Alocasia Care Guide
Commonly known as the Elephant Ear, the Alocasia (which is also its Latin name) is an ornate leafy genus of plants belonging to the Araceae family, native to tropical and subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia.
The thing that attracts people most to this plant are always the leaves, which are almost alien-like in some species since the veins are so large and the leaf shapes quite unusual. The leaves are typically V-shaped with deep lobes, and a glossy deep green with large, silvery-white veins. However, some there are around 80 species of this genus, offering a variety of shapes and colours across species, including green, pink, purple, and red.
Some specimens can grow leaves as large as three feet long, so it’s always a good idea to check growth rates of the species you like before purchasing one as their growth rate it moderate.
It’s important to note that these plants can be a little challenging for beginners, but we’ll help you provide the right environment for one.
Below, we provide the best care tips for keeping your Alocasia happy and healthy.
Alocasia Gallery
Alocasia Wentii Alocasia Red Secret Alocasia Amazonica Polly Alocasia Lauterbachiana
Some specimens can grow leaves as large as three feet long, so it’s always a good idea to check growth rates of the species you like before purchasing one as their growth rate it moderate.
It’s important to note that these plants can be a little challenging for beginners, but we’ll help you provide the right environment for one.
Below, we provide the best care tips for keeping your Alocasia happy and healthy.
Lighting
Despite originating in tropical climates, Alocasias prefer bright, indirect lighting. This is because in their natural habitat, Alocasias grow beneath the canopies of much larger plants and trees.
It’s important not to place your Alocasia in direct sunlight as this will cause the leaves to burn. That said, they will not tolerate low lighting either. The leaves will droop n this case.
How to provide the right amount of light for Alocasia:
Ensure the plant receives bright but dappled light throughout the day, or is placed near a window which provides bright, indirect light either in the early morning, or late afternoon.
We recommend and have used all of the below lights, especially the SANSI bulb as this is a great way to adapt a standard lamp or light fitting.
Watering
The type of water Alocasias need:
Alocasias are sensitive to salt and minerals, so make sure you leave out a jug of water for a few hours before you plan on watering, to allow unwanted substances to evaporate, or if possible use rain/filtered water.
When to water your Alocasia:
As a rule of thumb, for smaller pots you should water your Calathea when the top inch of soil has dried. For larger pots, allow the top two inches to dry before watering.
Note that during the winter they usually go through a dormancy period, and will not require watering as often as the soil takes longer to dry out.
How to water your Alocasia:
You should keep your Alocasia in a well-drained pot to keep the root aerated. When watering, allow all the water to drain through the pot. The soil should be moist but not wet.
Overwatering can lead to root rot and droopy leaves, whilst under watering will result in brown leaf tips or edges. This plant cannot handle drought, so be sure to maintain water levels closely.
Humidity
Alocasias need high levels of humidity to thrive, meaning they need warmth and moisture around the leaves.
The ideal temperature for these plants is preferably between 65-85° F / 18-29°C.
How to create humidity for your Alocasia:
Misting the leaves regularly helps to maintain humidity, but be careful not to allow sitting water on the leaves as this will damage them. A good way to provide natural humidity is to place a pebble tray next to the plant or place near other plants.
We recommend any of the below humidifiers. We have tried all of them and depending on your space these can really help if you are a forgetful mister!
Soil
Despite the exotic nature of these plants, they will thrive happily in standard indoor potting soil. Simply fertilise once per month between spring and autumn. Easy!
Propagation
To propagate your Alocasia, you will need a well-established mother plant.
Alocasias can be quite easily split into smaller plants before repotting, which is best done in the Spring, ready for growing season. Alocasia are rhizomatous plants and can be split between the rhizomes
How to propagate your Alocasia:
- Water the plant the day before you plan to divide it, to encourage quicker recovery and reduce stress.
- On the day, gently tip your Alocasia on its side and slide it out of the pot.
- Brush away the loose soil and gently separate the roots and rhizomes.
- Divide the stems and roots along the natural divisions, using your fingers, working slowly and gently. You should not need to break any roots to separate out the root balls.
- When potting, ensure offspring are planted with the same potting mix as the mother plant, and include some from the original pot to reduce stress. The pots sould provide a 2-inch diameter around the root balls, and each root ball should contain at least 1 rhizome.
Ensure you do not fertilise young plants for the first 3 months after they are separated from the mother plant.
Alocasia also grow from bulbs. Whilst repotting your plant you can remove any bulbs and repot them to also create new plants.
Colours and Variegation
All Alocasia species are inherently variegated, as the veins usually provide a stark contrast in colour to the rest of the leaf.
Alocasias with variegation on the leaf do exist but are quite rare. Variegated species include the Alocasia Hilo, however stem variegation is a lot more common such as on the Alocasia Zebrina.
Toxicity
Alocasia are sadly toxic to humans and pets, so they are unsuitable to homes where children or furry friends may nibble.
Alocasia plants contain insoluble oxalate crystals similar to other plants in the Araceae family. Chewing or biting into this plant will release these crystals causing tissue penetration and irritation the mouth and digestive system.
Special Information
Many of the Alocasia species we see today are actually hybrids!
The most common one is the Alocasia Sanderiana, which is the species most commonly referred to as the Kris Plant. This is because its wavy leaves resemble the shape of the kalis dagger, also known as a kris blade, native to the Philippines where this species can be found.
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