Alocasia Polly is an unusual houseplant native to subtropical Asia and Australia, commonly known as African mask, Elephant’s ear, or Amazon taro. This outstanding Alocasia is widely accepted for its stunning dark green foliage with silvery green veins. The shape of the leaves is like an arrowhead and have wavy edges.

The African mask, Alocasia Polly, also produces flowers, but they are insignificant and are not showy. This plant is focused on its sparkling foliage, not on the blooms. The flowers are of creamy white color with a light green spathe. Mostly, the flowers are no produced indoors, and they resemble calla lilies. Alocasia Polly can grow tall up to 2 feet and have a spreading rhizome. The rhizome of Alocasia makes its propagation easy, and they grow well in bright light and humid environments.

How to Grow Alocasia Polly?

Alocasia Polly is a fast-growing perennial plant with large leaves. A young plant usually has a slower growth rate, but larger plants can grow two to three leaves per month. They do well in summer or spring, but the leaves fade and start dying for dormancy in winters. After this period, they start growing new leaves again. When you want to make it part of your plant family, you have to propagate it. You can propagate through rhizome and grow Alocasia Polly as you want.

Propagating Alocasia Polly

As the Alocasia Polly grows from a rhizome, you can propagate through rhizome division. It would be best if you remembered an important thing before propagating the Polly plant is your plant has reached a certain size. It must not be young and have a fully developed root system. If you go with a young plant, the roots will be growing, and propagation will lose the plant. So, whenever you are propagating Alocasia Polly, choose a mature plant.

After getting the right plant, work on these steps for successful propagation.

• First of all, spread a newspaper or an extra towel on the table to collect dirt and take Alocasia Polly out of its container.
• If the roots are jumbled up with dirt, use your fingers and separate the soil to clear the rhizome.
• When the rhizome is visible, cut it into several pieces. The number of pieces depends on the exact size of the rhizome. You can decide as per the length of your plant’s rhizome.
• Let the rhizomes dry for a certain time.
• Now, take a well-draining pot of suitable size and fill it with good quality potting mix. Place the rhizome in the soil so that it is planted above the soil.
• Water the soil to keep it moist and humid.
• After doing all these steps, place the pot in a warmer place where the plant gets the right light. When you see shoots are emerging, it shows you have done all the things accurately, and the new Alocasia Polly is growing.

How to Care for Alocasia Poly?

If you want to keep your Alocasia Polly lively and healthy, give it thorough care and maintain its growth conditions.

Ideal light and temperature

Alocasia Polly or Elephant’s ear need bright indirect sunlight for the ideal growth. If you keep the plant in direct sunlight, the leaves will lose their value and leathery appearance. You can place it near a window to receive indirect light. If the window is south or west facing, keep it behind curtains. Constant shade or dark places also results in slow growth and discoloration of leaves.

As far as the temperature is concerned, it loves warmer climates. It thrives well in the temperature range of 65 - 80°F. If the temperature drops to 60°F, the plant goes into a dormant state, and when it decreases more, it results in the shedding of the leaves.

Watering need

If you want to grow Alocasia Polly and without any problem with leaves or growth, don't forget to water your plant. The best watering approach is to water a little often rather than pouring the can. Every time you water, check the moisture level with a finger test. Insert your finger to about one inch deep and check its moisture. If you feel the soil is dry, water it. If it is wet, skip this time and check later on again before watering.

In winters, do not overwater the plant as t goes to dormancy, and frequent watering can kill the plant.

Humidity matters a lot!

Humidity is the key to the right and robust growth of Alocasia Polly. If you maintain it, half of the issues are resolved as indoor places are dry and not ventilated. But if you keep your African mask in such conditions, it will lose the glossy appearance and fade with time.

You can use some ways to increase the humidity level of your place.

• Humidifiers are the first choice to use, and they increase the level to about 50%.
• Second, you can do it yourself by placing some decorative stones in a pebble tray and fill with water. Now place the pot in it, and evaporating water will humidify your Polly plant.
• Last but not least, grow indoor plants together to create a humid environment.

Feed with a right fertilizer

Use a fertilizer that is not harsh to the growing roots. As the Alocasia Polly is vulnerable to root burn so be careful when selecting fertilizer. Organic houseplant fertilizer is the best choice to feed the plant. If you want to use prepared fertilizers, use a slow-release liquid fertilizer that lasts for a long and dilutes before using. Fertilize your plant in the growing season to boost the growth. Feed every two to four weeks, and the best time is from spring through the end of August.

