An Alocasia Polly is a hybrid plant with an unknown co-parent to the Alocasia. The Polly is high maintenance and honestly, a bit temperamental!
Although uniquely stunning, slight variation in its care may cause problems like leaves turning yellow.
Overwatering is the leading cause of Alocasia polly turning yellow. Other possible causes include low humidity, nutrient deficiency, fungal diseases as well as pest infestation. Plant the plant in new, well-draining soil and trim away any rotten roots to solve the problem (if any). Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage leaf growth and water only when the topsoil feels dry.
After problem-solving and figuring out which issues are applicable, it should be able to bounce back.
However, because of the plant’s high maintenance, it’s important to move quickly to save it from a place of no return.
Overwatering Leads to Root Rot
Regulating soil moisture is important for all plants, especially high moisture plants. It’s easy to see that an Alocasia Polly needs water and tries to compensate for that by giving it a lot of water every few days.
Realistically, this approach leads to root rot because of poorly drained soil where the water sits and puddles at the bottom. Ideally, you want moist soil, not drenched soil.
When it comes to watering the Alocasia, water on a weekly basis and don’t drench the soil with water. It should remain moist, not soaked.
During the winter, dormancy occurs when the plant goes into a form of hibernation to conserve itself. At the time of dormancy, keep your Alocasia Polly in a warm place within your home.
Additionally, you should reduce the amount of water you give your Alocasia but do not let it run dry.
How to Fix Watering Issues
One investment to make that may prove helpful for your other plants as well as a watering meter.
A watering meter allows you to check the moisture of your soil to ensure that it is within the perfect range of moisture.
Also, make sure that the leaves do not fill up with water, as this is harmful to the plant. Lastly, make sure that the soil is well-drained.
Another fix is to make sure that the plant is potted in the proper soil. An Alocasia Polly needs loose, well-draining soil.
Any other type of soil will surely create drainage issues from the dense packing of soil.
It is important for the soil to act as a filter for the water. This will help the roots get the perfect amount of water.
Be sure to maintain a regular schedule for watering your plant. Consistency will prevent periods of dryness or drought.
Forgetting to water your Alocasia Polly or being on an inconsistent schedule will turn into over-watering or under-watering.
Leaf Yellowing Due to Humidity and Temperature Stress
Due to the natural habitat of the Alocasia Polly, the Asian rainforest, humidity, and temperature are extremely important. The plant needs consistent moisture in the air to prevent the drying of the leaves.
Because it thrives in very humid environments, if you live in a dryer climate, then you may need to compensate in order to keep it healthy and alive.
Ideally, the temperature of a home should be low 60s (°F) in the daytime and in the 70s (°F) at night.
How to Fix Humidity and Temperature Issues
In order to fix these issues, try purchasing a humidifier. A humidifier puts moisture in the air by releasing water vapor for a dispersed feeling of misting.
This perfectly replicates the humidity an Alocasia feels in its natural habitat.
Changing the location of your Alocasia Polly may benefit the plant’s health.
If you have somewhere in your home with an adequate light source and better humidity levels, then changing the location of your plant may work in your favor.
Places such as the kitchens or the bathroom can be optimal for humidity. Bathrooms especially work well because of the steamy showers and humid atmosphere!
Another way to create humidity is with wet stones in a pebble tray.
Although these can sometimes be a little pricey for a few stones on a plastic tray, you can create the humidity with a DIY pebble tray!
Here’s how to do it:
- Find a plate or tray that is an inch or so deep and place the pebbles on it.
- Fill the plate with purified water. Not too much so the plant’s soil will absorb it, just enough to moisten the rocks and have a little bit of left-over water below them.
- Make sure that the tray Is much wider than the circumference of the plant so the evaporating water can surround the plant.
That’s it! You can use decorative stones to spice up how it looks and keep your plant’s space cute.
For temperature, make sure to not put your Alocasia in front of a heater or air conditioner; that intense hot and cold is extremely damaging.
Additionally, do not leave it against hot or cold windows because it has the same effect.
Unfiltered Water Can Result in Salt Deposition
In general, avoid giving plants tap water. Minerals that can be found in tap water are especially harmful in the soil of house plants.
This water often has a lot of mineral build-up and is known as “hard water”.
Minerals such as calcium, copper, magnesium, and sodium do not aid your plant in its growth.
These substances can create a buildup in the soil and prevent it from absorbing water and moisture properly. The lack of moisture is what leads to the yellowing or browning of leaves.
How to Fix Issues with Unfiltered Water
The best thing to do is to buy a water filter such as a Brita or others that you can purchase online or in-store.
