It’s also called the African Mask Plant. The Alocasia Polly is a beautiful tropical plant with big, showy leaves. Because its leaves are dark green and have veins that stand out, the Alocasia Polly can give any indoor plant collection an exotic look.
If you already have an Alocasia Polly, propagating it is a great way to get more plants for free. Propagating can also allow you to share this incredible plant with friends and family.
In this article we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to propagating Alocasia Polly successfully.
Understanding the Alocasia Polly
Before jumping into propagation, it helps to understand a little about the Alocasia Polly itself. Here are a few key facts:
- A hybrid of the Alocasia Sanderiana and Alocasia Amazonica
- Native to tropical areas of Asia and Australia
- Loves humidity and indirect sunlight
- Sensitive to overwatering
- Grows from bulbs or rhizomes under the soil
Getting to know the natural growing conditions and needs of the Alocasia Polly will set you up for propagation success.
When to Propagate Alocasia Polly
Timing is important when propagating plants. It’s best to make more Alocasia Polly plants when they are actively growing, which is in the spring and summer. This is when the plant is already making new leaves and will be most open to growing new roots.
Most of the time, you shouldn’t try to propagate Alocasia Polly in the fall or winter, when growth has slowed down. It will take longer and need more care to propagate in the cooler months.
Methods for Propagating Alocasia Polly
There are two main methods used to propagate Alocasia Polly:
Division
Division involves splitting the plant’s root ball into smaller sections, with each section having its own stem and roots. This is the most reliable propagation method for mature Alocasia Polly plants.
Here are the steps:
-
Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently shake off excess soil.
-
Identify sections of the root ball that can be separated, ensuring each division has a stem and healthy roots.
-
Cut through the roots with a clean, sharp knife or shears. Avoid damaging the roots.
-
Replant each divided section in its own pot with fresh, well-draining soil.
-
Water thoroughly and place in a warm, humid area to encourage root growth.
Offsets
Alocasia Polly can produce offsets (also called pups or plantlets) from the mother plant. These can be cut off and propagated individually.
Here is how to propagate from offsets:
-
Wait until the offset has developed its own small roots and leaves.
-
Gently separate the offset from the mother plant, keeping roots intact.
-
Plant the offset in a small container with well-draining soil.
-
Keep in a warm, humid area and slowly acclimate to brighter light.
-
Water sparingly at first to prevent rotting.
Preparing for Propagation
Before getting started, ensure you have the necessary tools and environment:
Tools Needed
- Clean shears or knife to divide root ball
- Small containers or pots for new plants
- Fresh, well-draining potting mix
- Gloves for protection
Propagation Environment
- Warm area with temperatures around 70-80°F
- Bright, indirect light
- High humidity around 60-70%
Sterilize tools with rubbing alcohol to prevent disease transmission. The right propagation conditions will spur faster root development.
Step-by-Step Propagation Process
Once you’ve gathered your materials and set up an ideal growing area, follow these steps:
-
Remove the Alocasia Polly plant from its pot. Carefully loosen the root ball and brush away soil.
-
Identify sections of the root ball that can be divided. Look for areas with multiple stems.
-
Use sterilized, sharp shears to divide the crowns and roots. Make clean cuts.
-
Plant each divided section in its own small pot filled 1/3 with well-draining soil.
-
Fill pots to about 1/2 inch below rim with more soil. Plant divisions at same level as before.
-
Water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom. Allow pots to drain fully.
-
Place in propagation environment with warmth, humidity and indirect light.
-
Allow 4-6 weeks for new root and shoot development before fertilizing or repotting.
-
Once propagated plants are established, acclimate them to normal indoor conditions.
Caring for Propagated Alocasia Polly
Young Alocasia Polly plants need attentive care while developing roots:
-
Keep soil moist but not soggy. Water when top 1-2 inches dries out.
-
Mist leaves daily for humidity. Use pebble trays as needed.
-
Provide bright, indirect light from a south or west window.
-
Maintain warm temperatures around 70-80°F.
-
Hold off on fertilizing for 4-6 weeks until well established.
-
Repot into slightly larger containers as the plants grow.
With attentive care while rooting, your propagated Alocasia Polly will flourish!
Common Propagation Problems
Even experienced plant parents can run into issues when propagating Alocasia Polly:
-
Rotting: Usually caused by overwatering. Allow soil to dry out more between waterings.
-
Few roots developing: Can result from cool temperatures or improper division technique. Ensure warmth and make clean division cuts.
-
Leaves yellowing: Likely too much water retention in soil. Repot in a better draining mix.
-
No new growth: Give it more time, warmth, and bright indirect light. Growth is slower in winter.
-
Pests: Check for pests like spider mites which thrive in propagation environments. Isolate and treat any infested plants.
