Hi! Quick question: does anyone have an alocasia flying squid and is it finicky? I’ve stayed away from alocasia since I really struggled and killed a silver dragon and dragon scale and a Polly back to back a few years ago. But now I’m eyeing the flying squid. I wanna get one because they’re so goofy looking but I’ve got alocasia ptsd and I’m scared I’ll just kill this too 🙃Someone talk me out of buying it. Or into it 😂
Life is short, get the plant (then again, maybe don’t listen to me, I have way too many plants lol) For future reference, if an alocasia dies back, you can grow it back from the corms! That’s what I’m doing with my alocasia Polly because I didn’t realize it already had root rot from the store. If you want a good “starter” alocasia to get used to them first, I highly recommend an Alocasia Wentii! Mine has been super easy. I have it in roughly half soil, half orchid bark and perlite. It’s helped me to feel more confident getting other Alocasias like the Jacklyn which I was nervous about.
7 likes Ugh I wish I had known about growing back years ago 😢 but better late than never I guess. I had mine under cloches and grow lights and watered with distilled water but somehow they still weren’t happy. The shop I’m looking at has wentiis too. Maybe I’ll get both as an adventure back into alocasias.
6 likes Yes! Here’s my Wentii. It was $5 from Walmart. Got it a few months ago and it’s already popped out quite a few new leaves (alocasias tend to let go of the oldest leaf when they grow a new one) I have it in a small pot (so it doesn’t stay too wet), well-draining soil, in an East facing window. I also left a couple aerial roots above the surface of the soil and I feel like that’s key with alocasias because they’re prone to stem rot.
Oh the roots thing is such a good idea! It’s looks so happy and healthy! Good find for $5 for sure
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That’s a pretty Wentii! I find Lauterbachiana is pretty easy going as well. It sits near a SE window. I’ve had it for 2 years and it grows better in the winter due to the 100 foot deciduous trees not blocking the mid morning sun. Likes direct (but not intense) sun. The drawback I’ve experienced with using distilled water is stunted growth. They’re still getting fertilized so they look good just slower growth with smaller leaves.
3 likes Thanks so much! 😊
0 likes I almost bought one last week. It was even in my cart as you can see. I was convinced that I could give it what it needed but I feel that way about all my plants haha. I asked the worker at the garden center: Flying Squid, how easy Or how hard? Her: they can be easy, but they’re hard for me. We looked at each other and both said: Alocasias That was enough for me to place it back on the shelf. 😂 However, it’s the coolest looking alocasia. I may have purchased it if I didn’t have my eye on some other plants.
That’s what I’m doing but virtually 😂 it’s been in my cart on Etsy for days and I just keep staring at it debating on pressing place order. They’re just so weird and fun to look at!
2 likes So fun! I mean… why not?! 🙃
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I want one too! I had one a few years ago that totally melted within the first month I had it. Turned out it had a death plug mesh that caused root rot. It also had no chonk or corms because it was so young and being strangled in the plug But I don’t want to say not to get one. I want to get another if I find a good one. My tips are: get the biggest one you can find (they never get THAT big, but starter sizes are really delicate), check for a death plug in the soil, and don’t spend much on it in case it doesn’t make it I know it sucks to lose a plant you’ve spent money on, but if it’s a goal of yours to improve your skill and knowledge, sometimes losing an affordable plant is actually more like paying for a learning/skill building experience. But be wise about taking risks on pricy plants. That’s my two cents anyways
4 likes Also, alocasia tiny dancer has a similar look but it’s like a larger scale version; bigger chonk, sturdier petioles, thicker roots, etc. Larger generally equals more hardy and more corms. So maybe that would be a happy middle ground for you to start with ☺️
2 likes Ugh… I feel like the one I found was beautiful in a 5” pot. Now I’m antsy but it was the last one and I’m sure it’s gone by now. Very expensive though.
2 likes That’s also my worry! It’s online and the price is only $13 so not pricey BUT it’s a starter plant. Only like 2” pot if even that. And obviously the discretion of the seller which they send. The seller is good so that’s not a worry, I’m the worry with it being so tiny and delicate. And ughhhh the dreaded death plugs. They make me so mad every time I get a plant with one.
2 likes How much was the one you saw if you don’t mind me asking? The ones I am looking at are only $13 so I’m curious what the bigger ones go for. You should call and see if they still have it. I would haha
2 likes It was $59.99… I couldn’t justify it since I had already gone back to McDonald’s garden center in VB for the 3rd time wanting this booby cactus 😂 It was $10 cheaper so… And yes, weirdly the big and small boobies were the same price.
Just here to second on the alocasia ptsd 🙋🏼♀️
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