Repotting Alocasias and Colocasias
There is always so much work to do on my Bedford, New York farm.
During summer, all my large potted tropical plants are displayed outdoors in various locations around the farm. Smaller potted specimens are also put out in groups near my greenhouses where they can be closely maintained. One collection of alocasias and colocasias, some new and some which I've been growing for awhile, was ready to repot into larger containers. Repotting can be a tedious process, but a very important one that keeps all my plants healthy.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Many alocasias are loved for their striking foliage. Varieties can be found with different leaf colors, sizes, and shapes. Alocasia plants are native to tropical regions of Asia, Australia, and the South Pacific, and can grow up to 10 feet tall in their natural environments. I have many alocasias and love to display them every summer.
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- Alocasia ‘Borneo Giant’ has bold green leaves on rigid stems. When mature, it can be seven to 10 feet tall with leaves up to five feet wide.
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- Alocasia ‘Sumo’ has large, dark green leaves and can grow up to 10 feet tall. It is a hybrid plant between Alocasia ‘Portora’ and ‘Purple Cloak.’ Look closely and notice the stems are dark reddish-black.
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- This is Alocasia Macrorrhiza Variegata. Variegated plants have leaves, stems, fruits, or other parts with more than one color. The colors can appear as stripes, blotches, borders, speckles, or dots, and can be white, light green, yellow, red, pink, brown, or violet. The patterns can be symmetrical and regular, or more sporadic and uneven. This alocasia variety is a little more rare than the others. I always look for rare and unusual plants.
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- Every leaf is different, showing off its interesting green and white markings. Another leaf on the same plant has one half completely white.
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- The undersides of alocasia leaves can be leathery and have striking veins and textures.
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- Alocasia and Colocasia are both elephant ear plants in the Araceae family. This is Colocasia ‘Black Ruffle.’ It has dark, heart-shaped leaves, which become ruffled at the edges as they grow.
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- My gardeners always save pots – they come in very handy when repotting growing plants and seedlings.
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- Whenever potting a large selection of plants, the team does so in a production line process, which is quick and efficient. They also work on tarps, so any spilled soil can be collected easily and used elsewhere.
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- There is at least one drainage hole at the bottom of each pot. Drainage holes allow excess water to drain and help protect the plant’s roots from bacteria, fungus, and rot, which can occur when roots sit in water for too long and can’t breathe.
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- Alocasias prefer soil that is both well-draining and loose. Choose a tropical mix with bark, sand, and loam. I like to use Miracle-Gro Potting Mix.
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- The pot is filled about a third of the way up. The root ball will sit on top of this layer and be surrounded with more soil. The right amount of soil will allow the base of the plant to sit right under the rim of the pot.
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- Matthew removes the plant from its old pot and gently cuts the root ball with his Hori Hori to stimulate growth.
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- The root ball is placed in the center of the pot at a similar depth to its previous pot and positioned so its roots grow down.
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- After backfilling, Matthew tamps down to ensure good contact with the soil.
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- I am a big believer in feeding all plants – if you eat, so should your plants.
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- These plants are given Osmocote Plus from Miracle-Gro, a controlled release fertilizer that’s ideal for container plants.
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- Each granule is covered with an organic resin that regulates the daily release of nutrients.
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- Josh pots up another alocasia. It doesn’t take long before all the plants are done.
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- These plants will be given a good drink of water and then placed where they can get bright, indirect sunlight. It is so nice to have all the tropical plants outside this time of year.
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