The Alocasia Bambino plant is native to the tropical areas of southeast Asia. This beautiful dwarf ornamental plant is evergreen, so the beautiful leaves remain green throughout the year. The Alocasia Bambino is easy to grow with relatively low maintenance and has become a popular houseplant.
Alocasia Bambino is a dwarf hybrid of the Alocasia genus and a popular houseplant. It grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet, requires warm temperatures and a humid environment, good draining soil, watering when dry, bright light but not direct sunlight, and little fertilizing.
The gorgeous leaves of the Alocasia Bambino plant will make a stunning show when placed in a brightly lit area of your home. Read on for the best ways to care for this lovely plant.
The Botanical Name of Alocasia Bambino
The botanical name of Alocasia Bambino is Alocasia Amazonica ‘Bambino’, a genus of the Araceae family. The Alocasia Bambino is a hybrid of the Alocasia plant, but unfortunately, the parents are unknown.
The Common Name of Alocasia Bambino
Alocasia Bambino is also known as a Jewel Alocasia in recognition of its beautiful and unusual white vein leaf markings. They are also called Bambino Arrow because the leaves are arrow in shape. The name bambino comes from the plant being a dwarf variety of the Alocasia genus.
Alocasia Bambino Description
The lovely Alocasia Bambino is the dwarf size of the Alocasia plant; it is a slow grower and will reach a height of 1 to 2 feet tall. This plant has striking long green leaves shaped similarly to an arrowhead. The leaves have curly edges and lovely bright veining on top, and underneath, the leaves are purple. The leaves are suspended by erect and supple stems.
Alocasia Bambino Preferences
If well cared for, Alocasia Bambino is a relatively easy plant to grow indoors. Below are this plants preferences:
Light
Alocasia Bambino is native to the tropical zone of Southeast Asia, so it does not like direct sunlight. But it will require and thrive in bright and well-lit areas. You can place this gorgeous plant near a window to get plenty of light, but no sunlight, as this will burn the leaves.
Temperature
Your Alocasia Bambino will thrive in warm temperatures of 18° C- 22°C. Keep the temperature steady, as this plant does not like sudden changes to its warm habitat. Also, make sure that your Alocasia is not standing in a draft.
This plant also prefers above-average humidity, so you can mist your plant frequently during the warmer months. Or you can place the plant on a pebble tray where it will receive extra moisture.
Watering
This plant prefers well-draining soil, and they do not like to be in a wet and soggy pot. When watering this houseplant, allow the water to saturate through the soil. Any excess water must be able to run out at the draining holes at the bottom of the pot.
Water the plant only once the top half of the soil is dry, usually about every 9 days during the summer. In winter, this plant will require less water, about every 2 to 3 weeks, as the plant will go into dormancy. The water will evaporate slowly during the colder months, so the plant will be fine in drier soil.
Soil
The Alocasia Bambino likes a well-draining soil that can hold moisture but does not compact around its roots. The best potting mix will be one part each of soil, peat, and perlite. During the growing season, fertilizer can be added to the soil every 2nd month.
Care Tips For The Alocasia Bambino Plant
To keep your lovely Alocasia Bambino looking its best, here are a few tips to keep this plant happy and healthy:
- If your plant is a bit droopy and wilting, leave it in the bathroom for a day, where it can soak up the moisture in the air.
- Keep your Alocasia quite dry during the winter months, as it does need extra moisture.
- Placing your Alocasia Bambino in sufficiently bright light but not direct sunlight will help the plant to grow quicker and produce larger leaves.
- Alocasia plants can be sensitive to the minerals and chlorine in tap water. Let the tap water stand for 24 hours before watering the plant so that most unwanted materials will evaporate. Or you could use distilled water instead of tap water.
- Your Alocasia Bambino is sensitive to cold and will drop its leaves even if there is a minor chill in the air. Avoid any drafts from open windows or air vents.
- Alocasia leaves are toxic if ingested, so use gloves when working with this plant. If you have touched the leaves, wash your hands and avoid touching your eyes or mouth.
