Alocasia Care Guide

Family: Araceae
Common Name: African Mask, Elephant Ears
Botanical Name: Alocasia species

Alocasiasare loved for their unique and striking foliage. They come in many shapes, including heart-shaped and arrow-shaped. Some are round and wide, while others get long and skinny with long split lobes.To add to this appeal, most have corrugated veins that create a beautiful texture and contrasting color to their leaves.Rather than climb like a philodendron or monstera, these plants grow in a bush-like pattern. You can propagate them by removing the corms. "Corms" are little bulbs, or rhizomes, that grow off of an alocasia's main tuber. Usually found below the soil surface, but can sometimes grow above the soil as well.

Alocasias have a reputation for not being the easiest plant to care for, but if you know what it needs, you can grow any plant to its fullest potential! Alocasias orginate in subtropical Asia as well as Eastern Austrialia. They grow on the forest floor in the shade of the larger trees growing above them. This is why some varieties grow very tall with giant leaves, coining the term elephant ear plants. Other varieties, called jewel alocasias, keep their compact small size and are more suited to keep in smaller places in your home. Because alocasias grow straight into the ground, they prefer to stayfairly moist and humid. Though they grow under a canopy and would seem to like low light, alocasias rather prefer bright indirect light to thrive.

Important! Alocasias are poisonous if you ingest them. This goes for pets and children as well so keep them out of reach. The sap can cause skin irritation as well.

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Light

Alocasias can tolerate and grow fine in low light conditions. They will become leggy with long stems and small leaves if they do not get adequate light. If you can give them bright indirect light, your alocasia will grow much faster in a more appealing pattern. If you are putting your plant outside for the summer choose a spot that gets shade. Direct sunlight will burn most alocasia leaves. The larger-leafed elephant ear alocasias can tolerate more direct sun. Remember, any plant that has been growing indoors and brought outside will need time to adjust to the extra light. They are more susceptible to burns if they are not used to direct sun.

Water

A goodindication of how much water a plant needs is its root size. Alocasias have very thin stringy roots. This means they need more water than your average houseplant. You should never let your alocasia get more than 50% dry.Ideally, let the top third of the soil get dry before watering it. These plants are also very susceptible to root rot.To prevent this you want your soil to dry out fast enough so that the roots aren't sitting in too much moisture for too long. This means the proper soil is important.

Soil

As most aroids do, alocasias love a chunky soil mix. It allows for good drainage and plenty of oxygen in the soil, which roots need to survive. Regular bagged potting soil is not going to cut it on its own. You can find all the additives you need at any home improvement store or big box store with a gardening section. Perlite and orchid bark are a must. Most easy recipes consist of one part soil (coco coir is the best), one part perlite, and one part bark. Extras can include coco husk which absorbs moisture, so if you use it add less soil. Pumice is also used like perlite, but it is heavier and doesn't float to the top over time. Because it's heavier it makes your pot heavy, so don't go by weight when deciding if your alocasia needs watering. A handful of horticultural charcoal is also a good idea. It helps absorb any built-up toxins in your soil. A handful of worm castings can also be added to any mix for easy access to nutrients. If you don't regularly use fertilizer water, this is a good time to add a slow-release fertilizer as well.Alocasias have a hard time taking up fertilization, so it's important to have nutrient-rich soil.

Temperature

Alocaias can grow in typical household temperatures of 65-75° Fahrenheit. Of course, they are tropical plants, so higher temperatures are ideal. If the temperature drops below 55℉, there is a risk of cold damage. If you have your alocasia outside remember to check the temperatures. If temperatures begin to stayconsistently below 65 degrees they may go into dormancy. During this time they will lose a few leaves and stop growing as fast. This doesn't usually happen to most houseplants unless they are in a drafty area or close to a cold window.

Humidity

Alocasias thrive in typical household humidity levels, but their growth acceleratessignificantly when the humidity surpasses 60% and reaches its peak at around 75%. A lot of things can help raise humidity levels. Try sitting them on pebble trays or adding a fountain or humidifier. Even clumping plants together in groups can raise the relative humidity.

Fertilizer

Alocasias are one of the faster-growing varieties of houseplants when they get proper feedings.Because alocasias have a hard time receiving fertilizers through their roots, it's important to give them enough so your plant can get fedproperly. This means regular fertilizing with lots of nitrogen. Nitrogen encourages leaf production which is what we are growing them for! Alocasias often flower when they start to mature. It is a myth that a flower on an alocasia means it is going to die. This is in fact not the case and is actually a good thing. It means your alocasia is happy!Some sources will tell you to cut your alocasia flower when you see it because it sucks the nutrients and energy from your plant. In reality, your plant has already used the energy to create the flower so cutting it will not solve the problem. It can cause your plant to flower again because it wants to complete the flowering cycle. Instead, add some extra fertilizer that has some extra phosphorous. This will help support your alocasia while it blooms for you. You want to fertilize your plants regularly as long as they are actively growing. This means at least once a month, or more if you are diluting it. Take notice of your alocasia is going dormant and remember not to feed it during this time. If it's not growing the roots won't take up the nutrients. Instead, it will sit in the soil andeventually burn the roots!

Pro Tips

1. If you are growing alocasia in lower light or a window, rotate your plant! you can turn it 90 degrees every time you water to prevent it from leaning toward its light source.
   
   
2. There is no rush to repot your alocasia, they like to be root bound! Because they growdirectly in the ground in their natural habitat, a long skinny pot is their preferred home.
   
   
3. A common complaint about alocasias is they lose one leaf when a new one comes in. If you are properly watering it and giving it proper light it is most likely a fertilizer problem. Alocaias are heavy feeders!
   
   
4. When you are repotting your alocasia, don't immediately throw out the soil. look through it for corms that look like small round bulbs.Place them in a moist medium (they grow fastest in moss and perlite, but tend to rot in soil for us) and cover them with cling wrap to stay wet. Poke some holes in the top so it doesn't mold. In a month or so you will have a new baby plant!