Alocasia Frydek, velvety, contrasting foliage

Alocasia Frydek is a bit like Hailey Bieber or Miley Cyrus. This plant from the Araceae family has become much more famous and much cooler than its father, alocasia 'Green Velvet. Yet there's hardly any difference between the two varieties. In fact, some specialists consider the two names to be synonyms.

How to recognize Alocasia Frydek?

Alocasia Frydek is an upright perennial. It grows up to a metre high and has a 60-centimetre spread.

A single stem bears several petioles. Light green, they are completely plain, like those of alocasia reversa.

The velvety leaves are crossed by white veins. The sagittate blades are up to 50 centimetres long. Most Alocasia Frydek plants have deep-green leaves. However, cultivars with white, yellow or even mint-green varieties are now available.

Alocasia Frydek is toxic. Its sap contains calcium oxalate crystals. They cause irritation when they come into contact with skin and mucous membranes. They can also cause stomach upset and respiratory or kidney problems if ingested. Remember to keep the plant out of reach of your cat or dog.

Our maintenance tips

Alocasia Frydek are not plants to be placed in everyone's hands. They need light, rich soil, a little knowledge and a lot of attention.

Watering

Keep the soil in your Alocasia Frydek always fresh. When the substrate is one to two centimeters dry, you can water.

Use room-temperature, non-calcareous water. What's best? Recovered rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use filtered water. You can also use tap water, provided you let it stand for a while.

After watering, empty the water stagnating at the bottom of the dish. It may rot the roots.

Spray

If the air in your home is dry, spray the leaves of your plant with non-calcareous water at room temperature.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Alocasia micholitziana 'Frydek' to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Choose a pierced pot slightly larger than the previous one. It's best to opt for a clay model: this material promotes even drying of the soil.

Line the bottom with a bed of gravel or clay balls. Add a layer of potting soil with perlite or sand. For example, you can mix potting soil for green plants with sand. Place your subject in the center and fill in with substrate to within a couple of centimeters of the edge. Tamp down and water for the first time to encourage rooting.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

Apply liquid green plant fertilizer diluted with water.

Cleaning

The leaves of your Alocasia Frydek accumulate dust. It interferes with photosynthesis and encourages the appearance of parasites. Clean them with a clean, damp sponge.

Remember that alocasia Frydek is toxic. Wear gloves when dusting.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Using your hands or a clean, sharp tool, separate one of the shoots that has formed at the base of the plant. Choose a young shoot with roots.

Prepare buckets with potting soil similar to that used for adult plants. Translucent pots are best. You'll be able to monitor root growth.

Place the bulbils on the surface, flat side down and pointed side up. Water and then place your bulbils in a greenhouse or transparent crate.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybug, accompanied by ants for its honeydew.

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Araceae - Araceae
Type	Alocasia - Alocasia
Species	Alocasia micholitziana - Alocasia micholitziana
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs
Categories	Interior Rhizome Herbaceous
Tags	Fritillary Soiffarde Toxic
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	11a
Leaf color
Flower colors