We bought our Portora about this same time last year. Because she was so cute, I named her Jill, and planted her on the northside of our home, in a protected area but the sun does hit her...and actually I think Jill takes sun pretty well, surprising me. Jill was wonderful for us, growing in leaps and bounds, until summer started. She seems unhappy....I've had to trim off her leafs. It seems to start at the older leafs ....turning spotty along the edge ruffles.

She gets deep-watered once to twice a week, with regular feedings. I think there isn't a bug-problem (unless there are grubs down there in the roots! yikes). The soil is a clay-ish-y, silty-ish and most probably on the alkiline-side in this spot. I amended it organically before planting....and improved drainage but maybe not good enough? I sorta think something else might be going on and not sure what. Just that I am attached to Jill as if she were my pet.

Jill needs help....and her little puppy baby-jill shows the same sort of yellowish spots on the edges, too. Sorta seems like a nutrition deficiency. Maybe needs cut up banana peels? Crushed egg shells? Used coffee grounds? I don't really know what to think. My friend is having the same kind of issue with his Portora---developing yellow spots. He loves his Portora as much as I do Jill. Please help us.

ThreePointTwoWhites said:

Surely you're Jill is a beauty. I can't help with what ails her but perhaps @LariAnn or another member can. What is the Aroid peeking in at the right of this image?

Evan, thanks for writing. I think the other Aroid is called an Alocasia zebrina "Reticulata" ....not 100% sure, so I nicknamed her Regina. It came from Lowes, labeled as houseplant. I kept it out on the back patio where it too surprised me with the amount of sun it can take. It's in a state of transplant shock (root disturbance) because I've moved it two or maybe it was three times into larger and larger pots. I didn't know it would grow so fast! lol. But this last time, I accidentally broke the rootball. I sorta think it's gonna be okay (I hope!!!).

Alocasia x portora is a heavy feeder and can take full sun, but if leaves grown in the shade later get into full summer sun, leaf burn can occur. Leaves that mature in the shade will not be able to withstand full summer sun without burn. I've seen that on some of my plants even when they are acclimatized to full sun. It is worst on very hot days in midsummer, as the leaf can get so hot that the heat overcomes the capacity of the leaf to cool itself. See the link below to view a large Portora in full sun.

http://aroidiaresearch.org/por...

Otherwise, Jill looks healthy - I would not cut leaves off unless they are completely yellowed. While partly burnt leaves may look unsightly, they can still help the plant grow. Cutting them off just because they have some burn is going to hold the plant back.

LariAnn

LariAnn said:Alocasia x portora is a heavy feeder and can take full sun, but if leaves grown in the shade later get into full summer sun, leaf burn can occur. Leaves that mature in the shade will not be able to withstand full summer sun without burn. I've seen that on some of my plants even when they are acclimatized to full sun. It is worst on very hot days in midsummer, as the leaf can get so hot that the heat overcomes the capacity of the leaf to cool itself. See the link below to view a large Portora in full sun.

http://aroidiaresearch.org/por...

Otherwise, Jill looks healthy - I would not cut leaves off unless they are completely yellowed. While partly burnt leaves may look unsightly, they can still help the plant grow. Cutting them off just because they have some burn is going to hold the plant back.

LariAnn

I feel the same as LariAnn. In lieu of the ground, this one is in full sun as well;

Oooh (((((Thankyou, LariAnn))) for helping Jill! You're terrific!

Wow, Homer! I love yours, too!! lol

ThreePointTwoWhites said:Wow, Homer! I love yours, too!! lol

Umm, Drew I can't resist. You do know it's dark in that photo, right?

dyzzypyxxy said:Umm, Drew I can't resist. You do know it's dark in that photo, right?

And......?

Well, your caption says "this one is in full sun" then the picture shows the plant in the pitch dark.

Ohhhh! Full night sun as well! LOL!

Does anyone have a shrubbery?

eclayne said:Does anyone have a shrubbery?

...a NICE shrubbery!

I'd like to second Lariann's comment!
The first thing I thought when I saw the plant in question was: that's a shade grown leaf, burning in full sun!

It happened to me alot this year!

My largest Thai giant is in full shade, it sydden took off! It popped a few leaves out into the sun, they roasted right off...I have others in far more sun, with no signs of burn!

I gotta say tho, my portoras hold 3-9 leaves at any given time, the less leaves they have the slower they grow!
It's the big ones in big pots that get the most leaves on them, but only if I water daily!
Once I slack on water for a week or 2, the lower leaves yellow and drop!

While your plant appears to be healthy, it looks ALOT like my portoras, when I haven't been watering daily and fertilizing weekly!
I tend to think that might help you get a fully plant!

You could also reset that tuber deeper as well, I love the trunked up look of it, especially once that trunk is taller! But usually I find they look their best when that tuber is a few inches below the soil line, plant it deep and alot of it will rot right off!

Thanks Swayback....I'm sorta thinking of either moving Jill....or surrounding her with more, and taller, palms and/or something (!) to help her. I really really really really thought she could handle sun, like LariAnn's. But maybe the sun in the area of Florida where I live is too harsh compared to LariAnn's area. Also, we don't get rain here, when all around us it rains.....it's as if we live in a donut-hole when looking at the weather radar! And so just like you are saying...maybe all I need to do for Jill is feed and water her more during her growing season.

I would careful!

If you plan to shade Jill more, don't crowd her! That will make things worse!

You guys still have plenty season left, I'd just up the water and fert, maybe heap some soil around that exposed bulb, not alot but some, and see how she fares...

I would strongly consider moving her to MORE sun!

It's highly unlikely she's getting too much sun, it's just that she's used to shade, that few hours of direct sun is intense, and without being used to direct sun, it burns her!

Mine roast in full sun all day long! And they are in pots! Not only that but they didn't even get repotted or fresh soil this year!
Our sun here is intense enough that my tropicals pout any enjoy day that's over 80, yet the ones I saw in Florida looked just fine! They get all that humidity I guess...

What's the plant size compared with the pot size Away?

I'm gunna say it about 25 gallon, it's a frilly faux clay pot from garden ridge, I'm not sure it says what size it is...

Either way the big ones are gettin repotted next spring, if not dropped in the ground...

Swayback, thank you sooo much! I'm gonna build up her base, just like you said, cuz that seems like a good way to start in seeing if her happiness improves.