The Alocasia, also known as the Elephant Ear, is a striking plant with arrowhead shaped leaves and distinct veins. Native to tropical areas in Asia and eastern Australia, there are nearly 100 species of Alocasia, each one varying slightly in terms of appearance. They grow from two to nine feet tall depending on the species. These plants can be fast growers, producing up to a new leaf almost every week in ideal growing conditions. Alocasias are known for their foliage, but they do produce flowers occasionally. These flowers differ in shape from traditional flowers, having more of a corn-cob appearance. Certain Alocasias, like the Alocasia macrorrhizos, also known as giant taro, are edible after preparation. However, the majority of these plants are toxic to both pets and humans if ingested, causing mouth and stomach irritation.
Alocasias thrive in bright indirect lighting, with bigger variants able to be trained to take on full sun. The brighter the light, the better the leaf color.
Water using filtered water when the top 50% of the soil is dry.
These plants grow best in higher humidity, preferably between 70%- 80%, and temperatures between 65-80°F. They are averse to the cold, but somewhat tolerant of lower humidity. They do not do well when relocated too often.
Alocasias cannot be propagated from leaf cuttings. Instead, try sprouting a corm. Corms are small seed-like bulbs that grow in the plant’s root system underground. Corms store energy for the mother plant and produce new Alocasia pups. When repotting your Alocasia, corms can be removed and planted in dampn sphagnum moss to sprout.
This may be a sign of the plant having too low of light, too dry of soil, or a lack of nutrients.
Alocasias grow from tubers, which house reserve energy for it to keep growing, so having lost its leaves doesn’t mean it’s a lost cause. Be patient and ensure optimal conditions are provided to re-grow leaves!
