How to Care for Alocasia Frydek?

Originally from the Philippines, Alocasia Frydek is a velvety-leaved Alocasia with brightly colored veins that create an interesting contrast with the dark green color of the leaves.

Like other Alocasia varieties, this too can be a bit of a challenge to grow indoors, especially for the inexperienced plant owner.

The guide I put together below will walk you through the care requirements of the ‘Frydek’ variety, so you can easily navigate the challenges of growing this plant indoors.

Size & Growth

The height you can expect this Alocasia to reach indoors is somewhere between 2 or 3 feet. In its natural habitat, the plant grows taller, but not indoors. Leaves will also reach 18 inches on average.

Because it’s not that easy to grow indoors, I recommend them mostly to intermediate growers, but inexperienced growers can also give this plant a try if they do their research on how to keep them happy indoors.

Difficulties arise in providing adequate light, making sure the plant is watered correctly and that it has enough humidity to thrive.

Light Requirements

As I mentioned, one of the difficulties in growing the ‘Frydek’ variety indoors is making sure the plant gets optimal light levels.

A good place to start is taking note of the fact that this Alocasia does not enjoy extremes. Put it in full sun and the leaves will burn. Put it in complete shade and it will stretch and do poorly.

What you need to do is aim for bright, indirect light or filtered light. Find a north-east facing window and position your Alocasia nearby.

A bit of gentle morning sun or late afternoon sun, even if direct, is unlikely to hurt your plant. Also, make sure that you’re rotating your plant so that it gets enough light on all sides, otherwise you’re going to be looking at uneven growth patterns.

Watering

Watering is another area in which the Alocasia Frydek is finicky. If you overwater it, you risk losing the plant to root rot. If you underwater it, you risk losing the plant to dehydration.

Moderation is once again the key to this plant, so water consistently, without skipping watering sessions and water only when the topsoil is about to go dry.

You want the soil to be moist, without being wet. You also need to make sure that the soil drains well and that the pot in which the Frydek is planted also drains well.

Soil Type

Good drainage is essential for all Alocasia varieties, not just the Frydek. A well-aerated soil that doesn’t get saturated easily with water is the best for this plant.

Choose potting mixes that are designed for tropical plants. Look for substrates that contain perlite, peat moss, coconut coir and other well-draining organic substrates.

If the soil allows the roots to be aerated and water to easily percolate, the risk of root rot caused by overwatering is significantly reduced.

But just because the soil is well-draining, it doesn’t mean you can overwater this plant. The watering recommendations I described above still apply even if the soil is fast-draining.

Temperature & Humidity

The temperature range in which the Alocasia Frydek feels comfortable is between60 F and 80 F. The temperature range in which it thrives is somewhere between 65 °F and 75 °F.

Normally, the temperature shouldn’t be an issue if you’re keeping this plant indoors. If it’s outside during the summer, you’ll of course need to take it indoors when temperatures in the fall are dipping below 65 F.

Even indoors, you’ll need to be careful not to expose this plant to extreme sources of heat or cold. Even cold drafts can sometimes cause the plant to suffer temperature shock.

While moderation was key in terms of watering and light exposure, you can go quite high in terms of humidity.

Average humidity levels can work, but to get the best for your Alocasia, make sure humidity levels are above 60%.

Somewhere around 70-80% would be ideal, but that can be difficult to achieve without a humidifier.

Fertilizing

Moderation once again enters the scene when it comes to fertilizing the Frydek variety. This isn’t a hungry plant, so fertilize with a diluted all-purpose houseplant fertilizer once a month.

Fertilize only during the growing season, from spring to early fall. No fertilizing is needed in winter or late fall.

Don’t be overzealous with the fertilizer or the concentration (keep the fertilizer at half-strength), you risk over-fertilizing your plant.

Potting & Repotting

I already mentioned the importance of draining holes on the bottom of the pot in which you’re growing this plant, so make sure your pot is fitted with those holes.

As for repotting, you don’t need to worry about that too much. For one, the plant enjoys being pot-bound. Secondly, it doesn’t like to be disturbed often, so you can repot only every 2 years.

When repotting, pick a pot that’s only a size or two bigger. Make sure to replace the potting mix with a fresh mix and resume the normal plant care routine.

How to Propagate Alocasia Frydek?

If you want to propagate your Alocasia Frydek, it’s a good idea to do that when you’re already repotting. Repotting is best done in spring, so propagation is also best in spring.

You’ll need to divide the rhizome to separate clumps that you can transfer to separate pots and grow them as individual plants.

As the plant is fragile, you want to gently pull apart the rhizome and use a sharp, clean blade to make a clean cut and separate the plantlet from the parent plant.

Once transferred to its own pot, all the care recommendations mentioned for the mature plant, apply to the juvenile plant as well.

Wrapping Up

The Frydek Alocasia variety makes a gorgeous potted plant for your indoors. While it thrives best in greenhouse conditions, it can be grown indoors as well with a bit of extra care and attention to detail.

Make sure you give your Alocasia a strong start by offering it optimal light, humidity, water and a high-quality potting mix.