Alocasia Bambino is another one of the best ornamental species in the Alocasia genus. It has gorgeous arrowhead green leaves that are purple underneath and have a bright, stylish venation on the surface. They’re beautiful, elegant, and incredibly easy to maintain indoors.
Alocasia plants are the easiest plants to grow, and Alocasia Amazonica Bambino is nothing less than the perfect option for a beginner. If you’re considering getting this plant for your collection, make sure you learn more about it before bringing it home.
Contents
Classification
- Family: Araceae
- Subfamily: Aroideae
- Genus: Alocasia
About the Genus Alocasia
Alocasia plants are a collection of tuberous or rhizomatous perennial plants that are flowering in nature. There are 79 recorded species of Alocasia plants, all of them belonging to tropical and subtropical areas of the world.
Typically, an Alocasia plant has sagittate or cordate leaves that grow up to 20 to 90 cm in length. These leaves grow on long flowering petioles that bloom during the spring and summer seasons. However, their flowers are insignificant, and this genus’ foliage remains the primary feature of attraction.
Common Names and Synonyms
- Jewel Alocasia
- Alocasia Bambino Arrow
- Bambino Arrow
Origin and Distribution
Even though Alocasia plants are generally found worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas, they are particularly saturated in Asia and East Australia.
Alocasia Bambino Arrow plants are typically native to Southeast Asia.
Alocasia Bambino Plan Features
Foliage and Stem
The narrow leaves of an Alocasia Bambino plant are a beautiful shade of dark green with bright venation. Plus, they’re dark purple on the underside. These leaves generally grow as long as 15 to 18 cm and as broad as 5 cm.
Evergreen
Like most ornamental plants, Bambino Arrow is also an evergreen plant that looks beautiful and green throughout the year. The passing seasons don’t affect the plant and its foliage.
Height
Under the right care, these plants can grow up to the maximum Alocasia Bambino height of 40cm. The Alocasia Bambino size is generally smaller and is perfect as an ornamental plant for tabletops and shelves.
Temperature Tolerance
As a rule of thumb, all tropical plants tend to prefer warmer temperatures and are not fond of the icy cold environment. Bambino is, too, a part of the same category and is pretty intolerant to lower temperatures.
Humidity Tolerance
Like the rule of temperatures, tropical plants thrive in higher humidity levels and are, thus, very tolerant of moisture in the air. If you let the plant stay near the shower or mist it regularly, it will not mind.
Flowers
Bambino is a flowering plant indeed, but its flowers are insignificant when compared to the foliage. This Alocasia blooms during the summer and spring seasons, but the plant’s primary attraction remains its beautiful leaves.
Drought-resistance
Since it is a tropical plant, Bambino is not drought-resistant at all. It will not do well under dry, dehydrated conditions, so make sure you keep it nice and watered.
Pressure Tolerance
The narrow leaves of a Bambino plant are not as tough as they are beautiful. Thus, make sure you keep the plant somewhere high enough to avoid being stepped on. Plus, keep it in an open space so it can grow freely without interruptions and external pressure.
Disease and Pest Resistance
Sadly, Bambinos are not resistant to diseases and pests. The most common ones that the plant encounters include mealybugs, spider mites, leaf spots, and stem and root rots.
However, you can easily avoid these problems using precautionary measures. These measures include keeping the plant dry, well-hydrated, and clean.
Dust and wipe the plant clean regularly using alcohol, neem oil, or plain water. Also, inspect the plant to make sure everything is going well with it.
Growth
Generally, Alocasia plants are fast-growing. If given the right conditions, they will develop into mature plants reasonably quickly.
Toxicity
As beautiful as these are, all Alocasia plants are toxic. They are harmful if ingested and can cause mild to severe irritation of the skin and the eyes. Make sure you keep the Bambino away from children and pets.
Durability
The perennial life cycle of a Bambino makes it quite durable as an ornamental plant. It can live as long as two to several years, depending on the care and environment you give it.
Maintenance
Compared to other plants of the same aesthetic and durability, the Alocasia Bambino plant is a relatively low-maintenance plant and does not require special care and conditions.
Dormancy
Alocasia Bambino plants have a particular period of dormancy. During this time, the leaves fade, and the plant stops growing. It generally conserves any food and water you give it. So, make sure you only give it the appropriate amounts depending on what the plant needs.
Alocasia Bambino Care
Alocasia Bambino care is nothing too fancy; all you need is to water the plant once or twice a week depending on its needs, fertilize it monthly, and make sure it sits under warm temperatures and indirect sunlight. You don’t have to stress about pruning or repotting the plant frequently.
Quick Care Guide
| Watering | Once the soil is dry. |
| Soil | Loose, well-draining, porous soil. |
| Sunlight | Bright indirect sunlight |
| Temperature | 64 to 72 °F. |
| Fertilizer | Once a month in the growing season. |
| Repotting | Every two to three years. |
Water Requirements
You must water these plants regularly. They’re fond of moisture in the soil and the air. So, dehydrated roots can quickly damage the Bambino and make it look ill.
Ensure that you let the soil dry between waterings because if you don’t, the ground will become waterlogged, and your plant will die of suffocated roots. Watering once or twice a week is enough depending on the plant’s condition and the environment it lives in.
