I have been growing Alocasia x 'Calidora' (or it may be just odora, not exactly sure because of the source) for three years now. I grow it in a large pot and keep it outside in summer and indoors in winter. So far I have not let it go dormant and it has formed a long 'trunk' and seems to be healthy, but I have never gotten any pups/offshoots/bulblets from it. It bloomed this year for the first time and is about 6' tall with 3'x2' leaves. In winter it generally only will have 2-3 leaves at a time and in summer about 4-6 at a time. I would like it to make babies. Should I plant it deeper so the 'trunk' is partially underground? Why won't it produce babies?

If your plant is indeed Alocasia x calidora, it is probably the selection that produces very few babies. You see, when I did the cross and grew off the progeny, some of them were very prolific and some were very stingy with the babies. Since I was not the one who chose the plant that was put in culture, I did not have the opportunity to choose the one that I considered to be the best selection.

Your plant will eventually produce offshoots if you replant it so the trunk is partially underground, as you described. Also, if you can slant the trunk (or even lay it down) when you bury it, that will increase your chances of getting offshoots.

I have Calidora selections that make babies when they are pretty young, but these are not on the market. I also have an F2 that has somewhat bullate leaves and produces a fair number of offshoots - this plant I did cross successfully with A. robusta. One of those seedlings is fairly prolific with babies, as well.

LariAnn

Thank you so much for the quick response and good information. Also, thank you for creating x calidora, it has become one of my favorite plants over the last year now that it's maturing. Good luck in your future endeavors, I'll be keeping my eye out for new Alocasias to try out.