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Munich  josinie Nov 5, 2019 3:15 AM CST |
| Hi everyone, in may I bought my Zebrina :  .Till the beginning of September it grew 4 or even 5 new, big leaves. Since then it stopped and for a few weeks now the older leaves are starting to die away (I think all the leaves from when I bought it are gone) and now a new one is dying:  The remaining leaves actually look ok except for some small yellow spots on one leaf :   During summer the plant was standing next to an east-south window with almost no direct sunlight. Now that the days are getting darker I moved it to a south window (no sunlight as it is raining and dark all the time..). A few weeks back I had some difficulties with fungus gnats. first I used a chemical insecticide, then I repotted it and after that I used nematodes and those yellow sticky plates. I don't know what I can do next or if I have to do something. Maybe its normal for this plant to lose some leaves before winter.   I was also thinking of transferring it to hydro-culture to get rid of the larvae and reduce the risk of parasites, what do you think? Thanks in advance and greetings from Munich, Josi. |
Name: one-eye-luke US.Vet. Texas (Zone 8a) Quitter's never Win      oneeyeluke Nov 5, 2019 4:04 AM CST |
| When you repotted your plant, you increased the water volume in the root zone and that may have stressed your plant. Also, when you moved the plant to another location that may have caused some stress too. Fungus gnats love wet soil and keeping the soil too wet can cause problems with them. Its not dying. NOT A EXPERT! Just a grow worm! I never met a plant I didn’t love.✌ |
Name: Gina Florida (Zone 9a) Tropical plant collector 35 years     Gina1960 Nov 5, 2019 5:48 AM CST |
| It may go dormant though, A. zebrina is one of mine (along with A. lauterbachii) that struggles to stay up during the winter with less day length. If you correct your watering habit in the new container and let it dry a little more it should be ok Award winning beaded art at ceinwin.deviantart.com! |
Name: Will Creed NYC Prof. plant consultant & educator  WillC Nov 5, 2019 9:54 AM CST |
| As Luke pointed out, fungus gnats are often a sign of soil staying very moist and as Gina mentioned, Alocasias often have a semi-dormant period in winter. One option for you, especially if the gnat problem and leaf loss continue, is to encourage dormancy by witholding water. That will cause the leaves to die back, but it is not fatal to the plant. The dry soil is also the best antidote for the gnat larvae in the soil that need moisture to survive. Will Creed Horticultural Help, NYC www.HorticulturalHelp.com Contact me directly at [email protected] I now have a book available on indoor plant care |
Name: Jayce Indiana (Zone 5a) Sμn G¤D, HELIOS      JayZeke Nov 5, 2019 2:57 PM CST |
 Ive noticed that everytime i bring home a new alocasia (usually autumn, they go on clearance) they always tend to die back completely and come back the following summer. I was not aware they went dormant .... I have serveral other "elephant ears'" and they have yet to experience dormancy. |
Name: Gina Florida (Zone 9a) Tropical plant collector 35 years Gina1960 Nov 5, 2019 4:30 PM CST |
| Dying back completely is going dormant Award winning beaded art at ceinwin.deviantart.com! |
Munich josinie Nov 10, 2019 4:53 AM CST |
| Thanks for the replies and advice! I will stop watering her for a while and see how this works out. |
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