Alocasia ‘Bisma’

Background of Alocasia ‘Bisma’

Alocasia ‘Bisma’ belongs to a group of closely related silver-leaved Alocasias from West Kalimantan on Borneo. Their exact natural habitats are unknown.

Alocasia ‘Bisma’ growing guide

• Light: Give it bright, filtered light and soften the strongest midday rays. Steady leaf production and compact growth show that the position supplies enough light.
• Water: Keep the substrate evenly moist from the surface through the centre of the pot. Water thoroughly as the upper layer begins drying and allow the excess to leave through clear drainage openings.
• Temperature: Maintain 20–28°C and keep the root zone close to 22–26°C during active growth. A warm substrate supports regular water and nutrient uptake.
• Humidity: The silvery foliage develops best with a stable 60–80% relative humidity range and gentle air movement.
• Substrate: Choose a fine yet porous mixture of coco or peat, small bark and perlite or pumice. It should hold moisture evenly and regain air soon after watering.
• Feeding: Add a complete fertiliser at the low end of the label rate to most waterings during active leaf growth. Reduce the concentration when growth pauses and clear accumulated salts with a thorough watering when residue appears.
• Repotting: Match the pot to the roots and increase its size gradually. Leave around 20–30% fresh mix around the existing root system and keep the growing point at its established depth.
• Propagation: Collect small corms when the plant is repotted and sprout them in warm, lightly moist material. Separate a basal offset after it has formed independent roots and an active growing point.
• Handling safety: Before repotting or unpotting, disturbing the root ball, cutting, pruning, division or propagation, wear gloves and keep Alocasia sap away from skin and eyes. After handling, wash hands and clean tools.

Common problems with Alocasia ‘Bisma’

• Established leaves differ in shape, silvering, relief or texture: Firm, stable variation can belong to an individual plant and needs no action.
• New translucent water blisters become corky: This development supports oedema. Empty standing water, confirm free drainage, reduce prolonged saturation and improve gentle airflow. Stable relief repeated across firm leaves is harmless; judge improvement by later leaves.
• Fresh yellowing, chlorosis or loss of firmness progresses: Check root moisture and light. Water thoroughly and drain when genuinely dry and the base is firm; if the mix stays wet, stop watering and empty standing water. If decline continues, wear gloves and keep sap away from skin and eyes before unpotting. Retain every firm root and cut only directly confirmed dark, mushy, hollow, slimy or collapsing tissue with disinfected tools. If roots are firm, do not cut them. Repot surviving roots in fresh airy medium in a clean draining root-sized pot, keep the plant in bright filtered light, then wash hands and clean tools. Feed only after root moisture is corrected and healthy growth resumes. Seek professional diagnosis before cutting a soft base, crown or unclear boundary.
• A water-soaked lesion grows: Isolate the plant, keep foliage dry and stop splash transfer. If a severely affected leaf requires removal, wear gloves and keep sap away from skin and eyes before cutting it with a disinfected tool, then wash hands and clean tools. Recurrence, rapid spread or petiole-to-crown entry needs professional diagnosis before further cutting or chemical treatment.
• Visible pests or fresh feeding damage appears: Isolate the plant, inspect new growth and leaf undersides and rinse accessible pests. If the pest is confirmed and live insects or fresh damage remain, use a product labelled for that pest and indoor ornamentals, following its directions and repeat interval.

Alocasia ‘Bisma’: toxic if chewed

• Pets: This Alocasia is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep the plant and any cut pieces where pets cannot chew them.
• Children and handling: Keep it out of reach of children. Sap from damaged tissue can irritate skin and eyes, so wash your hands after pruning and avoid touching your face.
• Why it irritates: Alocasia tissue contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing or contact with sensitive tissue can cause immediate local irritation.
• Possible symptoms: Mouth exposure can cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, nausea or vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
• After exposure: For a pet, contact a veterinarian. For a person, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse with water; seek medical or poison-control advice if symptoms are significant. Breathing difficulty or rapidly increasing swelling needs urgent medical attention.

Botanical name history for Alocasia ‘Bisma’

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott introduced Alocasia in 1832 as a section within Colocasia. George Don published Alocasia at genus rank in 1839. The accepted conserved author citation is Alocasia (Schott) G.Don.