Alocasia polly is a popular indoor plant that belongs to the Araceae family. It is also known as African mask, elephant ear or simply Alocasia. This stunning plant has glossy green leaves with prominent white veins that add an attractive touch to any home interior.
If you are a fan of this beautiful houseplant and want to grow more of them, propagation is an easy way to do so. In this blog post, we will discuss how you can propagate your Alocasia Polly easily and successfully.
What is Propagation?
Propagation refers to the process of creating new plants from existing ones using various techniques such as cuttings, seeds or offsets. In the case of Alocasia Polly, propagation can be done through division or stem cuttings.
Propagating by Division
Dividing a mature plant into smaller sections is one of the easiest ways to propagate an Alocasia Polly plant. You will need a sharp knife or shears and some potting mix for this method.
Step 1: Prepare Your Plant
Firstly, remove your Alocasia Polly from its pot and gently shake off any soil around its roots.
Step 2: Divide The Rhizomes
Next, divide the rhizomes (underground stems) carefully using a sharp knife or shears. Each section should have at least two leaves attached and some healthy roots.
Step 3: Pot Up Your New Plants
Now it’s time to repot each divided section in fresh potting mix in separate pots. Water thoroughly after planting and place them in bright indirect light until they establish roots properly.
Propagating with Stem Cuttings
Another popular way of propagating your beloved Alocasia Polly plant is through stem cuttings. This method requires less space than division but needs more attention during rooting phases since it involves removing part of the parent plant rather than just dividing it into parts like division does!
Step 1: Prepare Your Plant
Using a clean and sharp knife or scissors, cut off a healthy stem of your Alocasia Polly plant just below the node (the joint where leaves emerge from). The cutting should be about 6 inches in length.
Step 2: Remove Lower Leaves
Remove the lower few leaves from the cutting to leave only two-three leaves on its upper section. This helps reduce moisture loss while rooting.
Step 3: Rooting Hormone Application
Dip the end of the stem-cutting into rooting hormone powder before planting it in potting mix. This step boosts root growth and increases chances of successful propagation.
Step 4: Pot Up Your New Plants
After applying rooting hormone, insert your stem-cutting with remaining foliage into a small pot filled with moist soil or vermiculite. Cover it loosely with a plastic bag to keep humidity high around the cutting. Place this setup near bright indirect light until roots develop, at which point you can remove it from cover and grow as usual!
Conclusion:
Propagation is an easy way to get more plants for yourself or share them with others who love Alocasia Pollys too! It’s important to remember that propagating new plants takes time and effort but can be rewarding when done successfully by following these simple steps outlined above!
