Plant Care Dark Star

Dark Star

4.5 out of 5 (43 experiences)

Dark Star has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Dark Star has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Dark Star

Alocasia macrorrhizos (otherwise known as the giant taro plant) is a staple crop of the Pacific Islands. The leaves of this plant can reach gigantic proportions, growing up to six feet in length! Not to be confused with the taro root, the giant taro is used primarily for medicinal purposes. 🤒

Across the Pacific, giant taro is used to treat a variety of conditions ranging from influenza to ringworm and even snake bites. Don’t be tempted to snack on yours though, since giant taro contains calcium oxalate crystals (called raphides) that can cause itching to the skin and mouth. 🤭

Taxonomy

Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia
Araceae
Alismatales

Also known as

Giant Taro, Giant Taro, Upright Elephant Ears and Alocasia macrorrhiza

How to care for Dark Star

Water

How often to water your Dark Star

Water needs for Dark Star
0.5 cups
every 9

Dark Star 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 Dark Star

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 Giant Taro in your home

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

Dark Star 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 Dark Star in your home 🏡.

Nutrients

How to fertilize Dark Star

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Dark Star: 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 Dark Star after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

FAQs
Difficulty Level

Dark Star is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


Water Needs
Sunlight Needs
Toxicity
Humidity
Soil
Fertilizer
Dormancy
Native Region
Flowers
Growth Pattern
Growing Outdoors
Propagation
Yellow Leaves

Care Summary for Dark Star

Dark Star

Dark Star


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

Dark Star has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 36
Dark Star has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 24
Dark Star has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 13
Dark Star has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 9
Dark Star has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 6
Dark Star has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 3
Dark Star has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 2
@catnipu avatar
@@catnipu
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 69 XP
globe Tucson, AZ
04/04/2022

I love this big bitch!!!! Loves being next to window and grows such big beautiful leaves

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@PlaneGuy avatar
@@PlaneGuy
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 110 XP
globe Castro Valley, CA
02/22/2022

Loves indoor shade. Grows big so give it space!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
@Gabilulita avatar
@@Gabilulita
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 82 XP
02/17/2022

Even though it’s very sensitive, she is gorgeous and once you find the spot for it, she is happy and grows roots fast and new leaves easily! Be patient with it, and make sure it is not in a place where the wind is strong, that can kill her fast!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
@Tweeter avatar
@@Tweeter
leaf-1 10 Plants
xp 238 XP
globe Appleton, WI
12/18/2021

I received my taro as a gift in 2018; it was 2 little leaves in a 3” pot. Now my taro has become TWO TREES, one of which has grown to nearly 8 feet, and rewards me with a plethora of seed pods each spring!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Bigleaves avatar
@@Bigleaves
leaf-1 18 Plants
xp 1,194 XP
09/20/2021

Huge , luscious green leaves that are so aesthetic , this paticular plant grows quite quick so I recommend providing it with a big space so it can have room too grow , partial to a dark space as too much sun can scorch the leaves resulting in the leaves turning brown . Doesn’t like too much water so make sure you don’t overwater it !!!

Terry avatar
@Terry
leaf-1 42 Plants
xp 712 XP
globe Columbus, OH
09/17/2021

My husband got this for my 50th birthday

Fast grower Fast grower
@Plantbitchesunite avatar
@@Plantbitchesunite
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 90 XP
globe League City, TX
08/28/2021

I love mine! It’s so tall and works as an inside plant.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
Mimi avatar
@Mimi
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 74 XP
08/28/2021

Love my big baby

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Holly avatar
@Holly
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 85 XP
globe Whitstable, England
06/18/2021

I always get it where one leaf grows up quickly and then one of the original leaves die in its place. My mum has the same plant and the same thing happens to her. I’ve got 2-3 leaves at one time and the leaves are big and beautiful

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Browns easily Browns easily
@Planterino_07 avatar
@@Planterino_07
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 51 XP
06/09/2021

PLEASE buy pest control. Please. I made the mistake of not doing that and I overwatered.

Fast grower Fast grower
Pest magnet Pest magnet
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@jaymcnuggets avatar
@@jaymcnuggets
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 154 XP
globe New Braunfels, TX
05/23/2021

u know how alocasias be

Pest magnet Pest magnet
Browns easily Browns easily
@egotopia avatar
@@egotopia
leaf-1 77 Plants
xp 9,141 XP
globe Jacksonville, FL
05/17/2021

I pulled the bulbs in this pot out of a rotten stem on the ground and it took a long time for them to start growing, but now that they have taken off the plants are growing extremely quickly. It sits in my yard in Florida under full sun for more than 6 hours. The soil is a mix of organic ground soil and bark. It likes to stay very moist to the point of being nearly boggy. In a 15 inch plastic pot. I water it once a week.

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
@Cjsplanties avatar
@@Cjsplanties
leaf-1 23 Plants
xp 841 XP
05/17/2021

The Giant Taro seems partial to medium-‘low’ light. The edges tend to brown easily in direct sun light and with low humidity. They don’t like the cold. Mine Tends to grow a lot of smaller leaves around the base and a few larger leaves above. The plant seems to be drought resistant in my east facing windows and only needs to be water every 10-15 days. Mine tends to be happiest when I wipe the leave down weekly! Overall easy beginner plant for someone looking for something that is ‘big’ or ‘impressive’. (Make sure you have the space as they can grow supposing quickly! )

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@Manicmagan avatar
@@Manicmagan
leaf-1 31 Plants
xp 395 XP
globe Holland, MI
05/10/2021

This guy has been producing new leaves, and even a baby that has began to split. I was so nervous to care for such a large plant inside, but he seems to love it here!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@SucculentJade avatar
@@SucculentJade
leaf-1 52 Plants
xp 927 XP
03/19/2021

Eek! The mites! The spider mites! They’re everywhere! I still love you though, sting ray. I’m treating them as best I can

Pest magnet Pest magnet
@Cosmic avatar
@@Cosmic
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 108 XP
03/03/2021

They grow, get yellow, and die. And it’s sad :(
But like phoenixes, they’re reborn from the ashes.

Survivor Survivor

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