Caring Guides for the Rare Alocasia Beccarii
Alocasia Beccarii captures the imagination of indoor plant enthusiasts with its huge leaves and fascinating history. But caring for this rare tropical beauty takes dedication to provide the right warm, humid, shaded environment.
How to take care of an Alocasia Beccarii? Nothing significant. A temperature between 60 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity of around 80% is good enough. Indirect light, propagation, and well-draining soil are also important. Water when the top inch of the soil is dry.
Here’s how to help your Alocasia Beccarii thrive as a captivating centerpiece in your plant collection. Keep on reading for that.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Alocasia Beccarii
Alocasia Beccarii hails from the lush rainforests of New Guinea, an island brimming with incredible biodiversity. This exotic perennial plant awes with its extra-large, triangular green leaves dramatically pointing skyward. Delicate white veins trace intricate patterns across the deep green leaves.
Lime green stems hold up the substantial leaves that can grow over 3 feet long and 2 feet wide on mature specimens. Overall, Alocasia Beccarii provides a bold, tropical statement in any indoor setting.
This plant was named after the 19th-century Italian botanist and explorer Odoardo Beccari. He discovered the mysterious plant while traveling through New Guinea’s jungles in the 1870s. Alocasia Beccarii remains a scarce plant that few collectors have had the chance to add to their collections. Caring for this tropical jewel may require some learning, yet the rewards are well worth the effort for devoted houseplant parents.
Related article: 82 Different Types of Alocasia
How to Recreate A Tropical Rainforest Environment? 4 Things to Ensure
To unwrap the secrets to success with Alocasia beccarii, start by understanding its natural habitat. This plant evolved in the warm, humid, shady understory of tropical Asian and Pacific rainforests. Recreating these environmental factors is key to keeping your Alocasia beccarii healthy indoors.
1. Temperature
Alocasia Beccarii thrives in balmy tropical temperatures between 65-80°F during the day and 60-70°F at night. Temperatures that consistently fall below 60°F or rapid temperature swings can shock this heat-loving plant.
Invest in a thermometer and adjust heat sources to maintain the ideal range. Portable heaters or heating mats under the pot can provide supplemental warmth.
2. Humidity
Misting and humidifiers are essential for Alocasia plants to replicate the moisture-rich air of a rainforest environment. Keep the humidity around your A. beccarii between 60-80% for optimal results. Grouping plants together boosts local humidity.
Misting leaves daily and placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water also helps saturate the air with moisture.
3. Lighting
In its native habitat, Alocasia beccarii grows underneath taller rainforest trees that filter the harsh direct sun. For indoor care, place your plant near an east or west-facing window where it will receive bright, gentle, indirect light for 4-6 hours per day.
Sheer curtains further soften direct sunlight. Insufficient light leads to weak growth, so monitor your plant closely.
4. Air Circulation
Stagnant air encourages fungal leaf diseases. Use circulating fans to keep air gently moving around your Alocasia. This mimics the natural breezes in a tropical forest. Ensure leaves are dry before nighttime to prevent disease issues.
How to Provide Optimal Care for Alocasia Beccarii?
Dialing in the right amounts of water, nutrients, and pruning will help your Alocasia beccarii put out lush new growth. Read on for tips to keep this tropical plant healthy.
1. Watering
Alocasia beccarii enjoys consistently moist (but not soggy) soil. Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry and begins to pull away from the sides of the pot. Always water until it drains freely from the pot’s bottom drainage holes.
Use room temperature filtered or distilled water for the healthiest results. Allow excess moisture to drain fully after watering to prevent root rot in the tropics.
2. Soil
Well-draining soil amended with perlite, orchid bark, or charcoal allows excess moisture to drain while still retaining some helpful moisture. Use this fast-draining mix to repot your Alocasia every 1-2 years or whenever the roots outgrow the container.
Handle the roots gently when repotting to avoid damage.
3. Fertilizer
While actively growing in the spring and summer, fertilize your A. beccarii every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted by half. Reduce feeding in the fall and winter when growth naturally slows.
4. Pruning
Remove any aged leaves that yellow or brown by cutting the leaf stem near the base. Pruning keeps your plant looking its best and directs energy toward new growth.
5. Pest Prevention
Check plant leaves frequently for signs of common houseplant pests like spider mites, mealybugs, or scale. Isolate and treat any infestations promptly to avoid spreading. Sticky traps can help monitor for flying pests. Maintaining optimal humidity and air circulation lowers pest pressure.
6. Troubleshooting Issues
If your Alocasia starts developing issues like curled leaves, leggy growth, or leaf spot, review the care tips above to pinpoint any deficiencies. Insufficient humidity, overwatering, and chilly temperatures are some common problems. Catch issues early before they escalate.
Recommended article: Alocasia Frydek Care
How to Propagate Alocasia Beccarii?
Here are some tips for propagating Alocasia Beccarii:
Division
This is the easiest method for propagating Alocasia Beccarii. Carefully divide the plant at the root ball, ensuring each division has 3-5 leaves and healthy root sections. Allow divisions to dry out slightly before repotting. Keep soil moist but not soggy while new roots are established.
Rhizome Cuttings
Cut a healthy rhizome section 2-3 inches long from the parent plant. Allow the cut end to dry and callous over. Plant in a moist potting mix, keeping just the top half of the rhizome exposed. New growth should emerge in a few weeks. Keep warm and humid.
Leaf Cuttings
Choose a healthy leaf and carefully cut it from the plant. Trim off the leaf tip and cut veins on the underside. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder. Plant the leaf in a mix of peat and perlite. Keep the soil barely moist but not wet. New plantlets can take several months to form at the base.
Tissue Culture
Small plantlets can be created from leaf cuttings or other plant tissues under sterile lab conditions. This method requires specialized equipment and expertise but allows large-scale propagation.
Seeds
Alocasia Beccarii can be propagated from berries that form after flowering. Seeds have low viability rates and growing new plants from seeds is challenging for home gardeners.
The division and rhizome cutting methods are the most reliable ways to propagate Alocasia Beccarii at home. Take care not to overwater and provide warm, humid conditions for the best propagation success.
Related article: All Alocasia Propagation Methods
Displaying Alocasia Beccarii in Your Indoor Garden
Once you get the growing conditions just right for your Alocasia beccarii, it’s time to showcase this stunning tropical plant. Here are some tips for featuring it in your indoor plant collection:
Location
Place your Alocasia in a bright, warm room with humidity. East or west-facing windows are ideal to provide the necessary indirect sunlight. Keep humidifiers running in the room and maintain ideal temperatures.
Pot Choice
Repot into a sturdy ceramic or plastic pot with drainage holes every 1-2 years. Choose a potting mix amended with bark or perlite for drainage. A pot that’s 2-4 inches wider than the current container provides room for growth.
Staking
Insert bamboo stakes around the base of larger or top-heavy Alocasia plants. Use soft plant ties to gently secure drooping leaves and stems to the stakes. This provides support without harming the plant.
Grouping
Surround your Alocasia Beccarii with other tropical-looking plants like philodendrons, calatheas, or ferns. This mimics its natural rainforest understory environment. Grouping plants together also helps increase humidity.
Cleaning
Gently wipe Alocasia leaves with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust buildup. Take care not to damage the delicate leaves. Rinse off any soap residue after cleaning.
Conclusion
With its huge, artistic leaves and demanding growth habits, Alocasia beccarii challenges indoor gardeners. Yet devotees of unique tropical plants will delight in adding this rare beauty to their collection.
Pay close attention to providing warm, humid, shady conditions, and your A. beccarii will flourish. Achieving success with this exotic jungle jewel brings a true sense of accomplishment!