ALOCASIA POLLY OR SANDER: A TABLE WITH A DESCRIPTION, PHOTO, THE NUANCES OF HOME CARE

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The genus of Alocasia has up to 100 species that differ in appearance and size. Most of them grow in the southern part of the Asian and Pacific region. These flowers were discovered and began to be studied more than a century ago and have already received recognition from home crop lovers. Among the most decorative species of this genus is the Polly variety.

Description

Alocasia polly is one of the hybrids of the flower of Alocasia Sander. This is a fairly tall evergreen shrub flower. In the natural environment can reach up to 2 meters. The length of a houseplant is from 20 to 50 cm, under favorable conditions - 70 cm. The main advantage of a flower is its rather large leaves. On each bush there can be about 30. When new leaves appear, the old ones die off.

Distinctive features of a flower:

Plant parts	Description
Leaves	Heart-shaped with clove-shaped edges. Green with bright veins, cast in the sun with a metallic sheen. Up to 0.5 m long, up to 20 cm wide, on thick and short petioles.
Stem	Powerful, grows vertically.
Flowers	In rare cases, sprouting inflorescences with white or pink flowers that exude a rich aroma may appear on an adult bush. After pollination, berries with seeds appear.
Root system	Relatively compact.
Hydrators	Serve to remove excess moisture. The peculiarity of this variety.

Home Care

It is quite simple to grow Alocasia polly at home, only a few rules should be observed.

Location, lighting

Alocasia polly loves diffused light, but is afraid of direct sunlight. An ideal place for a flower is the eastern and western parts of an apartment or house, preferably where there is no air conditioning. In the southern part, shading may be required. Due to the large leaves, the bush will be crowded on the windowsill. Better put it near the window, away from the batteries.

With good lighting, the bush grows rapidly, covered with young foliage. Leaves may turn black in the shade.

Soil, planting tank

This tropical flower is suitable for loose soil, which passes oxygen well and absorbs water. It’s easy to prepare such a mixture:

high peat;
land from the garden;
substrate for orchids.

So that the roots have enough oxygen, and the foliage is larger, you need a large pot.

Watering, humidity, temperature

All Alokazii love water. Only settled, boiled or distilled water is suitable.

Important! Irrigation water should be no higher than +25 degrees.

It is important that the soil in the pot does not dry out, waterlogging is also unacceptable. After watering, water should be removed from the pan. Next time you can water when the soil in the flowerpot dries. It is possible to determine that the moisture from the soil has already evaporated by sinking leaves. In the warm season, watering is done approximately every other day. In winter, as a rule, once or twice in 7 days. In breaks, you need to loosen the soil in order to saturate with oxygen.

In the heat, the flower should be systematically sprayed with water, and in winter, wipe the leaves with a soft damp cloth. For spraying use only warm, soft, settled water.

In the room where Alocasia polly grows, there should be a sufficiently high level of air humidity - above 65% at a temperature of +16 to +24 C.

In hot weather, as well as in winter, when heating appliances are working, you need to more often moisten the air in the flower zone with a spray gun or install a nearby water tank.

Suitable temperature conditions vary depending on the season: from +22 to + 24C in summer; from + 18C in winter. This flower does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature and drafts. A temperature of less than + 15 ° C is fatal for him, it can damage the roots or, in the summer, give a false signal about the beginning of rest.

Top dressing

Alocasia is recommended to be fed throughout the year by choosing the appropriate fertilizer. In the warm period, nitrogen and potassium are added once a month as part of mineral and organic fertilizers. In cold weather, especially young bushes are fed phosphorus approximately every 6 weeks.

Bloom

Flowering room Alocasia polly is extremely rare. Large flowers deplete the plant, so it is recommended to immediately cut off the peduncles until the perianth has opened. Cut places are treated with coal powder.

Transplantation, reproduction

A young bush is replanted once a year, and an adult - every three years. For transplantation, the transshipment method is used so as not to damage the roots. The ideal time for this is the beginning of the growing season. At the same time as a transplant, the rhizome is often shared to deposit children and young tubers.

The flower can be propagated:

Seeds - plant in a richly watered substrate, water again.
Seedlings - dive twice, after landing in separate flowerpots, not forgetting to water.
Tubers, rhizomes, cuttings - a clean tool to cut off parts of the plant, plant in a watered substrate, create a greenhouse.

Propagation by cuttings is best done during a flower transplant. The capacity must be put in a well-lit place with a temperature not lower than + 23C. At the time of watering, remove the film for airing the soil, after germination of the first leaves, remove completely.

Important! All work with the flower should be carried out with gloves.

Diseases and Pests

When unnatural changes appear in the appearance of Alocasia, you need to determine the cause of the problem and take steps to eliminate it.

Signs of illness	Cause	Necessary actions
The leaves are stained and dry.	A lot of light.	Move to a less lit place.
Faded leaves.	Little light.	Put in a more lighted place or use artificial lighting.
Leaves with brown spots.	Wrong irrigation system, air is too dry.	Change the frequency or volume of watering and / or increase air humidity.
Black specks.	The action of drafts.	Exclude drafts.
Foliage dries and falls, drops of water on the leaves.	Roots rot due to waterlogged soil or excess moisture in the air.	Do not leave water in the pan; allow the soil to dry before watering.
Yellow, drying leaves.	Hard irrigation water or few nutrients in the soil, such as nitrogen.	Use soft water for irrigation or top dressing.
The bush stops growing.	Not enough nitrogen.	Feeding with a urea solution.
During flowering, leaves fall.	Not enough nutrients in the earth, exhaustion.	Timely pruning and top dressing.
Sluggish, non-elastic leaves.	Improper watering: too much or not enough water.	Change the frequency of watering.
Sluggish, non-elastic leaves.	Unsuitable soil.	Change the composition of the soil or transplant a bush.

With improper care, Polly is more vulnerable to pest attacks.

Pests and control:

Name	Signs	Necessary actions
Spider mite	Spider web and white dots on the leaves.	Treat leaves with actellic diluted with water.
Shield	Small brown bulges on the plant.	Soap solution with a brush.
Whitefly	Brilliant fall on a plant.	Processing with a special solution of air conditioning.
Aphid	Small insects of gray, orange or green color on the bush, deformation of the plant.	Processing with a mixture of liquid soap, vegetable oil on water.

Healing properties

Alocasia perfectly cleans the air of the room. However, it should be remembered that all its parts contain poison. Do not allow juice to enter the mucous membranes of humans or animals.

The juice of plants of this kind has healing properties: disinfects and heals wounds; in the form of tincture from the leaves relieves pain in the joints and back, also itching from insect bites; useful for pneumonia, arthrosis, tuberculosis and toothache; Essential oils act as antimicrobials.