- Regularly clean the leaves of the Alocasia Bambino with a wet cloth to remove dust and grime.
Common Issues And Troubleshooting For The Alocasia Bambino Plant
Even though you give your plant the best care, sometimes common issues will occur. Below are a few of these issues and tips for resolving them.
Drooping Alocasia Bambino
If your plant show signs of drooping, it could be that the plant has too little light, not enough water, or too much water or not enough nutrients in the soil.
- You can start by placing the plant in a room or near a window where it will get more light. But be careful to avoid letting the plant stand in direct sunlight.
- Only water the plant once the top half of the soil is dry. It is best to put your finger in the soil and feel if it is still moist under the surface. If it is, then only water when this soil is dry.
- During the growing season, feed your plant fertilizer once a month or every 2nd month. Use a liquid fertilizer that is diluted with water.
- Your plant will stand upright again after it has recovered, but you can stake the stems while the plant is recovering.
Alocasia Bambino Leaves Turning Brown
Low humidity and dry soil can cause this plant’s leaves to turn brown on the edges. The leaves may also become shriveled. If this happens, you can boost the plant by misting regularly or placing the plant on a pebble tray.
The water in the pebble tray will evaporate, and the plant will benefit from the moisture in the air. Also, keep an eye on the soil in the pot and water when the top soil is dry.
Slow Growth, Mushy Stems, And Wilting Yellow Leaves Of Alocasia Bambino
If the plant’s growth is stunted, the stems are mushy, or the leaves turn yellow, this could signify that the plant may have developed root rot.
- The best way of treating this problem is to repot into a new plant pot. Remove the plant, cut away any decaying roots and repot in a clean plant pot with fresh potting soil.
- For future watering, ensure that the surface of the soil is dry before watering. It is essential to let the excess water drain out of the drainage hole so that the roots are not lying in water which will also cause root rot.
Spider Mites On Alocasia Bambino Plant
If your Alocasia has fine webbing on its leaves, with small insects crawling on the plant, it is a sign of spider mites. The best method of getting rid of these mites is to rinse the plant with warm water to knock off these pests. Use a good insecticidal soap or neem oil spray on the leaves for a week or two, making sure you have rid the plant of the mites.
Repotting An Alocasia Bambino Plant
The Alocasia Bambino needs repotting every two or three years or when it outgrows its original pot. Sometimes the roots will grow out of the drainage hole, which signifies that the plant’s pot is too small.
The best time for repotting the plant is during spring or summer when it is at its strongest, and it is the plant’s natural developing and growing time. Choose a pot at least 2 inches larger than the original container. Remove the plant from the old container and inspect the roots.
Gently loosen the dirt around the roots and remove any corms that can be replanted into the soil of a small container to form new plants. If there are any new plants, separate them from the mother plant. These can also be replanted into smaller containers.
Once all the baby plants and corms are removed, replant the mother plant in the new pot. Water the plant and stand it in a brightly lit area.
Propagating An Alocasia Bambino Plant
The Alocasia Bambino is an easy plant to propagate; just follow these guidelines:
- Wet the soil a day or two before propagating the plant so it will be easy to remove from its container.
- Gently remove the plant and remove the soil from the roots.
- Separate the baby roots from the mother plant with a sterilized scissor or knife.
- Repot the baby plant in a small container and water the plant. Place the plant in a warm and well-lit area.
- Repot the mother plant in a larger container and water thoroughly, and allow the excess moisture to drain.
Conclusion
The lovely Alocasia Bambino is a dwarf hybrid of the Alocasia plant. Its beautiful curly-edged, green-veined, and arrow-shaped leaves make this plant a popular choice for a houseplant. The Alocasia Bambino is easy to grow, requiring warm temperatures, high humidity, good drainage soil, watering when dry, and little fertilizing.
References
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=259315&isprofile=0&#:~:text=Alocasia%20%C3%97%20amazonica%20is%20a,commonly%20available%20as%20a%20houseplant.
https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/alocasia/mythic-bambino-jewel-alocasia-alocasia-x-amazonica
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alocasia