Alocasia Origins & Care

Do you have an Alocasia, but he/she just doesn't act right? You've come to the right place! Below you will find all the details you need regarding where Alocasia come from, what they need, and how to be a successful Alocasia parent according to my own research and experience. 

Temperature/Humidity

Alocasia are a beautiful plants originating in Subtropical Asia, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Australia. Temperatures in these regions have average lows of 55 degrees and average highs of 91 degrees Fahrenheit. Subtropical and tropical areas of this part of the world tend to have higher humidity rates, somewhere between 55-85%. When you bring one of these babies home, you want to get as close to their natural environment as possible. If you live in the Northern portions of the US, bring your tropical plants indoors when the temperatures begin to drop below 55 degrees consistently. When bringing them indoors, be sure to cleanse thoroughly to prevent pest outbreaks in your home. Refer to the "How to Prevent and Treat Pest Outbreaks" blog post for more details. During the winter months, if you have to use heat, you may need to supplement the ambient humidity in your home with a humidifier. I would also suggest purchasing an indoor/outdoor hygrometer. This measures both the ambient humidity and temperature. 

Watering

When it comes to watering, I've found a few things over the years. Typical green Alocasia are ok in a chunky media with a rather normal watering schedule. By normal watering schedule, this is exactly what I mean. If you are not using clear nursery pots, take a wooden chopstick, stick it completely down to the bottom of the pot, and pull out. If the stick is half or more dry with minimal dirt sticking to the chopstick, it is time to water. You can water from the top or water from the bottom, just make sure the entirety of the media gets wet every time you do water. The frequency you water will depend on your house conditions, hence why using the wooden chopstick method is almost fool proof. Variegated Alocasia are a little bit more finicky. Heck, variegated anything is finnicky in all honesty. I keep my variegated Alocasia in clear nursery pots with humidity domes that also self water. Taking these measures helps prevent root rot, and crusty leaves. Since I'm using a semi-hydro method for these Alocasia, I feed them every time I fill up the reservoir. I still allow my reservoir to dry out for two to three days before refilling. 

Potting

There are three methods to keeping Alocasia. The first is in a chunky aroid mix. I use a combination of coarse perlite, pumice, orchid bark, compost, and horticultural charcoal. This is the mix where a wooden chopstick is used to test media moisture levels. The second method uses semi-hydroponics. You can use leca, lava rock, fluval stratum, lechuza pon, or a combination of each. I personally use a mix of fluval stratum and perlite or fluval stratum and perlite. Leca tends to be too chunky for the delicate roots of an Alocasia and can cause damage. When feeding my Alocasia I use a fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10. I also add prop drops to the water to aid root development and growth. The third method is to use strictly water and fertilizer. Yes this plant can live in water, but I found that the leaves are smaller and the lifespan of the plant is much shorter. Try out each method to see which one is best suited for your home.

Lighting

Finally, let's talk lighting. Generally this plant appreciates bright indirect light. What does bright indirect light mean? It means the plant can see the sky, but the suns rays do not directly touch the leaves. It is fine for the plant to receive direct morning sun and early to mid afternoon sun, but late afternoon to evening sun can scorch any plant. Every plant can benefit from some direct sun. If you are keeping your Alocasia indoors, it is best to supplement sunlight with grow lights. All of my Alocasia receive 14 hours of light a day all year round. If you have a hard time keeping up with how much sun time your plant is receiving, you can use timers on your plant lights.

Toxicity

Keep in mind this plant can be mildly toxic to humans and pets. It can cause irritation to the mouth and eyes if there is direct contact. If ingested the plant can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and delirium.

Still need tips and tricks for your specific plant, send me an email or chat. I'll be happy to help!