The Alocasia Lauterbachiana, or Alocasia Purple Sword as I have more Commonly known it was actually sold to Me as a very small plant and incorrectly labeled as Dracaena Spiritus Sancti. If I had been familiar with either one I would have known immediately that it was an Alocasia but I didn’t know anything about Alocasias at the time. I saw an Alocasia Purple Sword in a YouTube video and immediately knew that’s what I had.
Why do I Love Alocasia Lauterbachiana
What’s not to Love?! It has long, sword shaped leaves that are a deep, forest green with gorgeous, purple backings. It doesn’t Matter which side of the leaves You may be looking at, both look stunning. Despite how much I’ve heard about Alocasias being more of an intermediate to advanced care level and not something for beginners, I didn’t even know I had an Alocasia. The one pictured today is now six years old!!!
Historical Significance
It was the very first new plant I purchased when I first moved to the Haven Community, an apartment warming Gift to My Self, if One will. The stalks are so tall now, that’s kind of amazing in it Self, it’s taking on an abstract ‘palm tree’ kind of look. It flowers randomly quite frequently so long as I remember to water it, and the leaves droop on this one if it is thirsty, so I literally just wait until I see that happen before I Gift it with a drink. Then I make sure I Give it a Good drink, though! And Good drainage is always Key but that’s kind of a beginner thing so I don’t Wish to insult Your intelligence by stating the obvious. I did have an Issue with spider mites once and they were on all the leaves and I just didn’t even Wish to deal with it so I completely beheaded it and took what I removed outside as far away from My plants as I could get them immediately. It literally started growing back the next day as if nothing had happened. It’s very easy to care for in My humble opinion – it’s just in regular succulent soil mixed with a little extra perlite.
My Vision for the Alocasia Lauterbachiana
Soon that sheath Will open up and reveal the male part of the flower – but it’s actually not really called a flower, it’s something else I can’t recall right now, so bear with or look it up Your Self. 😉
I’m hoping to collect some pollen from this which I Will label and Keep in the freezer until another one of My Alocasias goes into flower so that I Will have it on Hand to cross with to see if I can make some interesting hybrids.
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