When an arrowleaf blooms as a houseplant, you can fertilize the flower to form seeds for propagation. Read the best tips and tricks on how to successfully pollinate Alocasia here.
How to pollinate Alocasia manually?
To successfully pollinate Alocasia, you will need two flowering Alocasia plants as they cannot pollinate themselves. Using a soft brush, transfer the male pollen of one Alocasia flower to the female pistils of a neighboring Alocasia flower.
How can I pollinate Alocasia?
To pollinate an arrow leaf you needtwo Alocasia plants Alocasia species are monoecious with separate sexes and cannot pollinate themselves. On a spadix flower there are male flowers in the upper area and female flowers in the lower area, separated by a sterile zone. To prevent self-pollination, male and female flowers ripen at different times on the elephant ear. Pollination is only possible if there is a second flowering Alocasia nearby. Given this, you have two options:
- Pollinate Alocasia manually.
- Place Alocasia outside in summer so that insects pollinate the smelly flowers.
How is an Alocasia flower pollinated?
The easiest way to pollinate an Alocasia flower ismanually with a soft brush. Transfer the yellowish male pollen of one alocasia to the light green pistils of female flowers of the neighboring alocasia.
Which insects can pollinate Alocasia?
Known pollinator insects for Alocasia on the summer balcony areFruit flies(Drosophilidae) andFlower flies (Anthomyiidae). In the natural garden, these insects can also be found as busy pollinators when there are temptingly smelly Alocasia flowers within reach:
- Gloss Beetle (Nitidulidae)
- Scarabaeidae, such as rose beetles and rhinoceros beetles
- Short-winged Beetles (Staphylinidae)
Tip
Alocasia berries are poisonous
If you successfully pollinate flowering alocasias, the cobs will turn into multi-seeded berries. If the fruits turn orange-red, the seeds are ripe for sowing. Extreme caution is required when harvesting seeds because the seeds are highly poisonous. Please protect yourself from contact with the toxins by wearing gloves. Keep the seeds out of the reach of children and pets.
