Alocasia Plant Care Guide
About Alocasia’s
Alocasias are one of the most unique varieties of houseplants you can have in your home. Their leaves vary in size, texture, color, and shape. Their most popular being the African mask plant. If you are up for a challenge, the alocasia is best for advanced plant parents. It has harsh humidity and watering requirements. In non-optimal conditions, things can get out of hand pretty quickly. This article will go over all of the tips and tricks for growing and caring for your alocasia houseplant.
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Giant taro, upright elephant ears
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Alocasia
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Arums, Araceae
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Herbaceous Perennial
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Advanced
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3-4 feet
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Bright, indirect light
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Aerated and well-drained
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5.5-6.5, slightly acidic
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10-11 (USDA)
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Southeast Asia, in subtropical areas among forest floors.
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Very toxic to dogs, cats, and humans
Most Common Types of Alocasia
There are around 90 species of alocasia in the Araceae family. They naturally live among forest floors in subtropical regions of Asia. The rarest types of alocasia include the azlanii, zebrina, and silver dragon. The most expensive one of the bunch is the famous purple alocasia azlannii, ranging in price from $250-$600. Below lists some of the most popular variations of alocasia.
Alocasia Black Velvet
Famous for its dark green velvety leaves with prominent white midrib and veins.
Alocasia Regal Shield
Known for its large purple tinged leaves. The leaves are durable and will stand out in any green space.
Alocasia Zebrina
Known for its large heart shaped leaves. It has glossy green leaves with yellow tinged coloration.
Alocasia Polly
Commonly referred to as, the alocasia amazonica or African mask plant. This is the most popular choice of alocasia.
Alocasia Odora
Referred to as the giant elephant ear. This variation thrives in high heat and humidity.
Alocasia Silver Dragon
A rarer variation of alocasia that is best for terrariums. It has thick small leaves.
Sunlight Requirements
Alocasias prefer to be in bright, indirect light. If you are keeping your alocasia indoors, place your pot near an east or west facing window. Do not place the plant directly next to the window but a few feet away. Never put your alocasia in direct light as this can burn the leaves and be detrimental to the overall health of the plant.
Humidity Requirements
For optimal conditions, alocasias need to have humidity levels of 60% or higher. The most difficult part of taking care of an alocasia plant is its humidity requirements. Many choose to purchase a cabinet with climate controls to maintain the temperamental qualities alocasias require. If a climate controlled cabinet is not in your budget, use pebble trays with water or invest in a humidifier. Another way to provide humidity to your alocasia is by daily misting with a spray bottle.
If you are keeping your alocasia outdoors, make sure that the humidity levels in your area are high enough for your plant. Drooping leaves, leaf curling, brown leaf tips, and leaf edges are all signs that your alocasia is not receiving enough moisture.
Temperature Requirements
The best temperature for an alocasia plant is between 60°-80°F. If you live in an area that temperatures drop below 50 degrees, be sure to bring your alocasia plant indoors a few weeks before the first frost. Make sure that the change is gradual, sudden changes in your plant’s environment can cause shock or even death. Avoid placing your alocasia near vents or areas in the home that experiences drafts.
Watering Requirements
Since alocasia plants love humidity and moisture, it goes the same with watering. Ideally, you should be watering your alocasia weekly paired with frequent misting. To avoid over watering, wait until the first two inches of soils dry out before watering again. Over watering an alocasia will cause fungal infections, droopy leaves, and mushy stalks.
Soil Requirements
Alocasias prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. A perfect mix is composed of:
Coarse Sand
Peat moss
For more eco-friendly alternatives to peat moss, use Coco Coir, and Coconut Husk.
When taking care of your alocasia, make sure that the soil is moist and loose, not soggy and stiff. Ensure that the pot that you are using has drainage holes.
How do I plant alocasia corms?
It’s a difficult task growing alocasias from seed, but if you're up for the challenge follow these steps on how to successfully grow an alocasia.
Step One: Make sure that your bulb is hard.
Step Two: Place the bulb in your soil mix composed of, coco coir and perlite, with the root-part down.
Step Three: Place in tray or small seedling pot and cover.
Step Four: Keep the soil moist and never allow it to dry out. Make sure that the environment that you are keeping the seedling tray/pot has humidity levels higher than 60%.
Step Five: Place the pot/tray near a window that receives a lot of bright, indirect lighting.
Can I keep my alocasia plant indoors or outdoors?
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Yes, you can keep your alocasia plant indoors. Just make sure to maintain its humidity, watering, and temperature requirements and you should be good to go.
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Yes, you can keep your alocasia outdoors, but only under certain circumstances. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be able to keep your alocasia outdoors. If you live in an area that experiences periods of drought, keeping your alocasia outdoors may not be the best idea. If you live in an area that experiences long periods of humidity, you may be able to keep your alocasia outdoors. Be mindful, that if you live in an area that temperatures drop below 60 degrees, to gradually bring your plant indoors a few weeks before first frost.
Susceptible Diseases
Alocasias are susceptible to many pests and diseases, some of which include the following:
Root, Crown, and Stem Rot
Powdery Mildew
Leaf Spot
Scale
Propagation
Alocasias sprout from rhizomes, meaning they are not the best choice for propagating from cuttings. But you can separate your alocasia and plant in separate pots. Below are three simply steps on how to propagate your favorite alocasia plants.
Step One: Remove the plant from the pot and carefully separate the soil from the roots. Run the roots gently under room temperature water when clumping occurs.
Step Two: Gently separate the loosely connected roots. Always use delicate hands when caring for roots of any plant, especially alocasias.
Step Three: Use soil propagation in a plastic nursery pot. Soil should always remain moist.
In a few weeks after caring for your new alocasia plants, new roots should form and you will have a healthy thriving plant in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to the ASPCA, alocasia plants are very toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. Consumption may cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lip, difficulty swallowing and more. If ingestion occurs, contact a medical professional immediately and visit the ASPCA for more information.
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One of the most common reasons for yellowing alocasia leaves is due to overwatering. The general rule of thumb when taking care of your alocasia is to wait for the top 2 inches of soil to dry out before watering. The soil should never be soggy or overly saturated. If you see yellow leaves, make sure to use clean shears/scissors to cut off the dying leaves. Leaving yellow leaves can lead to disease and unwanted pests.
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Drooping alocasia leaves are due to low humidity and insufficient light. Because of the alocasia's temperamental humidity requirements, it's likely due to moisture. If you see drooping leaves, it may be time to invest in a humidifier. If a humidifier is out of your price range, increase the frequency of misting, or get a pebble tray.
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The main thing that dictates how many leaves your alocasia produces is due to location. Make sure that you are reaching the alocasia's optimal lighting requirements. Place your alocasia near a west or east facing window with bright indirect light for growing success.