Native to the regions of South-East Asia. This variety of Alocasia is known for its beautiful silver to greenish foliage with dark green veins and midrib. The pattern on the leaf is lightly elevated giving that dragon scale like look.
Lighting: Prefers to be in bright indirect or filtered light. Avoid having your Alocasia in direct sun light as that will burn and damage the leaves. They also do not tolerate low light which can cause leaf yield to be minimal. Espcially if you also tend to over water. Meaning you’ll only have a few leaves at a time, when a new one grows one dies, making your Alocasia not look as full.
Watering: I usually allow the potting medium to be about 90% dry before watering. Making sure you allow the water to drain though before placing it back in it's decorative pot.
Soil Mixture: I usually have mine in a mixture that is balanced with high in nutrients but airy as well. This usually includes 50% regular potting mix, 45% cacti soil and 5% perlite or pumice. Sometimes, I'll dress the top layer with sphagnum moss to help add a bit of humidity.
Alocasia is a genus of the Araceae family. They are native to tropics of South-East Asia and Eastern Australia. There are about 80 different types that grow from rhizomatous or tuberous. They are perennial flower plants, cultivated in many parts of the world as ornamental houseplants for their striking and often times huge foliage. I mean, how can you not want to have something like this as a statement piece inside your house.
Do Alocasia require humidity?
Alocaisa do thrive better with humidity levels of at least 50%. Humidity helps prevent the tips and edges of the leaves from going brown. Create a humid environment around your plant by either getting a humidifier or use the old fashion pebble tray trick.
Are spider mites common?
A weak or stressed Alocasia is susceptible to leaf sucking pest like spider mites. They also show up more during the winter when temperature drops, and day light shortens. To prevent and manage spider mites, get in the habit of giving your Alocasia a good rinse or shower at least once every two weeks. Making sure you wash the leaves and petiole thoroughly. You can also spray your plant with insecticide soap and wipe down the leaves with a wet warm cloth (this should be part of your pest control management on all your plants)
How do you prevent it from going dormant during the winter?
Alocasia enter dormant stage during the winter because the temperature drops, and the day gets shorter. Like most tuberous perennial plants, they will wake up the following spring when the right living conditions (warm temperature and bright day light). As an indoor plant you can prevent your Alocasia from going completely dormant by making sure they are receiving the ideal environment. That means giving them a lot of bright light. It’s also important to make sure they stay warm throughout the winter and be mindful of not overwatering to prevent root rot.
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