Alocasia Frydek is a narrow-leafed plant with a high degree of variegation. A beautiful tropical plant with satiny emerald-green leaves with white midrib and pale stalks with bizarre purplish banding. Very beautiful for a houseplant.
Alocasia Frydek Profile
Common name
The scientific name is Alocasia Frydek or Alocasia Micholitziana ‘Frydek’. The common name is Green Velvet Alocasia or Elephant Ear plant.
Growth and size
In its mature stage, the plant can reach heights of 2 to 3 feet tall. The width could reach 2 to 5 feet wide.
The Alocasia Frydek plant can grow rapidly. Best outdoors if grown in USDA hardiness zone 9b-11.
This plant is a native to Southeast Asia.
Usage
Alocasia Frydek plant grows well in larger pots. They can thrive in the summer months outdoors (June to August). You can place them in the garden, patio, front door, and walkway.
Relocate the plant indoors in the winter months (December to February). You can place the plant to complement the living room, bedroom, bathroom, and any other living space.
How to grow Alocasia Frydek
Light requirement
The best light condition for this Alocasia Frydek plant is a medium-light, a bright light location, and indirect light.
You can put them directly in front of a North facing window. The other direction would be the East facing window.
It will also go well if placed about 5 feet to 10 feet away from a South or West facing window.
Do not put directly to the sunlight. Just a partial shade area would be fine.
Soil
The best soil for Alocasia Frydek plant is a well-drained potting mix. It can also thrive well with rich loamy soil.
You have to make sure that the soil is dry before watering. This will help keep it evenly moist. The Alocasia Frydek may get a fungal infection if the soil gets too wet or soggy.
You can add your own mix with perlite or sand and bark to improve the soil drainage.
Temperature
The Alocasia Frydek plant does not like to be in a temperature condition below 60°F. They may actually die during colder weather and resprout from the rhizome.
The best temperature condition for the Alocasia Frydek plant is above 60°F and the ideal temperature would be 65°F.
You may need to relocate the plant to warmer indoor temperature during the winter months (December to February).
You must keep them away from cold drafts or they may die rapidly. Keep them from windows, doors or air conditioning.
Humidity
The Alocasia Frydek plant thrives well in very humid environments. They will tolerate a house humidity environment.
The best humidity level for the plant is between 40% to 50% is ideal.
You can raise the humidity level around your plant by misting leaves as often as possible.
You can also raise the humidity level by place the plant on a tray filled with pebbles. Add water until it rises to just below the bottom of the pot.
The plant will have brown lea tips and edges when it is getting fewer humidity issues.
Pot
The Alocasia Frydek plant grows great in patio and indoor containers. You have to allow a space of 10″ to a 20″ in diameter. The depth of the container or pot should be 10″ deep.
The best pot for Alocasia Frydek plant is plastic pots or terracotta pots that feature drainage holes at the bottom.
If you set the roots to be loosened, the plant would be taller and happier. At the point when the plant is root bound, it is the best time to re-pot the plant to a larger pot.
How to care for Alocasia Frydek
Fertilizer
The best fertilizer for the Alocasia Frydek plant is a ¼ strength of a balanced fertilizer like a 20-20-20, 15-15-15 or 7-9-5.
Feed the plant once in 2 months. Fertilize at least 6 inches away from the base.
The slow growth of the plant can happen when they do not get enough food.
You have to avoid heavy salts in fertilizers. Salts will damage the roots and kill the plant.
Watering
The best way to water the Alocasia Frydek plant is 2 to 3 times per week in the spring months, summer months and autumn or fall. You have to keep the soil moist all year.
They like to be watered because they are water-loving plants. Do not overwater the plant or it may get root rot.
You can water the plant once in 1 week during those cold winter months (December to February).
Pruning
The only purpose of pruning the Alocasia Frydek plant is to remove old leaves and keep the size of the plant.
Cutting off leaves will encourage the plant to grow big and full. This allows nutrients and light to reach younger and smaller leaves.
Those leaves are hidden under the natural canopy the plants tend to provide.
You might want to prune the plant during its growing season, except for winter months.
Repotting
The best time for repotting the Alocasia Frydek plant is in spring. It is when the plant outgrows its pot and only once a year.
You should place the new plant in a sheltered, partially shaded spot. Keep away the new plant from strong winds.
Re-pot in an organically rich, medium moisture soil and pot with drainage holes. Improve the soil by mixing in organic matter before repotting.
Spread garden compost or aged manure over a pot and mix it 12 inches deep into the soil using a garden fork.
How to propagate the Alocasia Frydek plant
The best way to propagate the plant is by dividing the plant during the repotting in spring.
Begin with dividing the rhizomes, or separate the offsets. Do the propagation in the spring months or summer months.
Delicately dig around the plant and lift carefully out of the ground.
Dig 14 inches around the plant to prevent damaging the roots or the rhizomes.
Slowly lift the plant out of the soil.
Brush the soil away and carefully divide the tubers.
Plant the rhizomes in a new pot. Use soil that is rich, damp, loamy soil and receives partial shade.
Provide a new plant with plenty of water. Keep them somewhere warm and humid and also provide them plenty of water.
Keep it warm and moist until new growth begins.
Pests and problems
The best way to avoid getting diseases is by avoiding over-watering, keeping the leaves dry, and providing proper air circulation near and around the plant.
Common pests of the Alocasia Frydek plants are mealy bugs, scale, aphids, and spider mites. You can control these pests by spraying warm soapy water, neem oil or insecticidal soap.