Prune Alocasia Polly

Pruning of Alocasia Poly is necessary to maintain its health and looks. You do not need to worry about the plant growth as it is a fast grower and bring new leaves. You need to prune dead or damaged leaves at the base of stems. When pruning, make sure you are using sharp shears and cut them at the right spot.

Common Problems

Problem: Leaves turning yellow

Reason and its solution: Improper water. It is not watered enough or overwatered. To deal with this solution, make a watering schedule and water when the soil's top is drying.

Problem: Alocasia Polly leaves are drooping

Reason and its solution: The plant is not receiving the right amount of light and water. Place the pot in a bright location and water it properly.

Problem: Brown patches on the leaves

Reason and its solution: The sun is burning the leaves of Alocasia. Place the pot in a shady area and the to indirect light.

Problem: Leaves edges turning brown

Reason and its solution: Mainly, the edges of leaves turn brown for two reasons—first, insufficient humid environment and second, the salt build-up in the soil. Mist the leaves several times weekly or place the pot on a tray of pebbles to collect water. Also, flush the soil with water to drain excess salts.

Problem: Leaves fading or dying in fall/winter

Reason and its solution: Dormancy period of the plant. Don’t panic, and keep the watering under control.

Problem: Mealybugs

Reason and its solution: Over-watering, over-fertilization, or contaminated soil. Isolate your plant and remove with handpicking or use alcohol dipped cotton swab.

Problem: Spider mites

Reason and its solution: Improper grooming and maintenance. Spray a solution of rosemary oil and water

Frequently Asked Questions

• How Fast Does Alocasia Polly Grow?

They grow fast and give new leaves quickly. They are fast to give new leaves than dropping old ones. On average, Alocasia Polly grows 2-3 leaves per month depending on the growth conditions. In contrast, the smaller plants grow at a slow rate.

• Why Is My Alocasia Polly Not Growing?

The Alocasia Polly is a tropical plant and needs a humid environment for ideal growth. If the air is dehydrated and you are giving poor humid conditions, your plant would not grow. Use a humidifier or mist the leaves many times to keep them moist and humid for healthy growth.

• How Do You Revive Alocasia Plant?

To revive Alocasia Polly, repot your plant into a container slightly wider than the last one and make sure the soil is of good quality. Use indoor potting mix and trim any diseased or damaged parts. Move your plant to a bright spot, water regularly, and don't forget to feed it.

• Can I grow Alocasia Polly from seeds?

It is fairly hard to grow Alocasia Polly from seeds as the seeds are sterile and do not grow for the plant's hybrid status. The only and most suitable way to grow the plant is by dividing rhizome and growing new plants. The best to grow or propagate Alocasia Polly is spring through summer.

Benefits

Here are the benefits of Alocasia Polly, and you can enjoy growing this plant.

• Ornamental plant with a unique shape that makes your place spectacular.
• Alocasia Polly is an easy to grow houseplant that you can also grow outdoors.
• You can easily propagate many new plants from a mother plant.

Precautions

Alocasia Polly is a toxic plant for pets and humans for calcium oxalate crystals in the plant's sap. If you have cats, dogs, or small children at your place, make sure the Polly pot is out of their reach. It is also not safe for horses, and if you have planted it outdoors, don’t allow grazing animals to ingest the leaves. If any pet, animal, or child mistakenly ingest Alocasia Polly's leaves, stomach or mouth irritation cause trouble. The signs of vomiting and difficulty swallowing are also observed after consuming the leaves of Alocasia Polly.

ALOCASIA POLLY

(Polly African Mask, Elephant Ear, Amazon Taro, Alocasia Amazonica Polly)

Light:

Alocasia Polly thrives in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. Be aware that they are not suited to low light or direct sunlight - which can scorch their leaves.

Water:

Alocasia Polly enjoys weekly watering sessions and frequent misting, keeping their soil moist but not wet. In winter, we recommend allowing the top 2’ of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot. This plant is not drought tolerant, and extended periods of dryness will cause leaf edges to brown.

Humidity:

Your Alocasia Polly will also appreciate being placed in a humid environment, which you can create by misting it frequently, placing it close to other plants, or on a pebble tray partly filled with water.

Temperature:

Your Alocasia Polly will thrive in temperatures ranging from 18-25ºC. Avoid abrupt temperature changes and cold drafts.

Fertiliser:

Feed with general houseplant fertiliser monthly during the growing season (spring to summer).

Toxicity:

Alocasia Polly is toxic to both people and animals - keep away from small children and pets.

Additional Care Information:

Alocasia Polly can easily be propagated in water because of its semi-aquatic, swamp-dwelling ancestors.

