RE: not-so-variegated Alocasia micholitziana variegata

From: Rand Nicholson <writserv at nbnet.nb.ca> on 1997.11.22 at 03:41:53(1645) >---------- >From: aroid-l@mobot.org on behalf of Lester Kallus >Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 1997 7:25 PM >To: ju-bo@msn.com >Subject: not-so-variegated Alocasia micholitziana variegata > >I have (or perhaps should say "had") a variegated Alocasia micholitiziana >"Frydek". It came with one macerated leaf and an active growing tip. The >next 3 leaves were nicely variegated and the plant continued to grow quite >well. > >The last leaf to come out was solid green with some very faint lighter >green discolorations. A new leaf now is also nearly totally green with >little if any variegation. > >Do these plants revert? Have I spent a near fortune for a plant that I >already had? Is there anything I can do to increase its variegation? The >light level had actually increased when the variegation began to decrease. >It was outdoors at the time and night temperatures were dropping into the >low 50s. It's now indoors and the light level has consequently dropped but >the temperature has increased. > Les > >Dear Les, >I have seen variegated Alocasias put out all-green leaves, then start to >produce the variegated or part variegated leaves after an interval. I have >also noticed that larger plants seem to produce less variegated leaves than >the immature and smaller plants. >Do any other growers out there notice this "trend"? >Good luck. >Julius >ju-bo@msn.com I have witnessed this phenomenon in other species and have noted that cuttings from a variegated plant that has reverted to green sometimes regain their variegation after they become established. What is the explanation for this? Could it be a genetic thing that is somehow "switched" back on by the trauma of the propagation method? Kind Regards, Rand +More Rand Nicholson New Brunswick Maritime Canada, Z 5b

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