Are you searching for an attractive houseplant with big gorgeous leaves and strong stems that are easy to take care of?
If yes, Alocasia Lauterbachiana is a perfect match since it has an outstanding ornamental value due to its unique shaped and vibrant leaves. Alocasia Lauterbachiana is also called “Elephant Ears” because of the curly edges of its leaves.
Another name commonly used for the plant is ‘Purple sword due to its violet-coloured blooms, the purple-coloured veins that run through the centre, and the leaf’s undersides.
The plants are part of the Arum family, their cousins, the Monstera Deliciosa, the Anthurium Genus, and the Philodendron, such as the Philodendron Birkin.
Other well-known Alocasia include Alocasia Cuprea Alocasia Cuprea and Alocasia Zebrina.
The following maintenance guide is a comprehensive guide on keeping your Alocasia Lauterbachiana healthy and flourishing.
Alocasia Lauterbachiana Care Guide
Table of Contents
Make sure the plant is well-drained on the soil in a loose, sandy substrate. Watering it whenever the soil appears dry is the best way to ensure your plant’s health. Alocasia Lauterbachiana requires indirect sunlight that is moderately warm to develop to the fullest extent of capacity.
Let’s examine the various aspects and discover how they affect the overall health of this precious gem.
Light
Like many other Alocasias and houseplants in general, Alocasia Lauterbachiana prefers direct, bright light.
Be sure to not come into contact with intense sunlight since this could heat the leaves.
Put your Alocasia lauterbachiana next to east or west-facing windows. If it is exposed to direct sunlight, hang a shade between the plant and the window so that it receives only the light filtering.
Soil
Alocasia plants love soil that is well-drained and rich. Soil.
Mix some premium all-purpose potting soil (think an all-purpose mix such as Black & Gold or Miracle-Gro) with a few ingredients that will ensure proper drainage for your garden, like some quick-draining succulents and cactus blend, coco coir.
To keep moisture in to hold moisture, it’s an excellent idea to include perlite or some peat.
In terms of soil pH is concerned, Alocasias like it a little slightly acidic, which is why you should aim for the pH of your soil to be between 5.5 to 6.5.
Watering
A regular watering schedule is vital to ensure the health of your Alocasia lauterbachiana.
One method is to allow that topsoil (the 2 inches of the top) to dry before you water it.
Use your index finger to place it into the soil to check whether the Alocasia (already) requires a second drink or not.
Temperature
Alocasia Lauterbachiana’s tolerance is not the most sensitive to temperature fluctuations. It requires the same temperature within that range as the average temperature of a household.
A sudden change in temperature of the surrounding area of the plant could cause damage, and the growth rate of the plant may be negatively affected.
This is also true when your plant cannot receive enough light (remember that bright, indirect light is the best to use for Alocasia).
Fertilizer
Make sure you use an appropriate liquid fertilizer balanced during the growing season. In winter, giving your Alocasia lauterbachiana will not be required.
Alocasias are known as heavy-feeders. They can withstand plenty of fertilizer.
However, it is advised to stay in the direction of caution when fertilizing as overfeeding can have disastrous effects on your garden, while feeding too little is not all that important.
Potting and Repotting
When repotting your Alocasiaplant, make sure you use fresh, free-draining soil. It is essential to divide the plant’s roots at least once an entire year to ensure that it is of an appropriate size and to infuse increased growth rates for this plant.
If you report, it is possible to grow your plant through the Rhizome division (offset division).
Repotting is best done in spring.
Humidity
Alocasia lauterbachiana thrives in conditions of high humidity. The ideal humidity is approximately 70%.
However, they will also handle lower humidity levels, so you’ll be excellent if they don’t fall below 45%.
Here are some ways to boost the humidity in your Alocasia:
- Place your plant in the tray that is drenched with pebbles.
- Join your plants with other plants that love humidity
- Now and then, spray mist your plant.
- Utilize the humidifier
Pruning
Alocasia Lauterbachiana care needs regular maintenance. Remove dead and unhealthy leaves of the plant frequently to ensure that it is healthy and vigorous.
It is also possible to cut down some leaves on the lower part of the stem to boost the plants’ growth rate.
Growth
The purple sword, also known as Alocasia Lauterbachiana, is rarely seen indoors.
The growth rate that the plant experiences depend on sun conditions, temperature, humidity, as well as the frequency of watering.
When the plants are cultivated outdoors, they will expand to a height of around 4 feet.
The plant’s average height is around 3 feet and the range of 3 between 3 and 5 feet (0.9-1.5m) in houseplant conditions.
The plant can grow large in a short time and is an extremely prolific cultivator.
Alocasia Lauterbachiana Propagation
Alocasia lauterbachiana can be propagated via the division of rhizomes. The Alocasia must have already grown to the size of a certain amount before propagation can begin because the root system isn’t yet fully developed in younger plants.
In addition, larger plants also produce offshoots that can readily be separated from the parent plant and later utilized for propagation.
To reproduce your Alocasia lauterbachiana, All you have to be doing is
- Gently remove the plant out of the pot.
