'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime :-o

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Dave Brown
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'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime :-o

Post by Dave Brown »

Last spring 'Big Al' was growing leaves that broke against the conservatory roof, so I knew it's days were numbered. It has grown away quite happily in the summer mainly producing flowers, rather than leaves :roll: Nevertheless Big Al was too tall to come back into the conservatory :ahhh!: so drastic action was required.
2013-11-03 10-22-24 Alo x calidora 1.jpg
Yesterday, with the prospect of colder nights this week, Big Al had to face the axe, or the saw to be more precise.
2013-11-03 10-30-30 Alo x calidora 2.jpg
First the leaves were removed :ahhh!:
2013-11-03 10-33-22 Alo x calidora leaves removed 2.jpg
Then the top of the rhizome sawn off :ahhh!:
2013-11-03 10-34-26 Alo x calidora lopped.jpg
Rhizome tidied up and drying off before being dry stored over winter.
2013-11-03 10-41-00 Alo x calidora rhizome.jpg
The base and pups were then put in the conservatory and the rhizome will be started off in spring :wink:

Life history in pics HERE
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Dave
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harryc
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Re: 'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime

Post by harryc »

Nooooooooo :ahhh!: :ahhh!: How could you Dave!!

I suppose at least this way you get to keep it and of couse plenty more pups to enjoy icon_thumright

H
GREVILLE

Re: 'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime

Post by GREVILLE »

Glad you didn't video it, Dave. I'm squeamish :lol:

My Ali mac looks a lot like yours before it was beheaded (Yours, that is). Not as brave as you are, Dave, but then I don't have an overhead problem with this. It will shortly be heading for the local school gymnasium and the roof and skylights there are more than twenty feet high.

As for my little Al cal, its way too young to have nightmares about having its head chopped off :wink:
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Yorkshire Kris
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Re: 'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. I'm sure both plants will be fine over winter.
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Re: 'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime

Post by The Codfather »

Would I be right is saying Al stays in a pot all year and just blended in the border ?
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Dave Brown
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Re: 'Big Al' Alocasia x calidora, hacked down in it's prime

Post by Dave Brown »

The Codfather wrote:Would I be right is saying Al stays in a pot all year and just blended in the border ?
It has been planted out in the past, but where I put it the last 2 years is sheltered but can't be dug so is placed behind other plants to hide the pot. Alocasia don't mind being in small pots provided they get enough water when warm :wink:

Most of the plants in this pic are in pots.
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