One of the rarest alocasias and loved by many is the Alocasia Frydek. Both in its normal version and in the variegated version, it is one of the most attractive that exists. But have you ever had one at home?
If you want to know what Alocasia frydek looks like, what care it needs and some peculiarities about it, we will tell you everything below.
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How is the Alocasia frydek
Alocasia Frydek, scientific name Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’, It is one of the most beautiful indoor tropical plants you can have in your home.
Its main characteristic is none other than having very large arrow-shaped leaves with white (or silver) veins. But, in addition, these sheets have a touch of velvet.
Each of the leaves has its own stem, which is usually quite long and erect.
Another characteristic of this alocasia is the fact that it can flower. It’s not something that usually happens indoors, but you can find it on occasion. However, they are not very showy flowers. Actually, it is usually a light green spathe giving a creamy white cob. But, as we tell you, it is not something flashy, because what really impresses are its leaves.
Alocasia Frydek treatment
After knowing a little more in depth what Alocasia frydek looks like, we want to give you a care guide so that you can enjoy it. We must warn you that this is not an easy plant to care for. He is somewhat delicate and if you don’t give him the care he needs, he can easily die. But, being bulbous, as long as the bulb is good, you can try again, although the size of the leaves may not be as big as when you bought it.
That being said, here’s everything you need to keep in mind:
location and temperature
Although we are talking about an indoor tropical plant, the truth is that depending on where you live, you can place it outside. The normal thing is that he is inside the house to control the temperature in which he lives (which we will talk about a little later). But, at the same time, it needs light. Not direct, but indirect, and the more the better. In general, four or five hours of light is enough; even giving it some direct light in the morning or late afternoon can be beneficial (but only if it’s adapted to the climate).
You will notice that the plant shifts its leaves to face the sun. And these will grow more if they have more sun. For this reason, it is recommended to move the pot (by rotating it) so that there is no problem that the plant leans only to one side or that there are weakly developing leaves or grow too slowly.
In terms of temperature, the Alocasia frydek is a bit demanding. Its ideal would be between 18 and 29ºC. However, if the minimum drops to 16 ºC, you will already suffer and you will lose the leaves without remedy. For that, In cold climates, it is recommended to always have it indoors and protected from low temperatures (but at the same time it is not recommended to have them near heat sources because they dry out the environment too much and that does not work well either).
Irrigation
Irrigation is one of the most important cares for Alocasia frydek, and also the one that can give you the most headaches.
To start, likes slightly moist soil, but not too much. It likes abundant watering, but you have to wait until the soil is completely dry to water again. Therefore, it is better to water more times, but less in quantity, than to spend with water.
Depending on where you live, weather, temperature, etc. you may need to water it one to three times a week in the summer; and once or twice a month in winter.
It is important that no water remains in a dish that keeps the roots moist, because it is easy for them to rot. For this reason, the best is a plate with stones and water that does not touch the water (this will help you with humidity as we will see below).
Humidity
As we warned you, it is not good for the plant to be in water because its roots rot. But at the same time it needs moisture. It means that You must place it in a place where there is at least 50% humidity. If it is below, the plant will suffer, causing its leaves to dry out, turn brown or even stop growing.
To keep this at bay the best thing is a humidifier, because this way you will control the level that there is (keep in mind that the more humidity there is, the less watering it will need because it will already be too wet).
Substrate
With its irrigation needs, the best substrate you can put in is one that stays moist the longest. Therefore, use peat or humus. But not only, but you have to mix it with drainage such as perlite, pumice, etc.
Make sure it has a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 so that it is healthy, and you’ll have to revisit it every few months as it changes over time.
Subscriber
As for the subscriber, you need to do this when you have not transplanted. It is important that you fertilize Alocasia frydek in spring and summer, at least every three or four weeks. That is, every 20 days or every month.
As for the fertilizer to use, choose one that you can add with the irrigation water, and if possible at half the dose indicated by the manufacturer. In the case of this plant, the best would be one that was high in nitrogen, and not so much in potassium or phosphorus.
Size
Alocasia frydek pruning is not very necessary. But you will have to cut off the leaves that are already bad to encourage him to remove new ones. In general, you have to wait until they fall off on their own and then cut off the stems (as long as they don’t sprout new ones, of course).
Do you now dare to have an Alocasia frydek?