant Ear plant. In a very decorative dark green, these are streaked with veins with metallic reflections, with a satiny purple reverse.

At Pousse we gave her the charming first name of Emilie , because of her vintage tendencies and her haughty bearing.

This plant of the Arum family is native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, which alternate shade and sun at leisure. Initially reserved for growing in heated greenhouses, it finally acclimatized to Western interiors.

Maintenance sheet

Exposure

Emilie takes her ease between 18 and 22°C, she tolerates the light but not the direct sun which burns her leaves.

watering

This plant requires a high saturation level of at least 60%, vaporize it to maintain a good level of humidity. Use water at room temperature, rain or demineralised, and prevent the root ball from drying out.

Cultivation errors

If the leaves of your Alocasia turn yellow, it means that it lacks water or, conversely, has been overwatered. When they turn brown, it is a sign that its degree of humidity is too low, they then tend to wither.

Diseases and pests of Alocasia

Subjecting the Elephant's Ear plant to excessive watering can be harmful, it then risks rotting its roots. As for pests, it can be the prey of mealybugs as well as spider mites .

• Consequences : Mealybugs are easily spotted, they leave waxy threads and honeydew on the pretty leaves of your plant. They will feast on its sap, so to delay treating it is to put it at risk.
• Solutions: As soon as they appear, spray an insecticide on the affected parts, preferably organic as everyone knows. A natural treatment consists of mixing olive oil, black soap and rubbing alcohol in a liter of water.

An infestation of spider mites can be seen as soon as the first webs they have woven appear. These mites hate humidity, misting your plant your plant regularly in prevention will avoid and/or stop their spread.

Planting and repotting an Alocasia Polly

An Alocasia is a tropical plant par excellence, its foliage with imposing decorum offers diversity in terms of size and color. Less imposing hybrid varieties, such as our Emilie Polly , have adapted to our climates.

1. Preferably repot your Elephant's Ear in the spring, ideally between March and May. Take the opportunity to separate the shoots from the base, in order to obtain rhizomes which will then be used for multiplication.

2. A rich, well-draining potting soil may suffice, but this should be lightened with sand. Place the pot on a bed made of clay balls and, in order to ensure constant humidity, bathe them beforehand in a little water.

3. Seeds should be sown in a mini greenhouse, the constant temperature of which must be around 23°C. Anyway, preferably place your Alocasia under the veranda, in full light but subdued during the hottest hours.

Good to know

This exceptional plant will bring a touch of exoticism to your interior. However, if you want to keep it as long as possible, learn that it can survive 2 years in an apartment and fifteen years under a veranda.

POUSSE, the plant architecture agency that reconnects your spaces in Lyon, Paris and Bordeaux to nature.
Contact us: bonjour@pousse.fr