The reason why Alocasia cuprea doesn't have a large root system is because, in it's native Sarawak home for example the topography is marked by karst mountain chains. Here, A. cuprea roots among the rocky forest floor, typically on slopes so it has little use for deep, penetrative roots. Relying instead on hoovering up whatever antescedent moisture which it stores by having huge, thick, leathery leaves.
I can add some useful advice into this video, as I'm a one-trick alocasia growers (mostly jewel alocasias). Root rot and pests are the two main things that you should be prepared for. + For substrate, I personally use pumice, leca and activated charcoal, they dont hold too much water. I've tried many growing media, it's really difficult. + They don't like "complete soak" method of watering. You should water them bit by bit, for me it's weekly. Just enough water to moisten the substrate. Wipe the leaves weekly or bi-weekly, it helps with the pests
@Deven, what else do you mix with the leca and pumice for growing substrate? Which nutrients are you using and how frequently if you don’t mind sharing? Light conditions?
Wiping down the leaves weekly and checking them every few days for spider mites is a must!!! Spider mites have always been my #1 issue with Alocasia (Colocasias too) and they are a nightmare! Consistency is key to keeping them at bay.
I keep my alocasias in a glass vessels with a leca reservoir, and I mixed a bit of soil in with my aroid mix instead of coco coir for these cuz soil makes it easier to tell how moist/dry it is in there
@@Naeou this is a really temporary way of growing jewel alocasias. They don't have water roots, you'll have to reposition them higher than the water reservoir again and again through the years. My advice is to just grow them in a pot with holes, no reservoir, and with pumice / leca
@@devenandplants7253 Have you experienced any issues with your alocasias taking up nutrients from the pumice? I read that it doesn’t have a good exchange. Maybe that is why you are mixing leca and pumice together (if I’m understanding correctly). Are you adding anything else in the substrate? I’m purchasing one of these and wish to set up the right way early for best results. Thanks!
Looking at that gorgeous Alocasia makes me happy, but I'm even MORE so watching your cat enjoy his no-frills, "this-is-what-a cat-actually-dreams-of" cardboard box.
I had never heard of the Cuprea until recently seeing (and purchasing!) one at a nursery, now all of a sudden I see them everywhere! They’re stunning!! It reminds me of the colour change paint jobs on fancy cars! Incredible nature made this!!??
First of all....YOUR KITTY BEAR IS ADORABLE 😢....BEAUTIFUL COAT!! Secondly I love your accent so I had to listen...and thirdly YOUR PLANTS ARE GORG!!! I just got a red secret, black velvet, Melo and Amazonica! I'm absolutely in love with them all....thanks for sharing!!!
WOW! I love how you showed us what it looks like per month until it got to its amazing sis now. The leaves of this alocasia is amazing! Thank you for all the care and tips of this beautiful plant.
Brad's side eye at 1:15 from his cardboard box 😂😂😂 Cupreas are popping up every where for me, I am so tempted to get one! At first I didn't like them because they remind me of Predator, but now I kinda enjoying being creeped out by them - maybe its the spooky season, idk!
I have found Cuprea to be the last alocasia to “give up the ghost”. It is vertically just as finicky but tends to hold onto life better than others… and I have run this test multiple times lol.
I'm baaackkk after a quick trip to Bunnings. Quick, yer right 😂 . Had to look at this video for a reminder on Alocasia. I picked up a clearance, needs a lot of love, Alocasia Sinuata😂🎉❤. Fingers 🤞 🤞
Hi mate, I'm from Sydney Australia too, leaving in Philippines for now.I love your videos. Everyday I'm watching you. I'm amazed on how you take care of your plants that's why I'm one of your subscribers now😁😁😁. You're doing a great job and now I'm trying to follow your footsteps 👣.... we're here in Philippines humid country all year round.
Brad is loving his box! I love how cats love the boxes! Glad to know your name....but I do not know how to spell it?? Please tell me if you would :) What a sight to behold...love this alocasia....I pretty much collect them...I have a dragons breath ordered....from Florida...but the hurricane down there....I am guessing that is why it has not shipped :) I have one alocasia that is huge for years now all year long....it is why I love them all now....I just got a new tiny dancer.....had a smaller one before that did not make it....well after watching this we all have hope what ours could look like someday :) the Jacklynn you have is pretty pricey over here still...maybe someday I could add it if the price drops.....well another show stopper and I am so happy for you and thanks for making us happy out here us internationals! Happy days loving your channel :) My cuprea has 2 leaves and still alive after I snapped it!
Sydney Plant Guy and a cat name Brad 🪴😺👋 Think I've got a young cuprea. Bought it from my local garden centre as a alocasia mix. It's in a 2" pot and growing well. I feed all my plants GT Formulex Nutrient Solution and the plants seem to love it. Also, keep it under a grow light with my other alocasia's. For plant care, I'm learning a lot from your content. Often wondered what your name is, but now I know, to me you will still be Sydney Plant Guy. Once again thank you for another informed video.
