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Why is My Houseplant Dying

Hi Judy. Thank you for responding regarding my dying plant. Here is a better picture. Also Judy how do I cut off the drooping stems .?
Thank you Carlotta.

Hi Carlotta,

Green large leaf Alocasia Plant

Alocasia Plant

I think your plant is an Alocasia calidora which is a member of the Araceae family. It looks very similar to a tree Philodendron which is also a member of the Araceae family. However Tree Philodendrons usually have only one stem while your plant appears to have multiple stems. Alocasia Plants (and Philodendron) are very Poisonous HouseplantsIn her new book, Don’t Feed Me to Your Cat!, plant care professional Judy Feldstein shares information about twenty-five common houseplants, each with various levels of toxicity, and the possible consequences if your pet or child snacks on them. so please keep your plant away from small children and pets. I think your plant is having problems because it has out grown its existing pot and needs a larger container. Here are some other plant care tips for an Alocasia Plant.

Light: Alocasia Plants require very bright lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light. but no direct sun.
Water: Allow the top 2″- 3″ of the soil to dry out before watering. Keep the soil evenly moist. Over- watering, wet leaves, and soggy soil makes an Alocasia plant susceptible to fungal infections. Water less during the winter when plant is dormant.
fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.  : Fertilize an Alocasia Plant every two weeks from late March through September with a basic houseplant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never fertilize an Alocasia Plant during the winter.
Temperature: Alocasia Plants prefer warm temperatures between 60-80 degrees become dormant with prolonged exposure to temperatures below 60 degrees, and may drop all of their leaves.
Humidity: Alocasia Plants grow best in high humidity.
Pests: Spraying an Alocasia Plant with warm soapy water every few weeks helps prevent Mealy Bugs, Scale, Aphids, and Spider Mite problems. It also keeps the large leaves of the plant dust-free.
Diseases: When Alocasia Plants are over- watered or when the leaves get wet, they develop a variety of diseases such as crown, stem, and root rot, Leaf Spot, and Xanthamonas. These diseases usually appear as dark brown or black spots surrounded by a yellowish rim.
Soil: Use an organic well-aerated loose houseplant soil that contains a good amount of peat moss for an Alocasia Plant. If the soil in an Alocasia Plant seems a little heavy, add some builder’s sand or perlite.
Pot Size: Alocasia plants prefer to be root-bound in small pots.
Pruning: Quickly remove any yellow leaves or those that develop brown or black spots by cutting them off directly above the soil line.
You can read more about an Alocaia in the Popular HousePlant section of the website.