A water filter, also known as a water purifier, can provide water that is mineral-free for your plant.
This will stop mineral build-up and browning issues. Additionally, you would be able to have purified water for yourself to drink!
However, water purifiers can be pricey and unattainable.
That’s perfectly fine! You can go to a local dollar store or supermarket and buy a few jugs of filtered water to keep on the side for your plants.
This is a cheap alternative and depending on the number of plants you have; you may not have to purchase these water gallons often.
For a more eco-friendly hack, check and see if you can refill the jugs at some stores such as Wal-Mart so you do not have to produce plastic waste.
If a water refill is not available near you, be sure to recycle these plastic jugs or repurpose them for growing more plants!
If you paint the outside, they can be made into a super cute planting pot alternative.
Pest and Diseases Cause Yellowing of Leaves
Insects plague all plants, no matter what the circumstance is. These little pests always find a way to make the lives of a plant lovers difficult.
Insects can do a lot of damage, including killing off plants completely, damaging plant cells, deforming stems, or the entire plant.
Pests common to an Alocasia Polly are mealy bugs, spider mites, and aphids. Aphids specifically can suck sap from plant tissues and create spotting and browning of leaves.
It can also end up curling leaves. As the insects suck the juices of the leaves.
Root rot, powdery mildew, and other fungal diseases disrupt the plant’s normal physiology, resulting in yellowing leaves.
How to Fix Insect Issues
A great anti-insect solution starts with stopping the problem from the root instead of fixing it each time. First assess why these insects are attacking your plant.
One solution for this is to keep the plant dust-free. Certain pest insects are their strongest in dusty conditions.
By washing off the leaves or simply wiping them off frequently, you prevent bugs while also promoting better circulation and reducing stress on the plant.
To inhibit these little pests, try an insect oil to kill off the bugs as well as prevent new hatchlings.
Low Light Condition
Good lighting is all the Alocasia has known its whole life. Sadly, placing the plant in a bright room and forgetting about it isn’t going to keep your plant healthy.
The key is filtered lighting within the bright room. Direct sunlight will surely cause browning and yellowing because it is too harsh and will synch the leaves.
Another issue to pay attention to is not enough light. Alocasia Polly’s do much better in poorly lit areas in comparison to an Alocasia but still need a balance.
How to Fix lighting issues
One solution is to place your plant in a room where light fills the entire room but with indirect sunlight. Another quick fix can be sheer curtains!
This allows a less intense light to shine in on your Polly. Be sure not to keep these plants outside because they will have no way to protect themselves from the scorching, dry heat.
As plant lovers, we all have the same goal of keeping our children healthy and beautiful! As long as we try our best, they will surely thrive!
Depletion of Soil Nutrients
Alocasia suffers from “starvation” of vitamins and minerals (especially nitrogen) if it is kept in the same container for an extended period without having the soil changed. This is evident in the yellowing of the leaves.
Soil Indicators Changing
In the long run, regular watering of the plant with tap water can alter the soil’s pH.
Alocasia prefers acidic soil, and tap water contains salts that cause the soil to become alkaline. Yellowing of the leaves is the outcome.
Draft Cause Leaves To lose Moisture
Keeping Alocasia Polly in a drafty spot will cause the plant to turn yellow and wither. Keep the plant away from drafty areas, such as around air conditioner vents or windows that let in cold air.
Natural aging
There is no pathology in such a cause; it is a natural and irreversible process. Therefore, there is no need to be alarmed if you see the lower leaf yellowing and eventually dying off.
Soil Composition And The Necessity of Repotting Alocasia
Planting alocasia in soil compacted and absorbs a lot of water causes terrible things to happen to the roots. They get stagnant water and don’t get enough oxygen.
The overall health of the plant and the leaf plates will be affected by this.
Therefore, it is recommended by well-versed gardeners that you aerate the soil by using a combination of sphagnum moss, crushed conifer bark, peat, coconut fiber, and perlite.
Before planting Alocasia at home, the soil mixture is disinfected, and a day later, the tropical culture is inserted.
Alocasia grows quickly with proper care, so young plants are transplanted every spring, while mature plants are only transplanted every few years.
You can move the clod into a bigger pot and fill in the empty spaces with new soil to make the plant grow.
Without the transplant, the Alocasia in a crammed pot has yellow, dry leaves. And in some cases, the plant can lose all of its leaves.
Lack of nutrition, critical in the spring and summer, has the same effect.
You can feed your Alocasia Polly with fertilizer when it is in its growth phase or putting on new leaves.
I always recommend using half of the concentration recommended on the package. Fertilizers are not required in the winter.