Okayyy that makes more sense. My cuprea is massive and flailing all over the place. I was gonna give it a “necklace” but I was worried it wouldn’t like it. But of all my Alocasias it’s by far the easiest/most rewarding. Wayyy easier than any poly I’ve had which no one believes me but 🤷♀️
Hi Sir, ive grown all kind of Alocasia in leca apart from the African monkey mask that did not like it, so thats back in soil. Great tips thankyou for sharing, much appreciated from England 🇬🇧
I only water my Alocasias every 7 to 10 days, depending on what the soil looks and feels like. I have only been using super thrive to feed them, but would like to find something that may work a little better for them. My Cuprea seems to be putting out newer and bigger leaves every week ever since I got it. I'm going to have to put it in my Ikea greenhouse cabinet soon once it stars getting cooler out, but I'm afraid to move it.
Your Cuprea is beautiful ❤ I got a sad dying one a month ago at a fair cheap price. Cut off the flower and unhealthy leaves, it s growing new roots and shoot now 😊
@@sydneyplantguy hi, I have a question regarding fertilizer. I wonder if iron supplement is helpful in houseplants like calathea and alocasia. People use iron in lawns.. what do u think 🤔 ?
And then there's me, with a two year old reginula, that dropped her only one leaf and went into dormancy. Will probably wake up again next year in May, will have a leaf at a time while slowly growing her corm. I think I will end up cooking the corm!
@@berlinaroids Ahahaha sorry about that! But it helps knowing we're in a club! And you have me rethinking that idea of getting an alocasia melo (stunning, I think, but expensive)
@@sydneyplantguy absolutely. It's not my first one though, I have a few ones that are thriving, yet this one ... A real mystery to me as it was well established with plenty leafs and so. But then again there's something I must have done wrong. Yet again, I agree with what you said in another video: it's only nothing bad if u learned from it 🤣🤷
That was a very good point about the lighting of the camera. Mine is “purplish/green” at all times, but I noticed one is turning more green. Do you think that is age of the leaf?
You may have created a video for this (I haven't looked yet), but you've mentioned your Ikea cabinet in a few videos. What is its set up? You mentioned a light system and a humidity/heat system. I think I might be interested in trying doing a cabinet.
I bought one because yours is so beautiful but I'm not sure about the droopy leaves. As new leaves grow it seems to get stronger but its sure not my favourite.
So Jan, what would happen if you approached GT Australia Foliage Focus liquid nutrients (the Company) and showed them how many people subscribe to your channel, that would be definitely interested in international shipping of their product? Perhaps provide a link through your channel for that shipping to begin with at least. I bet you anything that you would get a sponsor.... Perhaps to save rare plant species? Bring attention to the Sarawak rainforest being cut down (because of course it's being cut down!) Start your own brand of Alocasias and Monsteras? I don't know what kind of direction you want to take your hobby/career (at this point it's growing so fast!).... You can grow and the plant fertilizer company can grow. That's the kind of cool business venture RU-vid does so well. I hope you think about it. And do provide a link to the IKEA grow box and perhaps gain them as a sponsor....or design a box specifically for Alocasias for them? All kinds of happy stuff are flowing through my brain for your plants and you! Hello to your lovely Brad cat! 💞😸 I'm going to put a reference to other RU-vid channels here that will provide a model for what I'm talking about.
Hey Ellen :) sponsorships are definitely something I will explore eventually :) the fertiliser company knows how much the international crowd wants their product. It’s an import/licensing issue I believe but they are slowly expanding to different markets :)
There are two types of cuprea one that is much redder then yours called red secret and then yours which is more green. There are just those two varieties I know of. I have the one that is more red, purple, and copper colored
Hey Jan :) just wanted to know what soil medium you are using for your alocasias? Is it the same avoid mix that your using for your aroids? Thanks so much:)
Regarding how we can cool the plants in the hot summer, when we are not at home and without using the air conditioner, I would appreciate it if you have any suggestions. Thanks
Unless it’s over 35 degrees inside I wouldn’t see the need to cool them down…unless you are growing cool climate plants…. Even botanic gardens have to use aircon for their cool climate greenhouses
My Cuprea outgrew it’s nursery pot, repotted it to a 2 inch bigger pot and viola all leaf fell one remained, used cocopeat, rice hull, pumice, carbonized rice hull, coco chunks and worm casting. I live in the Philippines it’s former medium is the same. I don’t know what to do. I Need help 🙃
Hey Jan! I wonder if you have German ancestry or even are German yourself. I hope you do not think of this question to be insensitive! Greetings from Berlin! :)
Just anthurium hybrids :) Anthurium pollination - from inflorescence to a lush pot of seedlings ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y0jrC5dxJPc.html
I have to find clever ways to keep my plants off the floor and out of my cat's reach so he doesn't munch on them. Do you ever have that issue with your cat? If so, how do you deal with it?
Thanks so much for ur advice. My silver dragon died and my dragon scale is currently recovering. I bought a cuprea bc I wanted a second chance I’m sure your advice would work bc I would most it constantly thinking it needed more humidity or even water during dormancy
Finally i found this plant on amazon but the leafs are dark purple in the image shown so is that a different variety or initially the leaf is purplish and when it matures it turns greenish like your??
@@sydneyplantguy but your leafs looks greenish in the video. Is it greenish in real also? And were they purplish initially? I am talking about the front side color.
Happy New Year all! Wonder if anyone can advise me. I’m based in Singapore (tropical and humid). Just got a pot of gorgeous Cuprea and new leaf appearing. However the leaves are all dropping downwards. Am using chunky aroid mix and watering through weekly. Places near high rise window area so yes to indirect sun. Any idea why leaves are facing downwards? Stems are firm thou
