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Alocasia 'Macrorrhiza' in zone 8?


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Posted

How would you overwinter Alocasia 'Macrorrhiza' in zone 8? I’m planing to buy one next spring but I try to avoid taking the entire plant in after summer since i already have so many houseplants. Does it grow fast? Can i just cut back all the leaves and force a dromancy? Any experiences? 

Posted

I'd recommend a Borneo King vs a true Macro.  Same look but easier, bigger, hardier and faster to recover.  The Borneo King might have a shot in 8a if planted deep, kept relatively dry in the winter and mulched well.  Or you can just cut the leaves off and store it bare corm in a basement.

Posted
  On 12/26/2024 at 11:51 PM, Keys6505 said:

I'd recommend a Borneo King vs a true Macro.  Same look but easier, bigger, hardier and faster to recover.  The Borneo King might have a shot in 8a if planted deep, kept relatively dry in the winter and mulched well.  Or you can just cut the leaves off and store it bare corm in a basement.

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I would love to have one bit A. Macro. Is more readily available here in germany. Don’t know of any onlibe sellers where i live that are 100% trustworthy and local shops only sell the most basic houseplants 

Posted
  On 12/26/2024 at 11:51 PM, Keys6505 said:

I'd recommend a Borneo King vs a true Macro.  Same look but easier, bigger, hardier and faster to recover.  The Borneo King might have a shot in 8a if planted deep, kept relatively dry in the winter and mulched well.  Or you can just cut the leaves off and store it bare corm in a basement.

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Do you think A. Macro. is still worth a try?

Posted

I don't think macrorrhiza is going to work out for you in zone 8 Germany. Growth on it shuts down in the 50s (15C) and it wants to rot faster than ever going "dormant" like A. odora. I could not get a variegated or lutea A. macrorrhiza to survive a zone 9 subtropical here just under 30 degrees latitude. It would try to come back during the spring/late winter but was not vigorous enough to survive more than a few years. For comparison, A. odora is practically a weed and all of its various hybrids grow fine too. 

Can you source Leucocasia gigantea (aka Colocasia gigantea)? It's super vigorous and would probably stand a better chance in your climate. 'Thailand Giant' seems to be popular but even the standard form makes pretty big leaves when happy. 

Jonathan

Katy, TX (Zone 9a)

Posted
  On 12/28/2024 at 6:03 PM, Xenon said:

I don't think macrorrhiza is going to work out for you in zone 8 Germany. Growth on it shuts down in the 50s (15C) and it wants to rot faster than ever going "dormant" like A. odora. I could not get a variegated or lutea A. macrorrhiza to survive a zone 9 subtropical here just under 30 degrees latitude. It would try to come back during the spring/late winter but was not vigorous enough to survive more than a few years. For comparison, A. odora is practically a weed and all of its various hybrids grow fine too. 

Can you source Leucocasia gigantea (aka Colocasia gigantea)? It's super vigorous and would probably stand a better chance in your climate. 'Thailand Giant' seems to be popular but even the standard form makes pretty big leaves when happy. 

Expand  

I think I have an A. macrorrhiza here (unless the seller sent me something else). It dropped all but the youngest leaf about two weeks ago, but surprisingly it is still growing a new leaf, albeit very slowly. It is in a pot on the balcony and has seen 7C already once. Maximum temperature today was 12C. Tonight apparently it will go down to 5C. Let's see.

In Athens and around you'll see many alocasias in balconies and they survive every winter, despite temperatures going down to 1C. Not sure what they are though, probably hybrids?

previously known as ego

Posted
  On 12/28/2024 at 7:28 PM, Than said:

I think I have an A. macrorrhiza here (unless the seller sent me something else). It dropped all but the youngest leaf about two weeks ago, but surprisingly it is still growing a new leaf, albeit very slowly. It is in a pot on the balcony and has seen 7C already once. Maximum temperature today was 12C. Tonight apparently it will go down to 5C. Let's see.

In Athens and around you'll see many alocasias in balconies and they survive every winter, despite temperatures going down to 1C. Not sure what they are though, probably hybrids?

Expand  

I doubt you have macrorrhiza but I'd love to be wrong. They are probably odora, gageana or many of the various popular hybrids like calidora. 

Jonathan

Katy, TX (Zone 9a)

Posted

It won't die. Just cut it back. If you want it to trunk, of course it has to be moved indoors 

Posted
  On 12/28/2024 at 6:03 PM, Xenon said:

I don't think macrorrhiza is going to work out for you in zone 8 Germany. Growth on it shuts down in the 50s (15C) and it wants to rot faster than ever going "dormant" like A. odora. I could not get a variegated or lutea A. macrorrhiza to survive a zone 9 subtropical here just under 30 degrees latitude. It would try to come back during the spring/late winter but was not vigorous enough to survive more than a few years. For comparison, A. odora is practically a weed and all of its various hybrids grow fine too. 

Can you source Leucocasia gigantea (aka Colocasia gigantea)? It's super vigorous and would probably stand a better chance in your climate. 'Thailand Giant' seems to be popular but even the standard form makes pretty big leaves when happy. 

Expand  

I don‘t really like colocasia gigantea because something about the leaves just doesn’t give of the same feeling to me that i look for in A. Macro.. I‘m planing on moving it indoors in a warm room but just want to cut of the leaves since i don‘t have that much space. Do you think it will recover during summer? 

Posted
  On 12/28/2024 at 7:28 PM, Than said:

I think I have an A. macrorrhiza here (unless the seller sent me something else). It dropped all but the youngest leaf about two weeks ago, but surprisingly it is still growing a new leaf, albeit very slowly. It is in a pot on the balcony and has seen 7C already once. Maximum temperature today was 12C. Tonight apparently it will go down to 5C. Let's see.

In Athens and around you'll see many alocasias in balconies and they survive every winter, despite temperatures going down to 1C. Not sure what they are though, probably hybrids?

Expand  

Do you habe pictures? 

Posted
  On 12/28/2024 at 9:48 PM, Denis.green.garden said:

Do you habe pictures? 

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Sure. I'd love to know what it is. It could be a robusta as well I think.

 

WhatsApp Image 2024-12-29 at 08.37.37.jpeg

previously known as ego

Posted
  On 12/28/2024 at 8:41 PM, Xenon said:

I doubt you have macrorrhiza but I'd love to be wrong. They are probably odora, gageana or many of the various popular hybrids like calidora. 

Expand  

Can you tell from the photo? I looked into my inbox to find the seller's email but I prolly deleted it once I received the plant.

previously known as ego

Posted
  On 12/29/2024 at 6:39 AM, Than said:

Sure. I'd love to know what it is. It could be a robusta as well I think.

 

WhatsApp Image 2024-12-29 at 08.37.37.jpeg

Expand  

Not a Macro as evident by the lack of an open sinus.  Colors are a little odd though.  Maybe an overexposed Imperial Red?

  • Upvote 1
Posted
  On 12/31/2024 at 10:51 PM, Keys6505 said:

Not a Macro as evident by the lack of an open sinus.  Colors are a little odd though.  Maybe an overexposed Imperial Red?

Expand  

You're right about the sinus. And yeah it does see full sun for few hours every day. However, the stems are only red on new leaves and as they grow they become green like the rest of the leaf. So I don't think it's an imperial red either. 

It is my second attempt to acquire a macrorrhizos and I always get smth different from sellers. Gets annoying.

previously known as ego

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