As you stated Alocasia Amazonica is a hybrid while Alocasia sanderiana is a scientifically described species. Without examining the scientific characteristics it is very difficult to tell them apart. according to Bill Rotolante of Silver Krome Gardens in Homestead, FL Alocasia Amazonica is either a hybrid of Alocasia watsoniana x Alocasia sanderiana or a cross between Alocasia watsoniana x Alocasia nobilis. If you check the scientific sources you'll find that Alocasia watsoniana is a synonym and is now correctly Alocasia longiloba. You can find many of the characteristics of any of these species by logging onto TROPICOS which is a service of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. If you look up a species' name then click on "Specimens" you will find a list of collections which will tell you where the species originates. Go down the list and look to the extreme right side and click on the accession numbers. Some, but not all, will list the field notes of a variety of botanists and you can frequently find detailed information about the stem, petioles, cataphylls, blades and inflorescences. If you compare those characteristics to your plant you may find similarities or differences. Botanists Pete Boyce in Malaysia and Alistair Hay in Australia are the two best sources for accurate information. If you'll send me a personal email I'll gladly give you their email addresses. The method of growing any is the same, just be sure and use a very porous soil. You can find my address at the bottom of the homepage on the ExoticRainforest website or send a note through GardenWeb. Steve

There are many commercially created names for hybridized Alocasia that are very similar and likely one and the same. Aroids are extremely variable in appearance and don't always take on the same leaf shape so growers love to give the shapes a new name so they can try to sell more product. All are very similar to a plant that originated as Alocasia Amazonica. Alocasia Amazonica is a hybrid of Alocasia watsoniana x Alocasia sanderiana although some growers believe the plant was actually a cross between Alocasia watsoniana x Alocasia nobilis. The closest species plant is likely Alocasia longiloba which used to be known as Alocasia watsoniana. Alocasia watsoniana was sunk into synonymy with the Alocasia longiloba as a result of being published to science first. That determination was made by Australian aroid botanist Alistair Hay who likely knows more about Alocasia species than anyone else. Alocasia Amazoniica, Alocasia Polly and Alocasia Frydek are commercial names(not species names) for plants that are almost identical. In the past it was also sold as Alocasia 'Maxkowskii' My only suggestion would be to plant the tuber a bit deeper. I have a bed of them in my Exotic Rainforest atrium and not one came up this year. Last year the bed was full. I've seen this happen many times before so if the plant is slow to come out of dormancy don't give up. The link might help and includes a second link which explains natural variation in aroid species. Natural variation is extremely common and the basic rule is just because a leaf looks a little different does not mean it is a different plant. Here is a link that might be useful: Alocasia Amazonica

I'm not a big fan of petruska's method, it seems extreme and risky, cooking bulbs in a bag... There's no argument from me that it worked tho! I prefer gentler methods myself...if I was asleep, and someone poured blazing hot water on me...I'd wake up, but I'd throw a fit once I woke up! These alocasia don't seem to mind tho! Atleast not from what I've seen' They are very slow to wake up once dormant! No doubt about that! I too would caution you not to wake it up yet, unless you can artificially provide ample heat and LIGHT then you will only be stressing the plant worse, and likely sealing its fate... I'd wait until march or April and start uping the heat and moisture, if all goes well the plant might reappear in may or June lol... As to tropics reference of the name amozonica...there's apparently no correct name for this plant, poly is wrong, it's not a polyploid, amazonicas wrong, it comes from Asia, Alocasia mortefontanensis is name given to it when the original cross was made, over 100 years ago! For those who haven't read it, this link I added maybe helpful! It's an interesting read either way! I try my best to not get hung up on names of plants, I like the plant, ill grow it! I might name it Cindy or frank so I know who I'm talking about... Here is a link that might be useful: Exotic rainforest

Hey, there Ajacs. I noticed you had inquired about the care of your Alocasia amazonica hybrids. I don't grow this particular alocasia, and I don't grow them as houseplants. The alocasias I grow are in the garden, or just overwintering in the house until I get them planted in the year in spring (assuming they make it). Anyway, I found some culture information concerning Alocasia amazonica and hybrids that may be of some help to you, from Agri-Starts. Growing Information Temp: below 45F plant may go dormant Light: 65%-73% shade, likes high light, but will do reasonably well in 80% shade Soil: aerated mix containing bark, coarse perlite and peat moss Mature Height: 3-3 ½' Pot Size: 8-14" Hardiness: Zone 9 Major Pests: Mites (Control: Avid, Pentac, and Kelthane) Diseases: Alternaria, Botrytis Blight, Anthractnose, Phytophthora/Pythium Rot, Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot, and Xanthomonas Blight Origin: South East Asia Amazonica is an enduring favorite that has been around for a long time. It is a watsoniana x sanderiana. It typically has leaves 12-24" long by 6-11" wide. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green and the midrib is typically a lime-white. The primary lateral veins are surrounded by white-silver zones and some clones have an extensive network of silver veinlets between the primary lateral veins. The lower surface is typically matte purple with a green-white midrib and major lateral veins. Between the laterals on the lower surface the veinlets are pale green-white. The petiole is typically 15" long and is green with dull brown variegation in the lower half. The corms are white with a tint of very pale pink. I have to add that this is usually the dormant season for alocasias and colocasias, and while I wouldn't totally withhold water, you might want to cut back on watering some, especially since it appears your plant is not in active growth. Don't fertilize now. Wait until it begins active growth in spring. You might want to put the plant outside once the night temperatures are in the 60's, in shade. I think Amazonicas like more shade than some alocasias. I have macrorhiza, wentii, and plumbea nigra, and they can take a bit more light than Amazonica, IMO. Anyway, for it to be dormant now sounds pretty normal to me. It may be hardy outside in your zone, but I wouldn't try that now. The bumps you noted, to me, are just part of the tuber. My tubers are kind of bumpy right at the bottom where they enter the soil, so I don't think that is unusual either. Humidity could be an issue, and you may have to deal with spider mites, a common ailment for alocasias in a dry indoor environment. Do you have a cool mist humidifier on it, or do you set the plant on a saucer of rocks (saucer wider than the pot) with water in the saucer, but not enough where the water will reach the roots of the plant? I used to just run a cool mist humidifier on my indoor plants that like high humidity environment, and that seemed to work. Hope this helps you. Susan