What’s better to have a plant that is drop-dead gorgeous but also perfect for the minimalist. Alocasia Mandalay, a perfect mutant of Alocasia Polly, is a plant with elephant ear-shaped leaves having white-colored streaks, adding to its uniqueness. This plant has double the number of leaves than its mutant. It is more compact and can form a nice garland.
This indoor plant is a perfect ornament that can be placed anywhere inside your house. It grows easily, you just have to provide it with little care, and Boom! It will be tall in no time.
If you are thinking of getting one for yourself and need a guide, keep reading, this post is for you.
Alocasia Mandalay Classification
Family: Araceae
Genus: Alocasia
Species: Aroideae.
Genus Alocasia
Alocasia is a wide-bladed, everlasting, rhizomorph that contains approximately 97 species. It is native to subtropical Asia, tropical and Eastern Australia. This genus usually contains arrow-shaped leaves. Also, there are many plants formed from cross-breeding. This species is widely used as house plants.
Features of the Alocasia Mandalay Plant
Size
It is an average-sized aroid. The mature height of this alocasia is 8-18 inches. Young leaves, on the other hand, grow to be 8-13 cm long.
Leaves
The leaves are Brunswick green with white stripes that run almost the entire length of the plant. The silver margins contrast with the forest green base, adding to the plant’s uniqueness. The leaves have a pointed shape with ruffled edges.
Drought Tolerance of Alocasia Mandalay
This species is drought-tolerant due to its elastic rough blades. It can withstand days of limited water supply. Once you don’t water it for an extended period, it will become inactive and cease development. You may bring it back to life by hydrating it again. Throughout those latent days, it eats the moisture that has been stored in its stems and leaves.
Resistance to disease and pests
Some diseases that afflict this Alocasia species include crown, stem, and root rot, leaf spot, and Xanthomonas. These infections are identified by blackish dots on leaves with yellow borders. You may avoid such diseases by not overwatering your plants.
Pests that affect this beautiful plant include scales, mealybugs, aphids, and spider mites. To keep these pests at bay, massage the leaves with a cloth soaked in essential oils.
Toxicity
This aroid has calcium oxalate crystals in every portion of it. If these crystals are ingested, they are damaging to the skin and cause dermatitis. It can lead to serious eye issues. Other typical symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, trouble eating, and the sensation of needles pricking.
Take precautions to ensure that your toddlers and pets do not consume the plant!
Alocasia Mandalay Care
Alocasia Mandalay is a low-maintenance and easy-to-grow plant. Even a beginner can grow this plant.
Below is a quick easy guide.
Quick Guide:
Water: Every Week
Sunlight: Intense indirect sunlight.
Humidity: Greater than 80%.
Fertilizer: Once every four weeks.
Temperature: 60-80 °F
Soil: Bog Moss
Now let’s dive deep into the care and maintenance of this plant.
Water Requirements
Alocasia mandalay is sensitive to tap water so, consider using distilled water. If you are using tap water, let it settle down for 24 hours and then use it. Water should be given every week or when the topsoil is two fingers dry.
Avoid overwatering the plant. You should use a drainage pot to drain extra water from the soil and keep it from turning mushy. Excess water creates water-logged soil, which can lead to a reduction in air gaps within the soil. As a result, carbon dioxide accumulates in the soil, creating yellow leaves, retarded growth, and blue-black roots.
During cold, as the plant grows in the latent phase, water should not be given repetitively. Once every 3 weeks is good. However, if you notice any change such as withering of leaves or parched soil, then water the plant more frequently.
Light Requirements
Alocasia Mandalay thrives in indirect sunlight. Harsh sunlight rays can cause the burning of leaves, so try not to place your alocasia at a place where there is direct sunlight. As the leaves need sunlight for photosynthesis you must not deprive the plant of it.
Using a shade cloth or dry grass clippings is good if a plant is being put near the east-facing window where there is direct sunlight. There is no need to use these covers if the plant is placed near a north-facing window.
