Plant Care Alocasia

Alocasia

4.8 out of 5 (13 experiences)

Alocasia has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Alocasia has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Alocasia

Alocasias, commonly known as Elephant Ears, are some of the most common houseplants although their leaves can reach enormous sizes when grown outdoors! 🐘 They typically only support a few leaves at a time (more, when they get more sun!) so don't be concerned if you see an old leaf begin to retire after a new one emerges. They grow out of underground corms which are similar to bulbs, so next time you repot keep an eye out for baby Alocasias! They contain calcium oxalate crystals so be sure to keep them out of reach if you have children or pets! ⚠️

Taxonomy

Alocasia cucullata
Alocasia
Araceae
Alismatales

Also known as

Chinese Taro, Chinese Taro, Hooded Dwarf Elephant Ear, Chinese Ape, Buddha's Hand, 'hooded dwarf', Hooded Dwarf Elepant Ears, Alocasia calcutta and Alocasia rugosa

How to care for Alocasia

Water

How often to water your Alocasia

Water needs for Alocasia
0.5 cups
every 9

Alocasia needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Alocasia

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
Light

Check the growing potential in your area

A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Chinese Taro in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Alocasia: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Alocasia may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Alocasia in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Alocasia

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Alocasia: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Alocasia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Dormancy
Native Region

Care Summary for Alocasia

Alocasia

Alocasia


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Alocasia has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 6
Alocasia has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 5
Alocasia has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 4
Alocasia has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 1
@sanssouci.rd avatar
@@sanssouci.rd
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 545 XP
globe Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional
03/05/2022

Encountered this unique boy on a trip, it grows soo fast, you could easy find a new leave coming up overnight. Looks so majestic✨

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@JungleTzar avatar
@@JungleTzar
leaf-1 19 Plants
xp 405 XP
globe Edmonton, Alberta
10/30/2021

Noticed they love sticky 70% and up but this is not a deal breaker as long as we keep up with our watering.

Not to be mistaken with other Alocasias, these guys were discovered in the rocky portions of the rainforest, specifically in ultramafic sites.

I tried to mimic the substrate by making it more airy than the usual fluffy loamy Alocasia substrate, using more minerals as I think they rely more on a low and steady supply of Calcium/Magnesium more than Nitrogen, based on where they are found. Watering with ph adjusted to 5.7-6.5 (do not acidify all the time and check the soil if acidity builds up) to make those calcium bioavailable.

They will survive in any soil. Part of the hobby for me is mimicking and nerding out on their natural habitat so yeah 😂

Browns easily Browns easily
Survivor Survivor
@bursill96 avatar
@@bursill96
leaf-1 27 Plants
xp 619 XP
globe Peterborough, England
08/20/2021

Lives in my downstairs toilet and is sometimes forgotten about!! Can last without watering for a while

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Vivien avatar
@@Vivien
leaf-1 118 Plants
xp 5,051 XP
globe Petaling Jaya, Selangor
05/29/2021

Textured and plump leaves, you can’t help touch it every time you see it. Exquisite dark green foliage.

@Lilcritti avatar
@@Lilcritti
leaf-1 23 Plants
xp 1,739 XP
05/21/2021

This baby requires a lot of water but man is she pretty. She’s been growing fast with new leaves coming out of no where. She does attract bugs but minimal. Love the luscious leaves, looks absolutely tropical.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower

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