I was away recently for about a month, and returned to find my Alocasia 'Sumo' blooming. I had brought it indoors before I left to protect it from the cold. This is the first Alocasia I've had bloom, and I was hoping I could maybe pollinate some of these?

How do you properly pollinate an Alocasia? I've read I'll have to make a cut in the spathe to access the female part of the flower, but I'm not clear on the timing. Some blooms are already finished, but there's a fresh one open now, and some more on the way. Any tips?

I asked this once and was told by people who pollinate them that the window is very narrow. As soon as the spadix becomes unsheathed, it is ready to pollinate. Usually it will release the pollen at NIGHT. You have roughly 24 hours time, a little less. to brush the pollen down onto the female flower that you expose. After that, both the pollen and the flowers turn themselves off so to speak.

I do not think that you can 'save' alocasia pollen like we do Alocasia pollen (in a baggie in the refrigerator). It has a definite lifespan

Can I pollinate the same flower? Or do I need two?

Any chance I could save pollen from this one just long enough for when another opens? I have one that looks pretty close to opening.

You only need one. The top part of the spadix is the male part that makes the pollen. The middle part is a barren no mans land. The bottom part is the female part. You have to brush the pollen downwards from top to bottom.

You can try saving it, but like I said, I have both read and been told by people who hybridize them that the pollen (like the female flowers) is only viable for a period of maybe 24 hours