Aroids are plants in the Araceae family: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A... which includes Philodendron, Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), Alocasia, Colocasia (Elephant Ears) and so many more! Aroids have a Spadix ("flower/inflorescence") surrounded by a Spathe (a modified leaf) as shown in the photos below:



Many of us enjoy having a bit of nature inside our homes and although the natural habitat of all plants is outdoors growing either terrestrially (in soil), epiphytically (using another plant as a host) or aquatically (in water) we humans enjoy potting them up in containers for inside the house or on our porches and decks.

Most of us down here in the semi-tropics have Aroids. I have an assortment of Philos, a few Colocasia and some Alocasia as well as many Caladiums. Plus Hilo Beauty which the authorities can't seem to decide if it is Alocasia or Caladium.

Btw, we have a whole forum dedicated to Aroids, that's why you don't see them talked about all that much here on the Tropicals forum. Threads like this get going, then they get moved over to Aroids, so if this disappears . . .

My new baby this fall is Alocasia Okinawa Silver

Oh Elaine, I love the looks of that Okinawa Silver ... gorgeous!

Thanks, Lin, I am pretty smitten with it myself. Thankfully it's supposed to stay under 3ft. tall (it's just a baby, 10in. or so right now) so I'm going to 'evict' my huge Philo. Pastazanum from the big urn on the patio and put Okinawa Silver in its place. I got a start of this other noid from Prita (friend from that other site . . ) and it's turning some interesting colors up, too.

Lets see I have a golden pothos, a dwarf diffenbochia, a couple of philodenron hybrids. including heartleaf philodentron "brazil" a satin pothos, and a chinease evergreen sliver queen

I hope your A. pastazanum likes it's new home. The new variegated one looks great. Can't wait to see mature leaves.

Nice collection Plantsmylove. Do you have any photos? Love Satin Pothos, has anyone tried to get there's to shingle?
Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus 'Argyraeus')

Well, Pastazanum is still in the urn on the patio, because it's on wheels and I can move it into cover for the cold nights. Will have to plant it out by the end of Feb. and I really want to keep it somewhere I can see it easily. Scouting for the right spot in the semi-shady border now . . . it did well inside the pool cage last season, but it's just too big now and crawling out of the pot.

Yes, I've e-mailed Rita to ask the name of the other variegated Alocasia but she didn't answer. They go to Belize for long vacations so she may answer at some future time. Going to pot up little Okinawa Silver pretty soon. It hasn't missed a beat since it arrived!

I can put a name to that pretty face!

That's variegated xanthosoma robustum!
The petioles are more showy than the leaf, but they hide, the leaves will usually distort, or in sun, the white just scorches away... They can really be troublesome to grow... Don't like wet feet, love water... HATES THE COLD! I'm not kidding! 48 degrees while it's wet and its a goner... Doesn't store well either... Can't stay dry, rots when wet... If u only need a couple of months of dormancy it'll be ok, but the long winters here are no good for it... If I can get another one I have a home in a greenhouse already lined up!
They just are kinna weak, don't take abuse well, not that prolific, whatever, transplant shock, and the re-establishing time following it, are critical! They'll rot in a heartbeat! To hot too cold too wet... But wither away if left the least bit dry...
I miss mine but they never impressed anyone but me...
I think around 5-6' is max height, although the non variegated forms a monster! King of the xanthosoma!

I'd also not get hopes too high for the alocasia either, it's much more hardy, and it looks like yours has outstanding color!
They don't grow like alicasia tho... More like a self heading philo... A pot bound under watered one...
Just slow...
You'll have better results than me in your climate, likely with but of em!

They're beauties! But there's a reason they aren't on the market...