Soil/Substrate Requirements
The plant thrives in slightly acidic soil with pH levels ranging from 5.6 to 6.5. It is necessary to utilize well-draining, well-aerated, porous soil.
Bog moss or sphagnum moss is an excellent addition to soil because it moistens it and helps with soil drainage. It meets the nutritional and moisture requirements of the roots. For improved ventilation, Granite Gravel, Pumice, and Styrofoam can be utilized. The greater the ventilation, the healthier the roots.
Humidity Requirements
This plant needs little dried soil but the atmosphere they need is quite humid. Its origin is the forests, where it is usually beneath a tree-made pavilion. This indicates that the air is extremely moist where they often grow.
To ensure that this plant grows healthily even away from the forest, you must provide it with very high humidity, preferably higher than 80%. You can use a humidifier or a pebble tray for this purpose. Placing the plant inside the terrarium might also help it retain its hydration and increase moisture in the air.
Fertilizer Requirements
Alocasia Mandalay needs a greater quantity of fertilizer to grow so you should fertilize every month. You should use a water-based fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizer is also beneficial as the nutrients will then be available for a larger period for the plant.
If your houseplants aren’t flourishing properly, fertilizing them will only assist if a nutrient deficient is the root of the issue. Plants planted in poorly draining soil, under direct sunlight, or in competition with tree roots will not react to fertilizer.
Temperature Requirements
Just like other tropical plants, Alocasia Mandalay also needs a high temperature to thrive. The optimum temperature requirement is 18-25ºC. But try to protect the plant from harsh temperatures and heat stroke.
Pruning Requirements
This plant needs regular pruning for its appearance. Springtime is the best time for this plant to cut down its extra leaves, stems, and branches. The leaves have the ability to spread out quickly.
You should try to cut yellow dried-out leaves with the sterilized trimmer. Just cut out only yellow withered leaves. Avoid cutting fresh leaves as it will damage the plant. The sterilized scissors will help in keeping the pests and diseases under control.
Repotting Requirements
There is no requirement for this plant to be re-potted every year. So, re-pot only when the plant is big enough to not be able to fit inside the smaller pot. Only then transfer it to another pot.
The only thing that you must remember while repotting the plant is to use a pot with drainage holes so there is minimum danger of root rot.
Propagation Of Alocasia Mandalay
Alocasia Mandalay can be propagated in a variety of ways, including seeds, divisions, and offsets. This plant’s seeds can be collected from its berries. Once the seeds have been removed, soak them overnight before planting them in a newly prepared pot. You’ll get a baby Alocasia Mandalay this way. You can watch it grow from the beginning.
Through Seeds:
- In the first step, Remove the seedlings and soak them for 12-24 hours.
- Now, sow them in soil enriched with peat moss.
- Give it proper distilled water and temperature above 75-85F.
- Don’t forget the humidifier!
- Move the dish to a place with indirect but strong light after sprouts emerge, which may take up to three months after implantation.
- As sprouts will appear within 2-6 weeks. You can now put it inside a new plant pot and wait for it to grow.
Through Divisions:
You can always propagate by divisions if you don’t have the patience to cultivate a little seed. This exercise is best done in the early spring or summer.
- Remove a healthy plant from its container.
- Excess soil should be shaken off.
- Gently disentangle the roots with your fingertips.
- Cut 1/3 of the plant, from the branches to the roots, with a sharp knife.
- Check for healthy rhizomes in both parts.
- Both portions should be planted in separate pots.
- Keep them both in a well-lit area.
- It will take a week or two for these to recover from their shock and begin growing again.
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Conclusion
The Alocasia Mandalay commonly referred to as the African Mask plant is a lovely plant that may become very big if provided sufficient moisture and additional sunlight throughout the winter season. Now what is interesting about it is that it’s a miniature version of other well-known Alocasia Polly, but this variation is known to hold onto more foliage than the other one, providing it a much fuller effect. Its distinctive leaves render this an intriguing houseplant and much more so in the garden.