- Then, expose the roots by gently shaking the soil. Sometimes, it’s challenging to get rid of the roots. In this scenario, you may employ the gardening hose to remove the soil.
- Find the offsets. Then, separate them from the parent plant.
- Now, make your new containers filled with new soil. It is important to utilize pots with drain openings.
- Set the offsets into these pots. Offsets already have roots, so that propagation will be quite fast. Give the plants drinks after they have been potting.
- Keep your new plants in a warm room. Pick a spot where they will take advantage of bright, indirect sunlight.
- After a certain period after which, you will begin to see the new growth
- Now, take care of your new plants as you would care for your mother plant.
Flowers
Alocasia Lauterbachiana has beautiful green and purple flowers. There is no specific time of flowering. When the plants are maintained in good condition, they will bloom throughout the year.
Stem and Foliage
The surface of the foliage plant is deep purple and dark green from the underside and has patchy stems. It is a plant with numerous underground rhizomes HTML1and stems resembling trees’ trunks.
The plant’s stems make up the plant’s body, and each leaf is one stalk. The leaves of this plant grow strong evergreen and have solid waxy, dull green leaves.
Dormancy Period
As temperatures drop lower than 45F, it causes stunted growth and leaf sheds are observed. The spring and summer season is the primary reason behind the faster healthy growth rate.
Toxicity
Alocasia Lauterbachina can be described as a dangerous plant. Its leaves have Oxalate crystals. The consumption of leaves would cause the release of crystals.
It may irritate and swell the mouth as well as the stomach, and it could also trigger breathing issues. It should be kept from the reach of pets and children.
Alocasia is not the best option if you’re searching for pet-friendly houseplants for your home. But don’t fret; we have the answer. Check out our post on 18 cat-friendly house plants, and you’ll be able to determine the best houseplants for your cats.
Maintenance
Put some alcohol or insecticide inside a bottle for regular spray on your plant to stop pests from attacking you, Alocasia Lauterbachiana.
Spraying insecticides can also serve as an effective cleaner for dust accumulating on leaves. It is also possible to employ a moist cloth to wash the leaves and remove spider webs or dust.
Common issues that are common to Alocasia Lauterbachina
Some feel that the plant is simple to take care of. However, for some, the plant may not be. Let’s look at the most typical problems plaguing the Alocasia plant.
- Droopy leaves are among the most frequent problems encountered by Alocasia lauterbachiana. There are numerous possible causes for this problem. It may be due to under or overwatering the plant, excessive sunshine, mild temperatures and low humidity levels.
- Pests such as mealybugs, aphids and spider mites are a different issue to be aware of in your routine care routine.
- Dark patches of brown on leaves suggest the plant is suffering from sunburn. This problem can be avoided by keeping your tree out of the direct sun.
Alocasia Lauterbachiana is a sensitive plant that could quickly develop common ailments like stem and root rot.
Leaf spotting is evident by the dark black spottings on the leaf’s surface and the development of yellow bands surrounding these spots.
If you’re seeing spots like this, the Alocasia plant needs air circulation and less watering to address this issue of bacteria-related leaf spots.
Dryness is generally beneficial when treating the plant in this kind of condition.
Pests typically attack plants like the spider mite. Soap solutions such as Castille soap are among the best methods to remove the pest identified as attacking.
Spray this solution on your plants once every three weeks. This keeps your plant healthy even if bugs and fungi do not plague it and helps keep it dust-free.
If you experience any pest problems, you could apply the neem oil and alcohol spray to guard your plants against pests and insect attacks.
Before applying these types of treatments and sprays, it is essential to remove your plant from the area before applying these treatments, as you certainly don’t want pests to spread to other plants in your home!
Frequently asked questions regarding Alocasia Lauterbachiana.
Which are those brown spots that appear in the leaf of the Alocasia Plant?
The brown spots on the leaves of the Alocasia could be due to exposure to the sun’s direct light (sunburn). If the spots appear dark brown or black with yellow bands around them, they could be due to bacteria or fungal infection. Regular plant maintenance is necessary to ensure that the plant is protected from diseases. Allow the upper layer of soil to dry before irrigation. Take off the yellow leaves and ensure that those leaves are free of moisture.
Why does the newly expanding Alocasia plant shed one leaf as it grows into an entirely new plant?
It could occur when it’s an undeveloped plant. A small and young plant can’t usually carry more than a handful of leaves. This is due to that the stalk is continuously expanding. As a result, as the stem expands the stalk, smaller leaves are more likely to fall off. A taller and more robust stalk can hold on to more leaves.
Does Alocasia lauterbachiana poisonous for pets and cats?
Yes. Make sure this plant is away from the reach of cats and dogs. Could you keep it away from children?
Conclusion On Alocasia Lauterbachiana
Alocasia Lauterbachina is a stunning plant. It has beautiful leaves with beautiful shapes and a colour scheme. You can put them into informal and formal spaces to bring a vibrant and vibrant design to any room.
These plants aren’t just stunning to behold and simple to care for and grow.
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