Alocasia in small pots

[John2468]

Hello everyone!! I have seen many photos of giant alocasias in small pots with huge leaves. My question is: How do I get my alocasia to get huge leaves in small pots? Do I give it more fertilizer and water? Thanks!!

Edited August 13, 2021 by John2468

[metalfan]

I think it depends more on the genetics pf the [articular alocasia than the pot size, nutrients and water. Some are just larger growing than others

[John2468]

This, I believe is alocasia California or maccrorhizos ( I’m not sure). I have 2 of the same plants, one in the ground and one in a pot, the one in the ground is 5 foot tall and has leaves up to 3 foot long. The one in the pot is 3 foot tall and has leaves that are 1 foot tall. They are both fertilized and water the same as the one in the ground, the only difference is root space.

[Keys6505]

How much sun do they get, respectively?  The potted one looks leggy, does it get any direct sun?

[John2468]

The one in the pot used to be in direct sun, but it scorched

Edited August 14, 2021 by John2468

[John2468]

The one in the ground gets 2 hours of dappled shade, due to the queen palm next to it, the one in the pot gets bright light.

[John2468]

Here is the big one.

Edited August 14, 2021 by John2468

[Keys6505]

In my experience Alocasia/Colocasia can be temperamental when it comes to what conditions make them really happy.   Not in the sense that they'll look bad per se, but just just general size and color.   Sometimes you just need to experiment.  For example I've had A. Regal Shields potted, in ground full sun, and in ground half day sun and I finally stuck an offshoot in a spot that only gets about 2 hours morning sun and it exploded in a few months and is the largest of all of them.  I have 4 clumps of C. Imperial Gigante all the same age and in the same dirt with irrigation but with different amounts of sun and the largest is almost 6' while the smallest is only about 2'.  Try getting the potted one some morning sun.  It may have scorched the last time from sun shock or not enough water as it will require more if it's in the sun.  I see the pot is black too, I've had a few plants respond well to just keeping the pot shaded while the plant is on the sun because the roots we're cooking in a black pot.  Moral of the story, just move it around and eventually it'll let you know where it wants to be.

[John2468]

Thanks for your help, also, should I stake it or let it, sort of “fall over” and let it crawl on the soil?

Something like this:

[John2468]

The trunk is actually leaning toward the wall and a bit to the side.

[Keys6505]

I don't think it should want to fall over as long as it gets enough light.  The one in the pic looks super stretched out, so I'd guess it was leaning hard to try to reach the light and was just too top heavy.

[John2468]

It grew the same way like my neighbor’s alocasias which received 3 hours of morning sun,