Don’t get discouraged if you encounter obstacles. Propagation often involves some trial and error. Learn from any issues to improve your technique.
Enjoying Your New Alocasia Polly Plants
The fun part comes when your propagated Alocasias are thriving! Here are some ideas:
-
Display in plant stands at varying heights for added interest
-
Group with other tropicals like ferns and philodendrons
-
Use as statement pieces in bathrooms or bedrooms
-
Give as gifts to other plant lovers
-
Trade extras at plant swaps or donate to plant sales
-
Sell online or at local plant shops and shows
Propagating Alocasia Polly allows you to expand your own plant collection as well as share these stunning tropical beauties with others. With patience and care, you’ll have multiple lush, vibrant Pollys to enjoy for years to come.
While it requires some effort, propagating Alocasia Polly is absolutely achievable for both novice and experienced plant parents. Follow the steps for division or offsets, provide a warm and humid environment, and give the new plants attentive care as they develop.
In a few months, your propagated Alocasias will develop into full-sized, glorious plants. Troubleshoot any issues that arise and learn from the experience. Propagating is very rewarding, allowing you to effortlessly expand your plant collection at no cost!
Propagating an Alocasia in 4 steps
First clean the knife you might be using.
Keep the knife under hot water and clean them well. This prevents you from unnecessarily transferring bacteria during the propagation.
Do you happen to have disinfectant or pure alcohol? Disinfect the tools after using the hot water. Lets get away with those bacteria and fungi!.
Step 3: Cut off a pup
Carefully cut off the pup from the mother plant.
Have you separated the pup from the mother plant? Then carefully remove the roots. Its important that a cutting has its own roots.
It’s not likely that the cutting will live if it doesn’t have any roots of its own.
FASTEST WAY TO PROPAGATE ALOCASIA POLLY+CARE TIPS 2021/ PAANO MAGPADAMI NG ALOCASIA POLLY #alocasia
FAQ
Can you propagate Alocasia polly in water?
You can also place the Alocasia cuttings in water. Although not every Alocasia specie is suitable for water propagation. If you’re going to repot the mother plant as well, we recommend choosing a pot that is 20% larger than the previous one. After about a month the roots will have recovered, and growth may be visible.
Can you grow Alocasia from cuttings?
Some Alocasias can be propagated by root cuttings. Take the plant out of its pot and cut it into 10cm-long pieces of thick, fleshy roots with sharp scissors. Mix peat-free compost with perlite (around a ratio of 70:30) and firm it into a tray.
How to cut Alocasia polly?
Cut back dead or damaged leaves in spring or summer when the plant has the energy to put out new growth. Use sterilized pruners or shears and cut back leaves at the base of the stem. While alocasia Polly rarely blooms while kept indoors, it’s a good idea to prune back any spent flower heads to help promote leaf growth.
What to do when Alocasia gets too leggy?
When to Cut Back: Less is More – Leggy stems or sparse leaf growth signal it’s time for a trim. Mar 22, 2024.
How does Alocasia spread?
Most alocasia plants are easy to propagate by clump or rhizome division in the spring. Gently take the plant out of its pot and remove any excess potting soil from the rhizomes. Use sterile pruning shears or scissors to divide a clump of rhizomes from the central stem of the mother plant.
Can Alocasia be propagated?
So, it’s really easy to make more of them! Usually, you should make more of almost any plant right before the winter months when they go dormant. This rings especially true to rhizomatous plants like alocasia. During the winter, the plant focuses more on making roots and bulb divisions than on making more leaves.
What is Alocasia Polly?
Despite it being a fairly newly-recognized plant in the houseplant trends market, alocasia polly has been around for decades. Bred in the 1950s, this plant is a man made hybrid that works wonderfully for indoor decor, as its height rarely tops a foot and a half (or 18 inches).
How do you care for an Alocasia plant?
When the bulb of an alocasia dies, the plant itself dies. Prevent overwatering by only using pots with good drainage. On the other hand, alocasia is a tropical plant. Frequent misting helps maintain the humidity levels that alocasias like without dumping too much water into the soil.
How do I grow Alocasia?
Try to go for soil that has perlite for moisture retention. This method works for all types of alocasia, whether it’s an indoor or outdoor variety.
How many alocasias can you grow in one pot?
Two alocasias! Depending on how big your particular plant is, you could end up with several smaller plants from just one pot. Of course, when it comes to the exotic, deep colors that alocasia has to offer, there’s nothing better than having more of them. Let’s dive in to exactly how to make this happen, and when it’s best to do so.
How do you remove Alocasia from a pot?
Very gently remove the alocasia from its pot. If the roots are stuck to the bottom of the pot, you can soak the entire thing in water for about two minutes to soften things up. From here, don’t be afraid to tear a few roots that simply won’t let go. The plant can replace a few lost roots, so don’t worry about them!