How would they do in orchid bark mix? Would that be too airy? Or would they be happier in a barky mix with a little peat and this and that thrown in? Thank you. I know I'm not going to put them into straight miracle grow, so I'm all ears

My Jewel mix is more like "a barky mix with a little peat and this and that thrown in".. Jewels don't mind a little peat but they just can't tolerate being moist all the time. I usually recommend letting them get almost dry before watering again, and never allow them to be drenched by a rain shower unless you are ready to lose them.

Right now, my growing area is so warm that A. polly is drying in a day, but I was interested in getting something different, like cuprea or reginula. The polly is planted in a mostly composted bark looking medium. I haven't changed it and they seem happy. Anyway I would love to grow them, not bury them, so thank you much for your help.

can you post a pic of your a.polly?

Mine had started going dormant because I had them too cool. They are growing back since I put them in a warm area, but your plants are much fuller than mine. I think your plant is Poly, but Rachel or LariAnn could probably tell you for sure. Does your Poly make more than one growth point at a time from the same base? I'll try to get a pic later, but your big pretty plant is going to laugh at my rescues that are growing back :)...

I have a pollly? lol!???

I have a few different jewels. I really like them they are all inside under lights right now. There are alot more I would like to get though lol.

I have ordered several from Brians Botanicals. Would they do well with my orchids or do they need more light?

Joeswife: This plant. Do you know which it is? I am wanting to say Poly, but me not know for sure....

Hello Bruce. It may depend which ones you are getting. Someone will be able to help you get the most out of them. They are rainforest plants so like the high humidity and warmth that many orchids do. So are you growing high light or low light orchids?

According to Bill Rotolante and his father Denis who are friends of LariAnn, myself and many aroid growers and also owners of the nursery where Alocasia Poly was found, this is smaller variation of Alocasia Amazonica. It was discovered by Bill and Denis in a batch of tissue cultured plants and the name "Poly" was chosen since they first thought their smaller stable hybrid was a polyploid form of Amazonica Amazonica. A polyploid specimen is one that has an extra set of chromosomes which doubles the basic number. Polyploidy can cause oddities including a difference in size. DNA tests on the plant have since shown this assumption was not correct so Poly appears to be only a natural variation. Lots of sellers call it Polly but that isn't the name Bill and Denis gave the plant.

Steve

So you can get mutations from tissue culture plants. I thought when they are cloned that they are identicle to the parent?

True, TC plants are clones (DNA dupes) but genetic output can vary as well. Think of it like people. Two normal size adults can produce a child that does not grow to the size of a normal adult. The offspring of humans are also highly variable with different hair colors, different skin shades, different eye coloration, different heights and different body shapes. Look up my article on natural variation where Dr. Croat, Leland Miyano and others helped me to understand this better.

I have no idea what the parent plant may have been. It could have easily been a parent with reduced blades. All I know for sure is the story Bill told me when we were in Miami last September. The tray of plants came from the lab in central Florida as Alocasia Amazonica. A DNA test was done according to Bill and Denis and the two plants are one and the same, Poly is just smaller.

I wondered because I bought a tray of c. elena fron agristarts and the majority were solid chartreuse but a couple has distinct varigated looking leaves.

Hi I would say the orchids are light shade ,Maxillaria,Masdevallia and Phal hybreds mostly.What I ordered is colocasia affinis jenningsii does that help? Sorry I see I have mistaken Alocasias and colocasias again.

Oh well Bruce, I really am having a hard time knowing the difference.. LOL

Hey Bruce, Your pretty plant will love moisture, and sun to part shade. Here is the Dave's Garden plant file on it... Maybe you can plant some in your yard and some under cover to enjoy :).
http://davesgarden.com/guides/...

And thank you for bringing up a question about your plant. I'm learning all the time, and I think that is a pretty elephant ear!!

Thanks for the link.

Here is my plant I am so concerned about.. I have no clue as to leave it or repot it.. it is two plants.. that is clear..

Worried? The plant looks great! You can divide it if you like but I'd leave it as it is. There still appears to be room to grow and if you disturb the roots and tuber now it could go dormant, although not terribly likely.

I've been answering questions all evening about Alocasia Amazonica and Alocasia Poly which are one and the same plant. The only difference is the size.

Could you expand/explain a bit more concerning a "Amazonica" plant here? We Aroid lover's love learning;-)