How unusual is it to come across a variegated Alocasia 'Polly'? Just asking because I was in Lowe's the other day and wandering through the little section where they have those little 'Exotic Angel' tropicals like I always do (I know, I know - but I just can't help it), and came across some slightly larger potted AE plants. They had various kinds of plants (crotons, Alocasia 'Polly', etc) grouped in a bronzey-colored metal pot of about 8" or so in diameter.

Anywhoo... as I was looking at them, I was moving one with Alocasia 'Polly' to get a better look at one with a 'Zanzibar' croton and saw that one of the 4 'Polly's' in the pot was spashed with white variegation. I bought it in a heartbeat. It also looked like a pup coming off of the variegated one was kinda white-washed or grayish, but it's still small, and I won't really hold my breath on it staying that way. I'll post pics here soon, but just wanted to post this while I was thinking about it.

On a side note, I know I've read up on it before, but can't remember what I read - is Alocasia 'Polly' the correct name for the plant commonly identified as that? Seems I've read otherwise, but my memory ain't what it used... err, well, never was.

Thanks!

The plant people are calling Alocasia 'Polly' is actually a selection of the hybrid that has been called Alocasia amazonica. Neither name is a true or valid name, but since the name "Alocasia amazonica" has been used for so long, most people recognize that hybrid by that name. To make things even more interesting, "Polly" should actually be 'Poly', so named because the selection was believed to be a polyploid of the "original" amazonica. The "amazonica" came from the nursery that originated the cross - it was "Amazon nursery'. In reality, no Alocasia species occur naturally in the Amazon rainforest.

A variegated "Polly" is not common, although I have seen a few from time to time. I'm curious to see if the variegation holds somewhat stable or if it is lost with subsequent growth.

LariAnn

Thanks, LariAnn. I knew I had read something regarding the nomenclature of this one, I just couldn't remember what it was. That also makes sense as to why in my google of "Polly", I saw some sites in the search response list "Poly".

I'll definitely keep an eye on this one and hope it stays both variegated & stable as such.

I have 2 questions. One is what zone is the poly hardy to? and second one, DOES ANYONE have the Amorphophallus Prainii for sale or trade?
I have the plant called African Mask-Poly and I always give them away at winter because I am in zone 7 and don't want to let them freeze. But come spring I find them cheap here in my town and get more. So if anyone would like a nice one for postage, I have one for you.
I have been looking for the A. Prainii for 2 years and everyone that sells them is always sold out so I really want this plant
and would appreciate if anyone knows where I can find one. Any help is appreciated.

What's the secret to keeping Polly alive? I've murdered 2 of them and am trying one more time to keep one alive............

Just keep it warm and not wet and mine do well. Well drained soil.

Mine is still in the pot I brought it home in and have not yet watered it. Seems "moist", or if not that, "not totally dry".

Keeping your plant warm and on the dry side will go a long way to keeping it alive. Being one of the "jewels", as I call them, the plant will not tolerate being moist all the time, nor will it respond very well to cool temperatures (below 60 degrees F). Usually the soil these plants come in is not as well draining as it needs to be. I've seen some come in almost pure peat, which is a death sentence for the plant if you water it like a "regular" house plant.

Heater in the g'house is set at 60, so temp should be fine.