Alright, so, I’ve been messing around with these Alocasia plants for a while now, and let me tell you, figuring out how to water them has been a real journey. I started like everyone else, just kinda guessing when they needed a drink. Turns out, there’s a bit more to it than that.
Initially, I bought a few different Alocasia plants from a local nursery. They looked so lush and vibrant there, but I quickly realized that keeping them that way in my own home was going to be a challenge. My first mistake? Overwatering. I was so worried about them drying out that I ended up drowning the poor things. Yellowing leaves, drooping stems…it was a mess.
Then, I started doing some digging. I read everything I could find online about Alocasia care. Most places said to water them about once a week during the spring and summer when they’re actively growing. And then cut back to every couple of weeks when it gets colder and they go dormant in the fall and winter.
- So, I marked my calendar and started following a weekly watering schedule during the warmer months.
- I also learned that these plants love humidity, something my dry apartment doesn’t naturally offer.
- To combat this, I grouped my Alocasias together and placed a small humidifier nearby.
I started paying closer attention to the soil too. Instead of just blindly following the calendar, I’d stick my finger about an inch into the soil. If it felt dry, it was time to water. If it was still damp, I’d wait a bit longer. This “finger test” became my go-to method.
Adjusting for the Seasons
As the seasons changed, I noticed that my plants’ watering needs changed too. During the summer, they were thirsty little guys, sometimes needing a drink more than once a week, especially during heat waves. I made a note of this in my plant journal.
When winter rolled around, I significantly reduced my watering frequency. The air was drier, the days were shorter, and the plants weren’t growing as much. I switched to watering them every two weeks or so, always checking the soil first, of course. I almost killed one by overwatering it in December—lesson learned!
Now, after all this trial and error, my Alocasias are actually thriving. They’re putting out new leaves, the colors are vibrant, and they just look happy. It took some time, but I feel like I’ve finally cracked the code for watering these beauties. I continue to monitor them closely and adjust my watering as needed, but overall, we’ve got a pretty good system going. Watering day is always a good day. They’ve all got names and I say hi to them every morning. I’m thinking about getting a few more. Or a cat. Maybe both. We’ll see!
