Alocasia Frydek Drooping: Thirst, Wet Roots, or Cold?

Frydek’s velvety, arrow-shaped leaves sit on long stalks. When those stalks bend and the leaves hang, the plant is telling you something has gone wrong in the last few days. Most often the leaves are short of water. That can mean a dry pot, or roots that have stopped working in a wet one. Watering helps the first and harms the second, so check before you water.

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Alocasia ‘Frydek’ entry describes a plant that wants part shade or filtered sun and moist, organically rich soil. NC State Extension lists Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’ among the Alocasia cultivars, with dark green velvet-like leaves, bright white veins and burgundy undersides.

Check the pot first

Push a finger into the mix and lift the pot. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s container watering guide notes that wilting is the first symptom of both underwatering and overwatering. The other signs separate them.

Signs of a dry pot:

• The pot and plant feel very light.
• The mix has shrunk away from the sides.
• Leaves feel dry or brittle, with brown tips or edges.
• Leaves curl upward or downward.

Signs of wet, damaged roots:

• The mix is still wet, and the plant droops anyway.
• Leaves are yellowing on both new and old growth.
• Stalks feel soft or mushy, especially near the soil.
• The mix smells rotten, or fungus gnats are present.

University of Maryland Extension’s page on root rots of indoor plants notes that plants with Phytophthora or Pythium root rot can wilt even when the mix has enough moisture. NC State lists root rot from overwatering among Alocasia problems.

Other causes of drooping

• Cold. The RHS Alocasia growing guide says Alocasia needs at least 16 °C (60 °F) in the growing season, and never below 10 °C (50 °F). It advises keeping plants out of cold drafts.
• Winter rest. The RHS notes that Alocasia slows down in winter and may lose some foliage. MBG advises reducing watering in winter for Frydek. A resting plant in wet mix is at risk of root rot.
• Leaning toward light. The RHS suggests turning the pot slightly at each watering so the plant does not lean toward the light and become lopsided and unstable.
• A recent move or repot. Clemson HGIC’s houseplant disorders guide notes that a big change in environment can cause some leaf drop.
• A pot-bound plant. Clemson notes that a plant with a pot full of roots cannot hold enough water and wilts. The RHS adds that mix drying very fast after watering is a sign of a pot-bound Alocasia.
• Pests. MBG advises watching Frydek for spider mites, mealybugs and scale, especially indoors.

Revive a dry Frydek

1. Water slowly until the whole root ball is wet and water drains from the bottom.
2. If water runs straight through, give two or three slow applications. Virginia Cooperative Extension recommends this to rewet dry mix. Bottom watering also works.
3. Empty the saucer. The Virginia guide warns against leaving pots standing in water for more than 60 minutes.
4. Watch the stalks. The Virginia guide notes that a wilted plant that perks up after watering has enough water in the root zone.
5. In the growing season, the RHS suggests watering once the top 5 cm (2 in) of mix is dry.

Rescue a Frydek with wet roots

1. Stop watering. Slide the plant out of the pot.
2. Look at the roots. Maryland Extension describes rotted roots as brown to black and soft. Their outer layer may slip off.
3. Cut away soft roots and soft stalks with clean scissors. Clemson advises cutting out the infected roots when only a few are affected.
4. Repot in fresh, well-drained mix. The RHS suggests adding grit to multipurpose compost, about three parts compost to one part grit.
5. Use a pot that fits the remaining roots. The RHS suggests moving up only about 5 cm (2 in) in diameter.
6. Keep the plant warm and in bright, indirect light. Water again only when the top of the mix has dried.

Wear gloves for both jobs. The RHS warns that Alocasia sap can irritate skin.

Judge recovery by firm new growth rather than by the leaves that collapsed.

For related problems, see our guide to overwatered or underwatered houseplants and the Alocasia care guide. The Alocasia Frydek hub collects our other Frydek pages.

Related guides

Other alocasia frydek problems we cover: yellow leaves.

References

• Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Alocasia ‘Frydek’
• NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Alocasia
• RHS: Alocasia Growing Guide
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Properly Watering Container Houseplants (SPES-804)
• University of Maryland Extension: Root Rots of Indoor Plants
• Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders