Beautiful Foliage

Alocasia Amizonica  (African Mask)

I thought it would be a good idea to sway away from the flowering plants for a bit and maybe talk about plants that are bought for their beautiful foliage.  This is one of my favorites.  The Amizonica is one of a number of hybrids know for its marked foliage and it is easy to see why.  You can find it in many garden centers in sizes starting as small as a 6 inch pot.  The largest pot I have seen is a 10 inch.  They can get tall so be sure that you have a good spot to put yours. 

The Wikipedia definition of Alocasia is as follows:

Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous or tuberous perennials from the family Araceae. There are 79 species [1] native to tropical and subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia, and widely cultivated elsewhere.

First thing you should notice in this definition is that this family is tropical.  This means that this plant likes warm temperatures.  You should generally not subject it to temperatures lower than 64 degrees.  Keep in mind that it will also not do well indoors next to the air conditioner outflow. If it is subjected to lower temperatures it will go into dormant conditions just like any other tuber.  I know that my plant sat on my desk for 2 years and was very happy until I go a promotion and my new desk was under the air conditioner.  My poor baby was sick and scrawny in less than 2 months.  It still has not recovered to its full beauty though it now has plenty of warm sun. 

Which brings me to my next discussion, light.  Sitting on the top of my desk, my plant reached for the florescent lights and grew a height of 4 feet.  Though mine did quite well under the artificial light, most growers will tell you to give your Amizonica plenty of sun.  With leaves about a foot wide and 3 feet long, it will make a good floor plant as long as it is in a sunny location.  Artificial light used to supplement sunlight should be no farther away than 2 feet.

The leaves emerge from the tuber on a single stem which means that there is no lower foliage.  This would make it a good candidate for a pairing between it and a low growing plant.  You should choose a plant that will like a medium or low light because it will be farther away from the light and shaded by the larger Amizonica.  For a pleasing combination, also choose a solid color leaf like an ivy. Or as smaller leaf like a pothos.  (I will post pictures of these plants on my pinterest so that you know what I mean. Look for Kathee Kit  Jones and the board of the same name.)


Last but not least, I have included a picture of the flower for you flower buffs.  It is not the prettiest of flowers but when you see one you know you are doing something right. I found this photo at GardenWeb and if you click on the words you can see more.

 

General Care Abbreviated

Needs good light
Do not let it get chilled
Fertilize once a month
Soil should be damp but not wet
When it starts to go dormant - stop watering


Thanks for following my blog.  If you have any questions or comments please add them to the bottom of this posting or email me at houseplantsos@gmail.com  I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,
k.k.jones

 

 

Happy Spring

 

Lilies, Hyacinths, and Tulips 

Spring Bulbs are showing up in the stores in full bloom.  They are beautiful and fill our homes with promise of the summer months to come.  With Easter coming so early, the lilies, hyacinths and tulips are the ones we will see the most of and  I thought we should talk briefly about these and how to care for them.

Lilies 

The lily is a tribe of plants called Lilium.  It has 2 large families called Oriental and Asia.  The lily that I have pictured here is called a Stargazer Lily and has become very popular over the years.  It is a  hybrid Lilium Oriental and is known for it's fragrant smell.  This lily usually blooms in the mid to late summer so if you have received one as a gift, there may be a possibility that you can get it to bloom again in the fall.

First you will have to let the plant complete the blooming. This plant wants full sun and will need to be put there to help feed the bulb.  With fertilizer, the blub may continue to bloom for a long time.  When it starts to look bad, stop watering and force the bulb into dormancy.  We have spoken before about how a bulb needs to rest so you know what to do.  If this is the first time you are reading my blog, cut off the faded greens and let the bulb rest in a shady area.

You can make your bulb bloom again inside but if you have a garden go ahead and plant it outside.  Lilies are hardy from zone 5 to zone 9.

Hyacinths 

The other heavy scented flower that you will see at this time of year is the hyacinth.  It's Latin name is Hyacinthum but you will rarely see this used.  It is a true spring bloomer and is easy to start from bulbs that you will buy in fall. 

If you get a hyacinth as a gift, give it lots of sun and do not over water it.  Plants that are over watered may collapse from the weight of their flowers. 

I have read that you cannot get a hyacinth bulb to bloom again but I have seen them bloom many times when planted in the garden.  This probably because they are fertilized when they are in the garden.  If you want to try to get a hyacinth blub to rebloom you will have to be sure that you fertilize.  The best time to do this is after the bloom and before the greens fade.  After they fade you can cut off the greens and repot in fresh soil.  The blub should be planted 3x the size deep and in soil that has good drainage.  Keep in a cool place and do not water until you see new growth. 

Tulips

Of all the flowers that you may receive as a gift this is one of the few that I will tell you to enjoy and then forget about it.  A tulip will continue to grow as it ages and so if you are picking you own tulips choose one with short stems.  Most of the tulips you will buy in bloom will have been forced. and it b is not one that you can easily rebloom after it has been forced.  If you want to keep the tulip bulbs you can find a place in your garden where they can regenerate unnoticed.  It will take two to three years before you see blossoms again.

 
I hope that this posting has answered any questions you may have.  If you have more, please post it here or email me at houseplantsos@gmail.com . I would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,
kkjones