Alocasia Frydek Care Guide

Alocasia Frydek Care Guide

Alocasia Frydek, popularly known as Alocasia Green Velvet, is a spectacular plant loved by many. The genus Alocasia has 79 different species, and Frydek is an Elephant’s ear variation.

Alocasia Frydek Care Guide Overview

Characteristics

  • Scientific Name: Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek.’
  • Common Names: Green velvet
  • Origin: Southeast Asia
  • Indoor or Outdoor Plant: The plant can be grown in the garden or as a houseplant, though often planted indoors.
  • Height: 2 – 3ft
  • Temperature: The plant flourishes in temperatures of 65°F (18°C) to 85°F (29°C). Temperatures below 60°F (16°C) should be avoided as they can initiate dormancy.
  • Flower Color: The plant rarely produces flowers, but they are cream/white spadix with a green spathe when it does.

How to Plant The Alocasia Frydek

Planting Time

The best method of propagating the Green Velvet plant is through the division of larger plants. The propagation is best done in spring or early summer because the plant is sturdily thriving.

Spacing

The leaves of Green Velvet Alocasia cover a space of 24 to 36 inches. This width is perfect for the houseplants as it does not demand a lot of space but still decorates your indoor space with its beauty. In a garden, the Green Velvet plants should have at least 40 inches between them to ensure that they do not interfere with the growth of each other.

Light

The Alocasia Frydek thrives in bright indirect light. The best place to mount your plant is an east-facing window where it gets some morning sun for a few hours, and later in the day, it will still get some bright indirect sunlight. If you place the plant in front of a window facing south, you can use thin drapes to filter sunlight. Doing this will ensure that the plant stays bright but not exposed to the intense afternoon sun.

Temperature

Alocasia Frydek thrives in temperature between 55°F – 80°F (13°C – 27°C). The minimum temperature, which the plant can survive is 60°F (16°C). Below this, your plant will face grave challenges.

Soil

Green Velvet Alocasia demands fertile soil that stays moist for longer and is rich in peat or humus. For the plant to flourish, the soil needs to be sufficiently drained. Hence, you should bring in some lumpy bits into your potting soils, for example, perlite and sand pumice, and they will ensure that your soil is properly-drained.

The mix you have created should be slightly acidic with a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. It would help if you worked towards eliminating any threat of root rot. If the roots of your plants rot, then you are risking losing your plant to a fungal infection.

Unfortunately, the situation is quite tricky. The Green Velvet Alocasia loves water, so you need to find the optimal quantity your plant requires without making the soil soggy. In addition, you have to ensure that the soil has sufficient room to breathe. For a containerized Alocasia Frydek, several drainage holes need to be fixed at the bottom of your vase.

It is hard to find the perfect soil conditions for the plant, but ensure you take your time to find out.

How to Grow The Alocasia Frydek

Growth Habits

Green Velvet Alocasia can grow up to 3-feet high. Alocasia is variable in size as there is a specimen, which grows up to 20-feet.

Staking

It is not easy to keep Green Velvet Alocasia upright. Insufficient water and poor lighting can exacerbate the leaning problem. Hence, no more than the top soil’s half-inch should ever get dehydrated. A thin pole along the stem and attached with a string should ensure the plant grows erect.

Watering

The plant originates from a tropical forest where it gets thorough watering. Failing to water the plant a couple of times may make the Green Velvet Alocasia go dormant. Ergo, never skip watering and ensure that you water right. Ensure that the soil drains appropriately and surplus water can drain via the soil and not be trapped inside the pot.

As noted earlier, drainage holes are crucial for the growth of the plant. Pour adequate water into the soils when you notice the topsoil is quite dehydrated. Depending on your location, the watering can be done weekly. The amount of water poured into the soils should be reduced during the winter season.

Fertilizing

It is recommended that you utilize a well-balanced diluted fertilizer from spring to summer weekly. A well-balanced fertilizer has all three elements in equal quantities. In addition, a well-balanced fertilizer should contain NPK where (N) stands for Nitrogen, (P) for Phosphorus, and (K) for Potassium. Nitrogen has a crucial role in supporting leaf growth; Phosphorus induces flowering, while Potassium aids the growth of the stem.

Humidity

Alocasias are tropical rainforest plants; hence, they flourish in a high humidity setting. Several tips for raising humidity include mounting vases on pebble trays, assembling plants, or you can raise money to purchase a small humidifier and place it among your plants.

Kindly note that humidifying with a spray bottle will work temporarily, and if highly done, it can lead to fungal infections. Humidifying has to be done infrequently, and it is very effective when carried out as part of the leaf cleaning routine.

Mulching

If you are interested in plants with dramatic foliage, go for the Green Velvet Alocasia. The plant produces large leaves, which bear a resemblance to the gigantic ears of an African elephant. The plant dramatically takes advantage of mulching and requires standard care and the proper conditions to flourish.

Trimming and Pruning

You are advised to prune any diseased, damaged, or dying leaves and stems when you spot them by cutting the stem down using clean shears. Pruning is only used on Alocasia Frydek to control the size and remove diseased parts. Otherwise, it does little to spur the growth of the plant.

Pot and Repotting

Potting

Utilize a vase or a pot with drainage holes as you must water it constantly.

