How to Grow Alocasia from Corms: The Little-Known Insights

All gardeners must be familiar with Elephant’s ear, or Alocasias which are striking tropical plants grown in warm and humid conditions for proper development. The tree goes up to the heavens and consists of beautiful patterned leaves.

 To grow this as a houseplant, one must duplicate the already-grown alocasia through corms/bulbs. In the following article, step-by-step instructions on how to successfully grow alocasia and harvest this stunning and popular ornamental plant through corms are provided.

The Fundamentals: How to Grow Alocasia from Corms

To many people, these alocasias are known for their breathtaking foliage and easy maintenance hence are prefer to grow it as an indoor plant. However, it can be easily propagated through the corms (small, underground bulbs) which is the most pleasing aspect of possessing an alocasia. 

But then again, there is a question.do all alocasias grow with the corms only? The clear answer is no. Corms are brought out by most of the alocasias but not all of them i.e. some produce underground stems known as rhizomes that extend horizontally and generate new plants. The other types are tuberous means they generate underground storage organs called tubers, that act as a storage organ for the whole plant

Steps for Growing Alocasia from Corms

These plants can only be propagated by the division method. To produce a new copy of the plant, the grower needs to grow a completely new one in the first place. The most common method of growing this favorite plant is through the corms/bulbs. These corms are like seeds only that utilize all the energy of new life. Further, these corms will develop roots in the zone of high humidity, hence one can always place them in a big jar.

The following is the right method to grow alocasia from corms-

1. First and foremost, to grow alocasia from corms, the grower has to dig up the soil to find the little corms that are dark brown and if they are still attached to the parent plant, cut them out with the help of scissors.
2. To ensure the faster germination of the corm, one should always peel off the outer shell of it.
3. Then at the bottom of a tiny cup or jar/ container, place a thin layer of wet pumice above which corms would be kept. Alternatively, one can place each corm into a bottle cap, fill half with water, and to retain moisture cover the cap with a glass. Both are good methods of growing alocasia if the moisture retention is optimal.
4. The next step is to place the cap/ container in a bright area and ensure the hydration of the corm by water spraying every few days.

Generally, there are two main methods to propagate alocasia corms:

1. Water propagation
2. Soil propagation 

• The first one is the simplest and most effective method to propagate alocasia corms. One just needs to follow the below steps for this technique:

• Place the water in a shallow container.
• Kept the corms in that water by ensuring that the top of the corm is coming above the water line.
• Put the same container in a warm and shady place.
• Keep changing the water every few days.
• One can see the change after a few weeks that roots and leaves emerge from the corms.
• After some leaves have developed in the corms, transplantation is done into the pots.

• The second effective technique is the soil propagation of alocasia corms. The below steps should be followed:

• The pot/container is filled with the potting mix.
• Put the corms in that potting mix by ensuring that the corm’s top remains below the soil surface.
• Regularly provide water to the pot to keep it moist and not soggy.
• Kept the pot in a warm, bright location.
• After a few weeks, the corms begin to develop roots and leaves. After few leaves have emerged, one can transplant them into a big container. This is another suitable method to grow alocasia from corms.

How to Harvest Corms?

To harvest the alocasia corms, one should know the right time. When the plant is in a dormant stage, i.e. in the winter season, the grower should harvest the corms by gently removing the plant from the pot/container and cautiously dig the area around the roots where the corms are available in clusters. 

After removing corms from the plant’s base, allow them to dry in a warm, shady place for a few days followed by storing them in a cool and dry location. The grower can store them in paper bags, cardboard boxes, or plastic bags too by ensuring proper ventilation.

Some Special Tips: Grow Alocasia from Corms

1. One can smoothly remove the outer hard shell of the corm, in case one is facing issues in propagating alocasia corms. This will overcome the germination issues and help the corm to sprout fast.
2. By using some growth regulator or rooting hormone, a grower can enhance the growth rate of alocasia.
3. To check if the corm is viable or not, one should place it in a glass filled with water. The floating corm indicates its non-viable nature.

Wind up-

So far in this article, you all will get some insights on how to grow alocasia from corms. Propagating alocasia through corms is a very significant way to expand the houseplant collection or to distribute it easily amongst family and friends. This just needs a little care, attention, and maintenance following which one can propagate alocasia corms effortlessly and nurture these plants for upcoming years.