Alocasia Frydek is also known as the green velvet Alocasia or Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’ is a variety from the alocasia series popular for its velvety green arrow-shaped leaves and white veins.
Over the years, the alocasia frydek has grown in popularity among cultivators and can now be purchased online.
It is a beautiful household plant and can be grown indoors and as well as outdoors under the right circumstances.
The alocasia frydek originates from the southeastern part of Asia and just like the other alocasia plants, it requires a lot of light, humidity, and water to survive. The alocasia frydek loves moist environments and might experience serious damage in dry environments over a long period.
The Alocasia Frydek can be quite challenging to maintain at the beginning stages of its growth due to its fragile nature but as time goes on, it becomes easy to handle and the beautiful foliage it produces makes it worth all the stress.
How To Care For Alocasia Frydek
Caring for the alocasia frydek is similar to other alocasia cultivars. Just like the other varieties of alocasia, they require a tropical-like environment to survive. Moist soil with access to indirect sunlight, Constant access to water, moderate temperature, and lots of humidity.
Water
One of the requirements needed for any alocasia to survive is “sufficient moisture”. Alocasia Frydek requires constant watering but not to the level of being soaking wet. Just as it is in the tropical rainforest, alocasia frydek requires its soil to be moist but not waterlogged.
Watering the alocasia frydek can be tricky, as excess water in the soil can lead to root rot, and inadequate moisture can cause damage to the plant.
Also, the amount of water needed throughout the cultivation period will vary as it will require more water during the frost-free season between the end of spring and the beginning of fall than it will require during winter.
To beat this challenge, always water your alocasia frydek according to the level of dryness of the topsoil rather than as a constant routine.
The level of soil moisture can be measured using a moisture meter.
Light
For Alocasia Frydek to survive, it needs access to bright, indirect sunlight.
The source of light could be either from the sun or through the use of a “plant light”, what matters is that it is exposed to a source of light so photosynthesis can take place.
For indoor cultivation, the best location for the plant will be near an open window facing towards the east to catch the morning sunlight and indirect sunlight during the daytime.
While for outdoor cultivation, it can be placed in a shaded area that protects against the direct rays from the sun which can cause damage to the large foliage of the alocasia frydek.
Soil
Alocasia Frydek loves a rich, airy, and moist but at the same time loose potting mix that is well-draining to prevent excess water lodging. Compart soil mixture can sometimes cause Excess water to lodge in the soil for long, leading to root rot and blocking off the air and other nutrients from reaching the stump and roots of the plant.
A good potting mix such as one containing 60% peat, 30% perlite, and 10% compost should be able to provide you with well-draining soil. Also, ensure you drill tiny holes at the bottom of the pot so excess water can be drained out.
Temperature And Humidity
Just like how the tropical rainforest in the southeastern part of Asia is, the alocasia frydek needs a warm and humid environment to grow. Most alocasia plants survive outside the tropical rainforest as indoor plants due to the similar humid and warm environment most homes and greenhouses provide.
Alocasia Frydek needs a temperature of between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit ( 18 to 30 degrees Celsius) to grow well. As for humidity, locations such as bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms are humid enough for the plant to thrive.
A humidifier can also be used to provide an extra level of humidity to the plant by placing them together in a room beside each other.
Fertilizer
Due to the occurrence of dormancy in most household plants, fertilizer application needs to be controlled.
Diluted Organic fertilizer can be applied to the alocasia frydek every month during the spring and summer seasons as this is when the plant is most active.
During the winter season, fertilizer application should be stopped as plants tend to enter into their dormant state.
Applying fertilizer can weaken and burn the inactive root of the plant causing more harm than good.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary when cultivating alocasia frydek. But in a situation where a leaf is infected by disease or becomes old and dry as a result of newer leaves growing up top, you can prune them away.
And in the rare situation whereby the entire leaves on an alocasia frydek plant are damaged as a result of excess sunlight or disease, you can cut off all the leaves down to its base. The crown will regenerate and grow back new leaves over time.
Dormancy
Alocasia plants do go dormant during the winter season. This is a natural occurrence that enables the plant to protect itself against the harsh cold of the winter season. Alocasia Frydek requires a warm and humid environment to grow and winter is the opposite of that.
During winter, the weather is cold and dry which makes it impossible for the plant to grow unless extra measures are taken to provide the required temperature in an enclosed space.
During this period the plant might lose all of its leaves, and look stunted, and weak, but there is no cause for alarm because as long as the bulb of the plant is still intact, firm, and alive, the plant will rejuvenate in the spring season.
No fertilizer is needed during this period, and watering can be done when the top half of the soil is dried out.
How To Propagate Alocasia Frydek
There are two ways of growing/propagating most alocasia plants. Either by division during repotting or by growing the corms gotten from the root of the plant.
By Division During Repotting
This involves dividing the bulb of the plant during repotting. Ensure the plant has multiple bulbs with flowers growing on both before going down this road.
Uproot the plant from the pot with care so as not to damage it. Shake off any bit of soil on the root of the plant. Look for the line that connects the multiple bulbs and cut through it with a sharp knife.
Place both bulbs in their new pots, place them under indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist.
Growing From Corms
In this method, ensure the corms used are still attached to the root system of the plant or have their own set of small root systems.
Using corms that are already detached from the root and sitting on top of the soil can sometimes yield no results because they might be dead and it’s difficult to differentiate between healthy and dead corms.
To get started, separate the corms from the root system if they are still attached and uproot those with their root system from the soil.
Place the corm with the root part facing downwards in a pot filled with quick-draining potting mix. Cover the top with a plastic or glass cover and place it in a location with access to bright and indirect sunlight. Ensure the potting mix is always moist.
This process might take months to start seeing results, so you need to be patient.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Alocasia Frydek can be propagated either through the division of the bulb of the plant during repotting or by growing from corms.
No. Alocasia Frydek is a tuberous plant because it grows from a central rhizome making it difficult to grow from cuttings.
Yes. It is possible to propagate alocasia Frydek in water by growing them from corms. Ensure the part of the corm with the roots is the part submerged in water.
It can take between 4 – 6 weeks depending on the quality of the corm and potting mix used. It can also take longer.
Yes. Unlike other household plants, alocasia frydek can grow even after losing all of its leaves provided the crown is still intact.
