Alocasia zebrina can be propagated in three different ways. This way, you can use your specimens to enjoy more elephant ears.

In a nutshell

  • several ways to propagate Alocasia zebrina
  • the division is particularly effective
  • Leaf cuttings are more sensitive than spring onions
  • Sowing elephant ears is time consuming

time

One of the most important aspects of propagating your Alocasia zebrina is timing. There are various phases throughout the year that are better suited for this purpose than others. The date also depends on the method chosen. For example, due to the differences between propagation methods, you cannot sow or divide the elephant ear at the same time. You should note the following dates when propagating:

  • Division: February to early March (when repotting)
  • Leaf cuttings: all year round (preferably over the growing season)
  • Sowing: after flowering (July to mid-October)

Notice: Divide the plants only when you repot them. Alocasia zebrina is repotted every two years at the latest, as it grows quite a lot in a short time.

Propagation by Onions

The most effective and popular method to propagate your Alocasia zebrina is to use the bulbs. These are the outlasting organs of the elephant ear, resembling an onion with a rhizome. They are easy to use to propagate Alocasia zebrina because they are easy to separate and plant. The success rate is very high. You can remove the bulbs when repotting the elephant ear:

  • Check plant for daughter bulbs
  • do not split or damage the mother bulb
  • Carefully remove daughter onions
  • mostly done by hand
  • optional: use a sharp, disinfected knife

After repotting the mother plant, you can prepare the daughter bulbs for their further development. Prepare the right substrate for the bulbs to establish themselves in. Excellent for this purpose is the following:

  • use high-quality potting soil or potting soil
  • high nutrient content important
  • permeable
  • relaxed
  • pH: 5.5 to 6.0
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Alocasia zebrina 4zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Use some quartz sand to give the substrate the necessary structure and permeability. At the same time, do not forget to set up a layer of expanded clay on the bottom of the flower pot to optimize drainage. Then plant the onions as follows:

  • Fill buckets with substrate and drainage layer
  • Place the onions in the middle
  • Roots on the bulbs must point downwards
  • cover with earth
  • place in a bright and warm location
  • at least 22°C is ideal
  • not in direct sun
  • moisten well
  • Check the substrate regularly for dryness
  • top up if necessary

Propagation via leaf cuttings

If you don't want to wait until repotting, you can propagate your Alocasia zebrina by using leaf cuttings. First of all: Propagation via leaf cuttings is not always successful, as they easily mold or rot. You need to be as thorough as possible with this method. When choosing leaf cuttings, do the following:

  • choose young leaves
  • should have strong stems
  • not dried out or damaged
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Alocasia zebrina 3zz, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Young leaves are preferable to older ones as they don't sap a lot of energy from the plant when pruned. You should definitely leave the large leaves on the elephant's ear. Once you have decided on a leaf or leaves, use sharp, sanitized scissors to cut them off. This protects the cuttings from infections caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Once you have the leaf cuttings, do the following:

  • Prepare pots with suitable substrate
  • Use substrate as for division
  • Insert leaf cuttings into the substrate
  • do not bend
  • Moisten the substrate well
  • keep soil moist for the next few weeks
  • do not overwater
  • use the usual location
  • at least 22°C
  • Roots form after about 20 days
  • repot next spring if necessary

Sow Alocasia zebrina

The most complex and longest method to multiply your Alocasia zebrina is sowing. If you do not purchase special seeds but want to use your own specimens, you will need at least two elephant ears. This is the only way that fertilization is possible so that seeds can form. This is necessary because the elephant ear is not native to Europe and therefore no wild specimens are available for fertilization. Proceed as follows to collect seeds:

  • place plants next to each other in spring
  • wait for flowering time
  • forms clearly recognizable flowers
  • don't cut
Source: Rohit Naniwadekar, Plant Alocasia zebrina spadix P1110645 02, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

After the flower has faded, you can see the rather large seeds. They are plump and have an orange to red hue. You can harvest the seeds directly from the plant and then remove the inflorescence. Once you have the seed available, wash and remove the pulp thoroughly. There must not be anything left hanging from the seeds, otherwise they will become moldy. Then follow this guide to grow new elephant ears from the seeds:

  • Prepare pots with potting soil
  • Stick the seeds at least 1 cm into the substrate
  • Cover dark germs well
  • moisten thoroughly
  • place in a bright window seat
  • direct sun is tolerated
  • Place in mini greenhouse or cover with foil
  • water regularly
  • Substrate should be slightly moist
  • Germination time: 4 weeks
  • at least 18°C
  • repot as usual after the formation of 2 leaves

Tip: You can also germinate seeds between kitchen towels. To do this, slightly moisten the cloth and place the seeds between two layers for the required germination time.

frequently asked Questions

What must be considered when cutting the elephant ear?

If you want to cut off cuttings or a dried leaf, you should definitely wear gloves. The plant juices of the elephant ear are not poisonous, but have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes. For this reason, you should also make sure that children or pets have no contact with the plant.

What are the causes of leaf discoloration?

Yellow or brown discolorations indicate care errors. In most cases it is due to drought stress or a substrate that is too wet. Waterlogging is particularly dangerous, as the plants begin to rot and, in particularly serious cases, die completely. Other causes can be a location that is too cold, which permanently suffers from drafts.

How long do you have to wait for the first flower?

Even if you have two elephant ear specimens placed side by side, flowering can take months to years. Since it is a tropical plant, it does not flower reliably in Central Europe. As a result, you have to be patient if you want to multiply your elephant ear from seeds.

Category:

Indoor plants