During the plant’s dormancy, move it to somewhere warm and reduce your watering until it starts growing again in spring.

Troubleshooting:

Yellowing or spotting on leaves: suggests the plant has been overwatered - make sure you allow the top soil to dry out before watering the plant again, especially in winter.

Browning edges: indicate the plant has either been underwatered or scorched by direct sunlight. Make sure your Alocasia Polly only receives bright, indirect sunlight.

Leaves fading and dying in fall/winter: Alocasia Polly goes into dormancy as temperatures drop and days shorten. Don’t panic if this happens, but reduce your watering.

Well ! Alocasia Polly is a bit sensitive to direct sunlight and low low light intensity as well. It's advisable to weekly water them up and frequent misting these are the simple mechanism of conserving alocasia Polly

Light

Alocasia Polly thrive in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. Be aware that they are not suited to low light or direct sunlight - which can scorch their leaves.

Water

Alocasia Polly enjoy weekly watering sessions and frequent misting, keeping their soil moist but not wet. In winter, we recommend allowing the top 2’ of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot. This plant is not drought tolerant, and extended periods of dryness will cause leaf edges to brown.

Humidity

Your Alocasia Polly will also appreciate being placed in a humid environment, which you can create by misting it frequently, placing it close to other plants or on a pebble tray partly filled with water.

Temperature

Your Alocasia Polly will thrive in temperatures ranging from 18-25ºC. Avoid abrupt temperature changes and cold drafts.

Fertiliser

Feed with general houseplant fertiliser monthly during the growing season (spring to summer).

Toxicity

Alocasia Polly is toxic to both people and animals - keep away from small children and pets.

Additional Care

Alocasia Polly can easily be propagated in water because of its semi-aquatic, swamp-dwelling ancestors. During the plant’s dormancy, move it to somewhere warm and reduce your watering until it starts growing again in spring.

Alocasia Polly enjoy weekly watering sessions and frequent misting, keeping their soil moist but not wet. In winter, we recommend allowing the top 2' of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot.

Hi Alice I'm Krizel. I also have Polly at home. Actually, it's not that hard to care of because it is very similar in care to other Alocasias, but it does have a few different tricks to help it thrive. Your houseplant absorbs a lot of moisture and stores it in its stems, so you shouldn't water too much. This plant doesn't rely too much on the soil to provide it with moisture. What I did is by weekly watering sessions and frequent misting, keeping their soil moist but not wet. In winter, we recommend allowing the top 2' of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot.

I have here tips if ever you got a problem on your Polly.

Light

Alocasia Polly thrive in medium to bright, indirect sunlight. Be aware that they are not suited to low light or direct sunlight - which can scorch their leaves.

Water

Alocasia Polly enjoy weekly watering sessions and frequent misting, keeping their soil moist but not wet. In winter, we recommend allowing the top 2’ of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot. This plant is not drought tolerant, and extended periods of dryness will cause leaf edges to brown.

Humidity

Your Alocasia Polly will also appreciate being placed in a humid environment, which you can create by misting it frequently, placing it close to other plants or on a pebble tray partly filled with water.

Temperature

Your Alocasia Polly will thrive in temperatures ranging from 18-25ºC. Avoid abrupt temperature changes and cold drafts.

Fertiliser

Feed with general houseplant fertiliser monthly during the growing season (spring to summer).

Toxicity

Alocasia Polly is toxic to both people and animals - keep away from small children and pets.

Additional Care

Alocasia Polly can easily be propagated in water because of its semi-aquatic, swamp-dwelling ancestors. During the plant’s dormancy, move it to somewhere warm and reduce your watering until it starts growing again in spring.

Troubleshooting

• Yellowing or spotting on leaves: suggests the plant has been overwatered - make sure you allow the top soil to dry out before watering the plant again, especially in winter.

• Browning edges: indicate the plant has either been underwatered or scorched by direct sunlight. Make sure your Alocasia Polly only receives bright, indirect sunlight.

• Leaves fading and dying in fall/winter: Alocasia Polly goes into dormancy as temperatures drop and days shorten. Don’t panic if this happens, but reduce your watering.

Well you have to be transferring it dont keep it in one spot place as the weather changes always notice when is withering or dieing that is the best care , That is check it in the morning and when the sun is up , it will guide you to note whether is doing fine or not. And respond by watering and keeping it safe.

Alocasia Polly appreciate week after week watering meetings and continuous clouding, keeping their dirt soggy yet not wet. In winter, we suggest permitting the best 2' of soil to dry out between waterings to forestall overwatering and root decay.