Alocasia Polly

I bought this today as I was having plant withdrawal symptoms (where is that Plantaholic Thread?) and we loved the leaves. Sorry, I've been too tired to take a photo and upload/download but will tomorrow if need be.

Other than I shouldn't have it here, anything I need to know other than it likes moist shade ... :eek: ??????

 

Moist shade eh, sounds good for the UK at the moment. :D

 

I'll ship it over and you can just plant it outside then. :D



[ 01. October 2007, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: Lady of Leisure ]

 

I bought something similar about three months ago. It was one of those reduced items due to it being bashed around and nearly dead.
Anyway it did nothing for ages and then suddenly flowered, now its just putting up a new leaf.

 

Do you have it outside, pete? You probably got a real bargain, this was �£4 and is about 18-20 inches tall.

I did read where they can flower any time of the year ??? Mine also has new shoots shooting (ha) up which can be seen in the front of the photo.

T'other half says we'll put it with the Cane Begonia in the pergola ... on odd occasions he's getting into plants ... quite strange actually! :confused:

 

No its not outside and it dont look as good as yours. :D

 

Maybe I should send it to you for safety sake. :D

Think it may do well with the Cane Begonia ...

 

I've got 2 of them at the moment both reduced at morrisons to �£1-49. I did buy one from a garden centre earlier in the year but it rotted! I've read up alot about them and they can be tricky, no droughts, semi shade and above 20 degs all year, my cheap two are in the house and so far one is ok the other lost 2 leaves cos they started to turn yellow. They also like misting regularly. I'll let you know if I can keep these two alive!!

 

Hi, TO. That's an excellent price, mine was standard price at a garden center.

Funny how you can rot one when they don't like drought ... obviously don't like standing water either!

I have put mine in a pergola / lean to that has a cane roof covered with vines. I've had a Cane Begonia in there for years and it thrives. I cut it back to about 18-24 inches and it shoots back and is currently over 5 foot tall again (it's Mum went to 12-15 foot in the UK). I'm hoping this will like / tolerate the same conditions. Assuming you're talking Farenheit, we don't go below 30 in the winter, didn't go below 35 this past one!

As far as the misting goes, I'll put a fine mist from the hose on it in the evenings along with the Cane Begonia.

I'll keep you posted!

 

I reckon TO's talking centigrade LOL. :rolleyes:

 

That's warm by any standard year round, pete. Wasn't thinking at my best (don't laugh), as we were 32C today which has been warmer than of late, and busy doing things except when we were lunching at our "local".

But it is tropical ... and I'm Med-ish ... :D

 

I bought A. Polly off ebay and it arrived in terrible condition. I wanted to send it back, the seller was very nice and offered to replace it, but Martin said that with time it would recover. with hind sight it was a bad move as I am still waiting. then I saw them in Morrisons going on the cheap.

I have alocasias and Colocasias they like it hot, but humidity is very important too and if you get it wrong, ther rot!

good Luck

 

Here's a picture of my A polly this morning and it looks like it's blooming/bloomed ...



And here's where it lives with the Begonia argenteo-gutatta, the cane Trout Begonia, which is blooming exceptionally well this year ...

 

Dont think you missed much flower wise LOL.

New leaves are something else though, look more like plastic and unreal, I think.
My plant now has a total of .......ONE. :rolleyes: :D

 

Update on my 2 cheap ones, the one that lost 2 leaves has lost all but one! the other plant is ok so far, I water every few days to keep moist but they are not standing in water. Yep I was talking 20degs cel, but thats normal temp in a house, in winter too with heating on. I'll keep you posted.