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Night-Scented Lily

4.8 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Large, lush leaves

Fast grower

About Night-Scented Lily

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

Scientific name

Alocasia odora

Genus

Alocasia

Family

Araceae

Order

Alismatales

Also known as

'Giant Elephant Ear', Alocasia odora,,, Upright Elephant Ear Plant, Elephant Ear and Okinawa Silver

How to care for Night-Scented Lily

💦 Water

How often to water your Night-Scented Lily

Night-Scented Lily 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Night-Scented Lily in your home

Night-Scented Lily 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 Night-Scented Lily in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Night-Scented Lily

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Night-Scented Lily: 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 Night-Scented Lily after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #NightScentedLily

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Night-Scented Lily prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Night-Scented Lily Water Frequency →

Night-Scented Lily Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Night-Scented Lily may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Night-Scented Lily Light Requirements →

Night-Scented Lily Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Night-Scented Lily is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Night-Scented Lily is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

💨 Humidity

Night-Scented Lily prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Night-Scented Lily Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Night-Scented Lily is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Night-Scented Lily →

When and How to Successfully Repot Night-Scented Lily →

💩 Fertilizer

Night-Scented Lily is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Night-Scented Lily →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Night-Scented Lily to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Night-Scented Lily is native to tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Night-Scented Lily can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Night-Scented Lily Temperature Tolerance →

🌱 Propagation

Night-Scented Lily can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Night-Scented Lily →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Night-Scented Lily, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Care Summary for Night-Scented Lily

Night-Scented Lily

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

Large, lush leaves 4

Fast grower 2

Browns easily 1

Easy to propagate 1

Survivor 1

@@mikatkinson

20 Plants

391 XP

Chatham, Ontario

05/13/2021

I love the ginormous leaves this guy has, makes any room have a tropical feel! Also easy to take care of in my opinion, especially compared to other alocasia’s I have. Definitely recommend picking up this beauty if you see it at the nursery!

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves