proletariatcsp

Does anyone have experience with these Alocasia Macrorrhizos "Black Stem?"

I need to know their temperature and pH range.

And how to get rid of Greenhouse Thrips because they are killing it. I have tried neem-oil diluted and concentrate with no success. Please help?

Chris P.

Alocasia macrorrhizos "Black Stem"
Home R & D



Source: linked

just j

wow that is a nice looking plant where did u get it from

proletariatcsp

Actually the pic does it little justice. Here is a better picture from a flickr member. The veins are a dark burgandy/chocolate color, not quite black and speckled with faint green splotches on the stems. The leaves are brilliant deep green--greener than banana leaves, thick leathery, almost plastic looking.

J, I got the plant at Lowes and it was not labeled correctly, plus the tag does not give growing information so I'm between a rock and hard place with a $20 plant.


Source: Gardener's Exchange Nursery on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

lorax

OK, I've grown this. For me, it didn't tolerate anything above about 40 C, or anything below 10 C for temps and the pH of the soil didn't matter so long as it had excellent drainage. Part shade and good shelter from the wind are important because as tough as those leaves look, they're delicate to the wind. Treat it like one of your bananas and it will do just fine.

PT DUffy

Mine grows well under the conditions of other "Taroes" and is hardy here in z8b. Partial Sun(for good colour), water every 3rd day, fertilize with a slow release at manufacturerer's directions. Can't help with the thrips except to recommend a spray with the same stuff as dog flea meds like Advantix, which works on the various critters I get in my Florida greenhouse(well, except for rats and possums;>!).
Cheers,
Pat

proletariatcsp

Thanks for the advice Pat. Since this is just ornamental I'm sure any lethal chemical will do. I just want to be sure it is something that wont harm the plants roots. I suppose my only recourse with the Thrips is probably changing the soil every day? I really hope the systemic stuff works cause I really like this one.

saltydad

You should....it's a gorgeous EE!

__________________
Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and
http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad
http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

proletariatcsp

Just wanted to post an update on the alocasia.

I still haven't tried Bayer or any other chemicals. After the Thrips killed four or five leaves I finally made the choice to put it outside. At first I was afraid of it getting to much sun exposure. A few hours of morning sun on one of the new leaves has not injured it at all. I placed the plant on a pebble tray for increased humidity and the stems are beginning to stand strait again. Today for the first time I noticed all the Thrips vacated the leaves!!!

Now I can only hope the spider mites dont start migrating from my other patio planters.

Thanks for all the comments guys!

Chris in FL.

Lilith

I grow mine outside in the ground here in Gainesville (FL) zone 8B. It gets full sun, daily water and weekly fertilizer. It goes dormant in winter and comes back for the growing season.

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--

Tog Tan

Hey Chris, the plant will definitely do much better once it is outside. This being it gets good airflow and the moisture coming up to the undersurface of the leaf from the ground(the moisture does help to prevent the spidermites here). You will be surprised that once it has established outside, the leaves tend to get thicker. I have most of the known varieties of the Alocasia macrohiza and they are all grown outside under the hot tropical sun. In fact, I find that they do very much better like this with lesser watering. All the best.

__________________



____
Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Magilla Gorilla

Hello Chris,

I grow this plant outside and it gets morning sun and gets huge. I have the plant on a drip irrigation. I water it every other day and also fertilize. My plants are in well draining soil with lots of mulch. From the picture it does not look like the black stem form but the red stem form. It may be the picture or my eyes. These are Colocasias. They are called Colocasia esculenta "Red Stem". I have attache a link to Agristarts with growing information.
AGRI-STARTS, INC.: Colocasia esculenta 'Red Stem'

One of your pictures looks like the red stem form and the other looks like the black stem form called Colocasia fontenesii "Black Stem" form. The growing information for the black stem form is below.
AGRI-STARTS, INC.: Colocasia fontenesii 'Black Stem'

I hope this helps.

__________________
Andrew

proletariatcsp

Here is my plant. I finally took a picture. You can probably see all the thrip damage, but there is allot of new growth since I moved it outside.

[IMG][/IMG]

Magilla Gorilla

Hey Chris,

KIll the thirps and plant it. This plant will thrive in Florida. The agristarts info will help you with planting information. Red and Black stem plants are very similar in growing conditions. These are beautiful plants. Some people grow them near and in bogs. Good luck!

__________________
Andrew

proletariatcsp

Thanks Andrew. I would love to plant it but my back yard is really dry. I wouldn't be able to grow the bananas if not for the sprinklers. But no matter how much it rains, the ground drains too fast.

I imagine the plant is like the pineapple and likes deep fertile soil. The pineapple will grow in a 5gal pot just fine. But in the ground the roots go up to 5ft deep an only then will it grow a full size fruit.

Lilith

Its dry here too. That's why I have to water every day. It was 95 yesterday and will be 94 or so again today...no rain in sight at the moment. I am the rain, LOL.

I grow most of my COLOCASIAS in ponds or sealed containers of water just for this reason...anything I don;t have to hand water or sprinkler water is a real plus

__________________
11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50
2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00
4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38
10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457
1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09
2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415
Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC--
2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--