Repotting

The Green Velvet does not require frequent repotting to thrive. The plants tend to be root-bound. You are supposed to repot the plant once it has clocked to years and is already mature. Utilize a pot, which is way more significant than the initial one, and entirely renew the potting soil.

With this information, it should be easy to maintain your potted Green Velvet. Once summer knocks, then you can proceed and plant your Alocasia Frydek in your garden.

Propagation

The best way to propagate Alocasia Frydek is through division. Dig out your plant and separate the plant’s part, which can be detached. Carry out this procedure during spring when repotting the plant.

Divide and Transplant

Division by propagation is by far the easiest. Below, we have created a step by step guide of how to propagate by division:

  1. Remove the plant from the pot.
  2. Utilize toothpicks to get rid of the soil around the roots.
  3. Please search for a part with several bulbs and isolate it from the rest of the plant.
  4. Place both the original plant and the isolated section in different pots.
  5. Water the two plants to aid the growth of roots for the two plants.

The division by propagation is an easy technique as you already have a whole plant, which you have to isolate a section.

Flowering

Green Velvet Alocasia is a flowering plant, though many people purchase it for its conspicuous leaves. Since the plant belongs to the arum family, it generates a spathe and a spadix. The two parts are the flowers of the plant. The spadix is fleshy and made of several small flowers, while the spadix is a bract. When the pollination occurs, berries form along the spadix.

Outdoor Care

Alocasia Frydek can flourish in a garden placed within USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11. Always ensure that the temperatures are well above 60°F (16°C). If this is always the situation, then the plant will thrive. If the temperatures go below this, then the plant will go into dormancy.

If your plants start showing signs of sinking into dormancy, which is leaves turning yellow or falling without others growing, you are advised to take your plant indoors. In numerous instances, people can only grow their Green Velvet Alocasias outdoors during summer. Nonetheless, if you stay in hardiness zones between 9b-11, you can grow the plant all year round.

Pests and Diseases

Green Velvet Alocasia are not the most carefree plants. Below, we break down the most common challenges you might face with your Alocasia and their root causes.

Spider Mites

Many houses are sometimes overwhelmed with spider mites, especially if the air is dry. Hence, you are advised to frequently mist your plants, as it helps curb the spread of spider mites. Misting using a bottle is not effective as a humidifier, but it sure plays a crucial role in stopping the spread of spider mites.

Droopy Leaves

Sometimes, your plant will have its leaves drooping. Do not get shocked when this happens after bringing the plant back to your house after buying it. Taking the plant from the greenhouse setting to normal home conditions calls for a moment of adjustment, so do not be alarmed when leaves droop.

Also, Green Velvet’s leaves tend to droop during the winter due to lower light and cooler temperatures. That’s why you are advised to take your plant out during summer, as this will help the plant make an astounding comeback.

Leaves Turning Yellow

The yellow coloration of your plant’s leaves can be attributed to many things, including overwatering, under watering, and placing the plant in a cold place.

Green Velvet Going Dormant

If your plant is stressed, it can go dormant. Dormancy comes about when you let your soil for long durations or if you keep the plant in a cold corner. The plant will be pushed to dormancy.

If the plant goes dormant, do not worry. If all the leaves have turned yellow, prune them, and you will remain with the plant’s base. Provided that the roots are intact, the plant grows back and thrives with proper watering and sufficient light.

Plant Species

Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’ is a cultivar of an evergreen tropical plant. The Alocasia genus has 79 species, which thrive in tropical rainforests. The ‘Frydek’ cultivar originates from Southeast Asia. En masse, Alocasia species are also called Elephant Ear plants. Other popular types of Alocasia are the Alocasia zebrina Tiger, and the Alocasia amazonica.

Companions

Alocasia Frydek blends well with the Chinese hibiscus and Mandevillea. Also, they offer a great textural contrast with distinctive temperate bedding plants, ornamental grasses, or ferns. It is wise to pair dark-leaved varieties with orange, yellow, or white-flowering plants a vibrant contrast.

Toxicity

The Green Velvet parts are all toxic to humans and animals. The toxicity of the plants hails from the oxalate crystals it contains. Consuming Alocasia can cause swelling and pain and oral irritation. If the plant is swallowed in large amounts, nausea, gastric distress, and trouble swallowing can result.

Is The Alocasia Frydek Toxic For Cats Or Dogs?

Alocasia Frydek is toxic to horses, dogs, and cats and can cause pain, oral irritation, and swelling. Plus, nausea and challenges swallowing are common symptoms too.

Is Alocasia Considered Invasive?

In some parts of Asia, the plant is noted as invasive. If you reside in a tropical or semi-tropical setting and have your plant outdoors, you are asked to take care to avoid it becoming problematic.

Proposed Alocasia Frydek Uses

In most countries, Alocasia Frydek is used as a houseplant. The plant is recommended for knowledgeable indoor gardeners since it is difficult to look after. If you have a home that gets consistent, bright, indirect sunlight, you can successfully grow this plant. All you have to do is maintain a proper humidity level.

You can also plant Alocasia Frydek in spring and summer in places where the winter is freezing, but remember to take them indoors during autumn. It is advisable to have the plant in a pot to put outside during the warmer seasons instead of planting them directly into your orchard.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *