I find some suggestions but they are usually followed by comments on their ineffectiveness. Does anyone know an effective way to keep cats from eating my Dragon Trees and Spider Plants and such? My place is small and there is virtually no where high or inaccessible to the cats, the Dragon Trees are outgrowing the only tall spots I could manage for them.

One thing I have heard is Rosemary. Has anyone tried this? If I can't grow Rosemary, would some type of seasoning or oil work?

Any alternate suggestions, tried and true? And if so, please specify how I would apply it to the plant (soil, leaves, surrounding area, etc.) and if there would be any risk to the plant (I also have Bamboo and a few other delicacies I can't name).

So, my few Qs:
1. Do these plants sound like a good mix?
2. I really don't know how to determine how much to water the soil right out of the gate... Any pointers? Rule of thumb?
3. If the moisture level is uncertain, should I close the lid immediately? Or wait... how long?
4. Any simple tips to keep a fern alive? I don't expect much from the ivy twig but I'd like to keep this fern alive (it would be my first survivor fern).

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Help!

Miami postman Salvador Mauro created the plant as a cross of two related Alocasia variations of the same species through hybridization in Miami in the 1950’s. Alocasia longiloba is the only true parent but cultivars now known as synonyms A. watsoniana Hort.) x Alocasia sanderiana Hort were the parents he used. The word Hort. indicates a horticultural name rather than a scientific name. The plant is highly variable and takes on different shapes as a result.

It is also often sold as Alocasia Polly but the original name was spelled "Poly" and was changed by the tissue culture company in Florida that now markets the plant. Alocasia Amazonica and Alocasia Polly are one and the same plant with the only difference being Alocasia Polly does not grow as large. This is a result of variation only. Alocasia Poly (the original name) was found in a group of plants at a nursery in Miami owned by Denis and Bill Rotolante.

Interestingly, Alocasia Amazonica does not and has never grown naturally in the Amazon. All Alocasia originate in the Southeastern portion of Asia or the islands near the area. There are plants now living in South America and Central America but only as imported plants. The name "Amazonica" came from the name of Salvador's nursery, which was the Amazon Nursery. It is also sometimes referred to incorrectly as Alocasia x Amazonica.

In communication with Rafaël Govaerts, a researcher with the Royal Botanic Garden Kew in London, he has elected to indicate the name Alocasia x amazonica is an invalid name while the only possible valid name in a scientific paper for the hybrid would be the unplaced (non-accepted) name Alocasia mortefontanensis, a name used in a single botanical paper for the same cross was created in the 1800's by a pair of Jesuit priests in France.

Alocasia species often have a gene that causes them to go dormant and there is really nothing anyone can do other than to wait out the time the tuber elects to spend underground. Despite the offerings of many, all Alocasia grow from a tuber, never a corm nor bulb. Once it goes dormant just slow way down on the water and it will eventually come out of dormancy again.

The soil needs to be porous and drain quickly. Keep the plant in bright light near a window if grown indoors with the soil evenly moist.

Although I realize most will not be interested in how this plant came into being, since it is one of the most popular of all house plants a few may find the info below of interest.

Sorry if some find this lengthy post boring, I simply fell in love with learning about the plant several years ago.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Alocasia Amazonica

Why are the edges browning and some small brown spots in the mid-leaf area?

She seems to suck up water pretty quickly so I water her frequently, moderately moist, every 2-4 days. My house temp stays roughly 64-68*F (65*F average). She receives indirect artificial light. I'm thinking I will try moving the grow light closer, good or bad idea? Any tips on how to save her?