One of the rarest alocasias and appreciated 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 it in your house?
If you want to know what Alocasia frydek is like, the care it needs and some peculiarities about it, we will tell you everything below.
How is the Alocasia frydek
The Alocasia Frydek, scientific name Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’, It is one of the most beautiful indoor tropical plants you can have at home.
Its main characteristic is none other than having very large leaves that are arrow-shaped and whose veins are white (or silver). But, in addition, these sheets have a touch like velvet.
Each of the leaves has its own stem, which is usually quite long and erect.
Another of the characteristics of this alocasia is the fact that it can flower. It is not something usual that happens indoors, but you can find this on occasion. However, they are not very showy flowers. In fact, it is usually a light green spathe giving off a creamy white spike. But, as we tell you, it is not something flashy, since what really impresses are its leaves.
Alocasia frydek care
After knowing a little more in depth what Alocasia frydek is like, below we want to give you a care guide so that you can enjoy it. We must warn you that it is not an easy plant to care for. It is somewhat delicate and if you do not provide it with the care it needs it 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 is everything you should 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 could 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 sunlight first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon can be beneficial (but only when adapted to the climate).
Something you will notice is that the plant moves 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 (rotating it) so that there is no problem that the plant leans only to one side or that there are leaves that develop weakly or grow too slowly.
As for the temperature, the Alocasia frydek is a bit demanding. His ideal would be between 18 and 29ºC. However, if the minimum drops to 16ºC you would already be suffering, and you would lose the leaves without remedy. That’s why, 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 this does not work well either).
Irrigation
Irrigation is one of the most important care for Alocasia frydek, and also the one that can give you the most headaches.
For a start, likes soil that is slightly moist, but not too much. It likes abundant watering, but you have to wait for the soil to dry out completely to water again. Therefore, it is better to water more times but less quantity, than to spend with the water.
Depending on where you live, the weather, temperature, etc. you may need to water it one to three times a week in summer; and once or twice a month in winter.
It is important that no water remains in a dish that keeps the roots wet, because it is easy for them to rot. For this reason, the best thing is a plate with pebbles and water that does not touch the water (this will help you for humidity as we will see below).
Humidity
As we have warned you, it is not good for the plant to be in water because its roots rot. But at the same time it does need moisture. That means You should place it in an area where it has 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 that way you will control the level that there is (keep in mind that, the more humidity, the less watering it will need because it will already be too humid).
Substratum
With the irrigation needs it has, the best substrate you can put on it is the one that stays moist the longest. Therefore, use some peat or humus. But not only, but you must mix it with a drainage such as perlite, pumice stone, etc.
Make sure it has a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 so that it is healthy, and you will have to review it every few months as it changes as time goes by.
Subscriber
As for the subscriber, you must do it when you have not transplanted. It is important that you fertilize Alocasia frydek during 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 that the manufacturer tells you. In the case of this plant, the best one would be one that was rich in nitrogen, and not so much in potassium or phosphorus.
pruning
Pruning of Alocasia frydek is not very necessary. But you will have to cut the leaves that are already bad to encourage it to take out new ones. In general, you should wait for them to fall off on their own and then cut the stems (as long as they don’t grow new ones, of course).
Do you dare now to have an Alocasia frydek?
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