As the name suggests, Alocasia Low Rider is the plant that grows without taking up too much space in your garden. You can easily grow these compact plants and their companions with huge leaves that perfectly balance everything.
These plants are quite easy to care for, but make sure you follow a good caring routine that fulfills your plant’s basic requirements. For that reason, we have come up with the best possible guide to help you grow your plant stronger and healthier.
Characteristics of Alocasia Low Rider
We always recommend you get good knowledge about your plant before choosing it for your garden. Most plants look extremely beautiful but are quite difficult to handle and care for. If you know the basic characteristics of the plant, it is much easier to grow it without having any issues later.
Foliage
These plants contain beautiful green color leaves that only improve as they move towards maturity, but make sure that you provide them a good amount of water and sunlight to retain their magnificent colors for a longer period.
The pattern of the leaves is unique compared to other regular houseplants. They are heart-shaped with curls on the edges that capture the heart of every plant lover.
Height and width
They can grow up to 2 feet tall and wide. The compactness of this plant allows you to put it at any corner of your room without worrying about moving it to another place once established.
The impact on the room’s overall beauty should not be judged by their small size, as they can produce magnificent foliage colors that can fulfill all your indoor plant requirements.
Hardiness zones
These plants grow in hardiness zones 7 to 11, so please do not keep your plant in extremely low temperatures as it can stunt its growth. We advise you to maintain a mildly warm temperature to make the plant feel at home.
Toxicity
They contain calcium oxalate crystals that can be toxic to your children and pets, so make sure that you keep them away from their reach.
The ingestion of the plant’s leaves can cause severe irritation and pain in the mouth, so consult a doctor as soon as you notice your children or pets suffering from such symptoms.
Flowers
The flowers are quite rare in these plants and are not significant when it comes to the plant’s ornamental features. We advise you to buy this plant for the foliage, as it is really difficult to produce even one flower throughout the season.
Caring tips for Alocasia Low Rider
Make sure that you memorize all the tips we have listed down for the healthy growth of your plant. There are 8 basic requirements that you need to fulfill to make your plant flourish and thrive with its true colors.
Sunlight
Keep your plant in the partial shade. Place the plant where indirect bright sunlight reaches its foliage, but make sure that you do not expose it to the open sun. Harsh rays from the sun can burn the sensitive leaves of the plant.
Soil
Make a well-draining potting mix with the help of organic matter such as peat moss. A high concentration of peat moss will help the soil absorb water quickly without spending too much time in standing water.
Make drainage holes in the pot to allow the excess water to drain through the hole without damaging the roots.
Water
We advise you to water your plant regularly, but make sure that you do not leave the plant’s roots soaking in water. The soil must be kept moist but not wet, so check the soil every time before watering your plant. If you feel the soil dry, then water the plant immediately.
Temperature
Maintain a stable temperature range between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. A stable warm temperature is ideal for these plants to flourish and thrive.
These plants do not perform well under extreme temperatures, but they prefer to be on the warmer side more than cold. If the temperature falls below 60 degrees Fahrenheit for a long period, the plant will completely stop its growth.
Humidity
We recommend a high humidity level of around 70 percent to make your plant grow at its maximum speed. Maintaining such high humidity levels in a normal household is difficult, so use a humidifier to keep the levels stable at high percentages.
You can also use misting to improve the moisture level in the environment and keep the plant healthy.
Repotting
Once the spring season arrives and the plant becomes active, check if it needs a bigger pot to grow. Also, check the soil if it is in good condition. Otherwise, move the plant into a new pot with fresh soil and more growing space.
Pests and other diseases
Mealybugs and spider mites are the biggest enemies of your plant. We advise you to spray your plant with neem oil to keep the pests away from the beautiful foliage. Root rot can also be detected on several occasions if you constantly over-water the plant.
Propagating Alocasia low rider
These plants can be propagated by separating the rhizomes that develop underground and grow outward from the mother plant. The method can be performed with the help of a few simple steps below.
- Take the plant out of the pot and carefully remove the soil attached to the roots.
- Split the base rhizomes. You may also detect some offshoots so untangle them as soon as you detect them.
- Cut the rhizome with a sterile knife and plant it in a new pot with a good soil mix.
- Water the plant and provide enough indirect sunlight to make it grow quickly.
Conclusion
Alocasia low riders are compact plants that can have a huge impact on the overall beauty of your room or garden despite their small size.
We have provided you with the best possible guiding tips to keep your plant healthy and strong, so make sure that you keep them in mind before growing your precious plant.