Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang
La alocasia zebrina It is a species that draws special attention for its stems., and not so much for its leaves. They are whitish in colour with a series of wide black stripes a little over a centimetre long that give it a very peculiar appearance. So much so that it can remind us a lot of the striped pattern that zebras have, which is why it has that surname: zebrina. In addition, it is one of the largest alocasias; in fact, although it normally exceeds a metre and a half in height, you should know that its maximum height is about 2,5 metres.
But, as with this size it can be grown in pots throughout its life, as well as in small gardens. But for this I recommend that you provide the care that I am going to tell you below. They are special cares that will contribute to your alocasia zebrina is beautiful.
Choose a pot that has holes in its base.
This is key. While the alocasia zebrina (like its sisters) grows in moist soils, It is not an aquatic plant, but a riverine plant., so we should not plant it in pots without holes. The roots need a certain level of humidity, but if they are constantly flooded they will die.
But in addition to this, it is important that it is the right size; that is, let's say you just bought one that is in a pot that is about ten centimetres in diameter. Well, the next pot it should be in will be about 15 or at most 17 centimetres in diameter. Why? Because it really doesn't take up much space, and if you were to put it in a larger container (say 30cm wide) it would have a hard time with too much wet soil around it.
The substrate for alocasia zebrina It must be light
This is also very, very important to know. In gardening shops, nurseries, and sometimes even in supermarkets, they sell substrates of a quality that can be more or less good. Based on my experience, the lighter a substrate is, and more specifically the universal substrate, the better it is. Although, and logically, the weight will depend a lot on what material it is, and this may (or may not) be interesting for our plant, Generally, the less a universal soil bag weighs, the nicer it will be. alocasia zebrina.
However, you should know that there are other substrates, such as coconut fibre mixed with 40% perlite, which will also allow the roots to grow without problems. Another interesting mix is the following: black peat with 50% perlite.
Watering in summer must be frequent
More than during the fall-winter. And if you have your alocasia zebrina Outside, you will have to pay attention to the substrate, since It dries out faster during the summer. In fact, in this specific case, it is highly recommended that you put a plate underneath and fill it up. with a little water, especially if the climate in your area is very hot and dry. By the way, don't forget to empty it every 2 days at most if there are mosquitoes in that area, otherwise it could turn into a hatchery of these very annoying insects.
But if you are going to keep it at home, and given that in these conditions the soil takes much longer to dry, it is preferable to keep the dish empty, without water or at most with a thin film. During autumn and winter, you should water much less, about twice a week or so, so that the soil is always slightly moist but not waterlogged.
Add a little fertilizer to make it perfect.
When we buy plants we tend to neglect fertilization, but just like watering, it is very, very important to do so. alocasia zebrina Not only does it need water, but also nutrients that it acquires from the substrate - if it has any - and from the fertilizer we give it. But which one to use?
Since our protagonist is a plant that, although it will bloom one day, this is not its main attraction (or at least, not one that we can see every day), I recommend fertilizing it with a liquid fertilizer for green plants in spring and summer., following the instructions. In this way, we will get it to put out more leaves and grow a little faster. If you prefer to use organic fertilizers, the following are also recommended: guano, manure or similar.
Pests? Clean it well with water and a little neutral soap
Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang
Since alocasia zebrina It is a very easy plant to clean, in case we see that it has any pests, I advise you to do this: take a small brush, moisten it well in water with a little soap, and then clean the leaves with it.It is best to clean the stems with cotton.
If the pests return after a while, I recommend trying to clean it with a little beer. This way, your alocasia will be healthy in less time than you think.
Be very careful with air conditioning, fans and the like.
The air currents generated by these devices are great for helping us cope with the summer heat, but they are very harmful to the plants we have at home. That is why It is highly advisable to place the zebra plant as far away as possible from such devices, in order to prevent its leaves from drying out. without remedy. In this way, the plant can be well.
Also, you should avoid placing it in hallways and narrow areas, since you could brush against it when passing by, which could also cause the leaves to dry out and/or break.
Cut the dry leaves
Image - Wikimedia / Forest and Kim Starr
Although this is related to the previous point, I also wanted to tell you that you should remove any leaves that are dying (for whatever reason). This is especially important if you have the plant in a pot, since if left alone they could end up being a breeding ground for fungi and pests.. Apart from that, if the alocasia only has healthy leaves, it will look much better than if it has some dry ones.
This way, you will surely be able to enjoy your plant for many years. But… here is an extra tip: protect it from frostIt does not tolerate the cold, so if you have it outside, bring it inside when the temperature starts to drop below 18ºC.
I hope you enjoy your time very much. alocasia zebrina.