If you are looking for a jungle feeling in your home, you should definitely consider Alocasia. It comes in a number of varieties with beautiful and decorative leaves so that they often become a collector's item.

Scientific name: Alocasia sp. (also called elephant ear)
Family: Cone family (Araceae)

Care tips for Alocasia

Light

Alocasia thrives best in light, but not too much direct sunlight. It can be well placed near a south-facing window in autumn and winter. Keep it away from the most intense scorching sun in the summer months. A window facing north or east is usually a better choice. You can also use plant lights in autumn and winter.

Temperature

Normal room temperature is ideal. The plant does not like cold drafts, and it must not be below 15 degrees. If it gets too cold, you risk the leaves turning bright - or the plant going dormant and closing the leaves.

Air humidity

Alocasia is a plant that comes from the rainforest, and it likes high humidity. Place it some distance away from the fireplace and the heat pump. A humidifier Do wonders for such tropical plants or a dish of water nearby, but don't spray the leaves!

How to water Alocasia?

Alocasia thrives best in airy soil that is kept evenly moist. 3-4 cm of the top of the soil should dry up between each watering. For Alocasia you can use well-drained peat-free soil. If you are going to make the soil yourself, mix in a good amount orchid bark or Leca , coarse mineral substrate and soaked coconut .

How to fertilize Alocasia?

Alocasia grows all year round so it should get one good fertilizer with every watering in the summer. In winter, it is sufficient to fertilize it every 3rd watering.

Repotting Alocasia

Repotting Alocasia should be done from March to October. Selection of pot size is in relation to the amount of roots. Choose a plastic pot with drainage holes that holds about 3 cm of soil around the root ball. It is important that you give the plant high humidity after repotting.


Propagation of Alocasia

Alocasia is propagated by division and root tubers. You find a side shoot with roots and divide it from the mother plant. Plant the offshoot in a new pot with good soil, and be sure to give it high humidity at the start. Alocasia can also be propagated by removing the small root tubers and planting by itself either in pure moss or in soil. Keep the little tuber warm and moist. You achieve the best results with underheating and in a small mini-greenhouse.

Common plant problems

You can tell if Alocasia is not thriving by observing the leaves. Brown leaf edges are a sign of poor water balance, either due to overwatering or poor roots. If the leaves are both light and brown, it may have been sunburned. If all the leaves clap together, it has gone into hibernation. Then you can water less than usual, until it seems to come back to life.

Most plants can be attacked by pests. For Alocasia, lice, spider mites and thrips are among the most common. You can treat the plants with a solution of neem oil and green soap. In any case, you should keep newly purchased plants in quarantine for 3-4 weeks.