Soil Requirements
Loose, well-draining, porous soil works best for a Bambino. Between a soil that absorbs the right amounts of water and the ground that drains well, finding the right soil texture is essential to ensure your plant thrives.
You can add suitable soil amendments such as peat, perlite, and compost. Keep the soil pH around acidic to neutral.
Sunlight
Like all Alocasia plants, this one needs bright lights, but direct sunlight can burn its leaves. So, this plant’s ideal place would be on a tabletop or shelf in a well-lit room with lots of natural light but not hitting it directly.
You can also place it behind sheer curtains or under the shade of larger plants.
Temperature Requirements
The ideal temperature to put these plants in and grow them healthily is somewhere between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius. Generally, these plants like to stay in temperate environments, so make sure you keep them nice and warm during the frosty winter season.
Humidity
Alocasia plants generally like to stay in high humidity. Alocasia Bambino is no exception. It needs above-average moisture levels in the air to thrive. Placing it on a pebble tray with water underneath or misting the plant regularly can help boost the hydration and make the plant grow healthy.
Occasionally, you can also put the plant near or under the shower for a quick boost during the warm, dry, and windy seasons.
Fertilizer
During every month of the growing seasons (summer and spring), a slow-release fertilizer can do the Alocasia Bambino plant well and help it thrive. Just make sure you’re using high-quality plant fertilizer to avoid cheap salts and harmful chemicals.
Repotting
Since it is a small plant, you don’t have to rush into repotting it. Wait at least two to three years before you repot a Bambino into a bigger container. The best time to repot a Bambino is during the process of propagation in the summer or spring season. This is because if the roots are damaged, they’ll develop nicely during these growing seasons.
Grooming and Pruning
Since the leaves grow in single arrangements, you don’t usually have to prune the plant. However, you should groom the plant regularly by making sure it’s dry, clean and free of dust, germs, and pests.
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Alocasia Bambino Propagation
The best way to propagate a Bambino is by dividing rhizomes, and the best time to do this is during the summer and spring seasons. But before you start, make sure all your tools are sterilized and have the proper clothing for the procedure:
- Select a fully mature Alocasia Bambino plant. Make sure it is healthy and hydrated.
- Remove the parent Bambino plant from its pot and divide it into rhizomes.
- You can now transfer the parent plant into a new pot or put it back into the original one.
- Plant the separated rhizomes into their allocated pots with the suitable soil mix.
- Make sure that the rhizome stands upright. You can do this by pressing the surrounding soil of the rhizome.
- Now, place the rhizomes in appropriate conditions with warmer temperatures, high humidity, and lots of indirect sunlight.
- Water it frequently and give the rhizome some fertilizer in the initial growing weeks.
Timeline
Week 1-4: Plant the rhizomes into prepared pots with the right kind of soil mix and water it under optimal conditions.
Month 2-3: You’ll see roots and shoots growing fats out of the rhizomes. Keep the care and maintenance constant, and don’t let the environment change for the worst.
Month 4-6: By now, your Alocasia should be growing into a beautiful mature Bambino plant.
Alocasia Bambino FAQs
Alocasia Bambino Yellow Leaves
Improper hydration of the soil or over-watering is two common causes of Alocasia Bambino yellow leaves. Since these plants love water and are not drought-resistant, dehydration is a serious problem and can cause the leaves’ immediate dullness. Additionally, saturated or waterlogged soil can also suffocate the roots and make the leaves look pale and yellow.
The easiest and simplest way to combat the problem of yellow leaves is by giving the Bambino what it needs- adequate hydration. Either water the plant more frequently or reduce the amount and frequency of the watering sessions.
Alocasia Bambino vs. Polly
Alocasia Bambino has a very similar appearance to the Alocasia Polly plant. However, they’re better entirely different, and you can tell by looking at the plant’s size. Alocasia Bambino’s size is generally smaller than a Polly plant.
Alocasia Bambino Brown Tips
There are a few reasons why your alocasia bambino may have brown tips. The most common reason is over-watering. Alocasias are native to tropical regions and prefer moist, but not soggy, soil. Allowing the soil to dry out between waterings will help prevent brown tips.
Another reason for brown tips can be too much direct sunlight. Alocasias enjoy bright indirect light and too much direct sun can scorch the leaves, causing brown tips. Moving your plant to a shadier spot may help improve the situation.
Brown tips can also be caused by fertilizer burn. Using too much fertilizer or fertilizer that is too high in nitrogen can cause leaf burn
Alocasia Bambino Dropping Leaves
There are a few reasons why your Alocasia bambino might be dropping leaves. It could be due to too much water, not enough light, or pests/diseases.
If you think it’s due to too much water, make sure you’re letting the soil dry out between watering sessions. If it’s not getting enough light, try moving it to a brighter spot (but out of direct sunlight). And if you think there might be pests or diseases, inspect the leaves carefully and look for signs of insects or fungus. Treat accordingly with an organic pesticide or fungicide.
Final Thoughts
Alocasia Amazonica Bambino is a gorgeous plant with a petite size, perfect for your coffee tables and shelves. But what’s impressive about it is how easy it is to grow and maintain indoors. If you don’t have a lot of experience with plants, getting this particular species will be a good idea. It’s small, low-maintenance, and tough to kill.