I bought two Dragon Scales. They need repotted as they ca...
1ft to light, direct
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 month ago
13
The biggest thing I've found with Alocasia is they need insanely high humidity. I'm talking off the charts. My house is pretty humid anyway, usually hovering in the 60-70% range, but I still ended up putting my Alocasia in a humidity box. Mine is like the one in the photo, except the lid is on top. I added a layer of moist sphagnum moss to the bottom, then stuck my Alocasia dragon scale & Polly and a variegated peace Lilly inside (still in their pots). They've been happily living in it for the last year. One of my favorite things about the humidity box is how rarely I need to water them. A thorough misting once a week or so is all they need.
I realize a humidity box setup isn't feasible for everyone. You don't need one to keep your Alocasia perfectly happy, but you might need a humidifier to keep the air around it moist enough.
A few other things to keep in mind...although their soil should never be allowed to completely dry out, they also don't want to sit in super wet soil, which can lead to root rot. Something my humidity box has taught me is the true meaning of "evenly, consistently moist": think of a dish sponge after it's been thoroughly wrung out—that's the level of moisture you should aim for with your Alocasia's soil 😛
The type of soil you use is also very important. Like other aroids, they love a super chunky mix. Something with plenty of orchid bark or coco chips, perlite (large form if you can find it) and, if you wanna go all out, some horticultural charcoal. The bark/coco chips and perlite create air pockets in the soil and allow oxygen to reach the roots. Most commercial potting soils are too dense on their own, so when they get wet they'll start to compact around the roots, cutting off their oxygen supply and suffocating them.
Speaking of commercial potting soils, most of them contain peat. Instead of peat-based soils, I prefer to use coco coir. It provides the same moisture retention properties as peat, but unlike peat it's sustainable and environmentally friendly. It's also super cheap if you buy from the right places! I get my coco coir & coco chips in the reptile dept of my local PetCo or PetSmart. It's so much cheaper than getting the kind specifically marketed/labeled for plants. I don't measure out the ingredients for my aroid soil mix, but it's around 3 parts coco coir/potting soil, 2 parts orchid bark/coco chips, 1 part perlite, and a few handfuls of horticultural charcoal.
Last thing (and then I promise to finally shut up lol) is light. In their native habitats, Alocasia grow on forest floors beneath tree canopies, where they receive filtered/dappled sunlight. Direct sun can cause their leaves to burn, so aim for a spot that gets bright but indirect light. A north-facing window is a great spot because it receives little to no direct sunlight year round.
Phew, thanks for sticking it out through all my jabbering 😂 If you have any questions, just tag me in the comments!
I realize a humidity box setup isn't feasible for everyone. You don't need one to keep your Alocasia perfectly happy, but you might need a humidifier to keep the air around it moist enough.
A few other things to keep in mind...although their soil should never be allowed to completely dry out, they also don't want to sit in super wet soil, which can lead to root rot. Something my humidity box has taught me is the true meaning of "evenly, consistently moist": think of a dish sponge after it's been thoroughly wrung out—that's the level of moisture you should aim for with your Alocasia's soil 😛
The type of soil you use is also very important. Like other aroids, they love a super chunky mix. Something with plenty of orchid bark or coco chips, perlite (large form if you can find it) and, if you wanna go all out, some horticultural charcoal. The bark/coco chips and perlite create air pockets in the soil and allow oxygen to reach the roots. Most commercial potting soils are too dense on their own, so when they get wet they'll start to compact around the roots, cutting off their oxygen supply and suffocating them.
Speaking of commercial potting soils, most of them contain peat. Instead of peat-based soils, I prefer to use coco coir. It provides the same moisture retention properties as peat, but unlike peat it's sustainable and environmentally friendly. It's also super cheap if you buy from the right places! I get my coco coir & coco chips in the reptile dept of my local PetCo or PetSmart. It's so much cheaper than getting the kind specifically marketed/labeled for plants. I don't measure out the ingredients for my aroid soil mix, but it's around 3 parts coco coir/potting soil, 2 parts orchid bark/coco chips, 1 part perlite, and a few handfuls of horticultural charcoal.
Last thing (and then I promise to finally shut up lol) is light. In their native habitats, Alocasia grow on forest floors beneath tree canopies, where they receive filtered/dappled sunlight. Direct sun can cause their leaves to burn, so aim for a spot that gets bright but indirect light. A north-facing window is a great spot because it receives little to no direct sunlight year round.
Phew, thanks for sticking it out through all my jabbering 😂 If you have any questions, just tag me in the comments!
@Laura27 @stephonicle
Good morning dear Laura and Steph!
Well, Prince, my Alocasia Dragon Scale, is pretty much under opposite care conditions as compared to Steph's!
He's directly under a Sansi grow light in our living room amidst the other 15 various plants.
During the winter, all gro lights are set for 8 hours daily. During the summer, they're set for 12 hours daily.
I only use gro lights because my apartment has virtually no sun light...tiny windows facing North.
Prince is about 10 feet away from the large humidifier, which on average, emits 45 to 55% humidity. It's turned off at night.
I never touch his leaves and have never misted his leaves, or any of the other of the plants leaves, for fear of bacterial infection because of the continuously moist topsoil.
He only is watered with plain distilled water during the winter.
During summer, I add Super Thrive Foliage Pro organic liquid fertilizer. This is amazing stuff! It's chocked full of the necessary nutrients that plants need to thrive and grow.
I let him get almost completely dried out between waterings and his pot has good drainage.
All plants need excellent drainage so they don't develop root rot!!!!
As far as soil goes, Wonder Soil is what I use for all of our plants and they seem to love it. It's a coco noir mix.
Last, but certainly not least, my guy is in the midst of his second flowering during this winter!!! He's got 6 flowers now. Yikes! I really don't know why he keeps flowering, but, I feel honored.
I cut off those flowers at around a month so they don't drain his nutrients.
Best of luck to you. I'm sure your Dragon Scales will thrive, no matter how you decide to grow them!
😘🤗✨🎆🦄😍
Good morning dear Laura and Steph!
Well, Prince, my Alocasia Dragon Scale, is pretty much under opposite care conditions as compared to Steph's!
He's directly under a Sansi grow light in our living room amidst the other 15 various plants.
During the winter, all gro lights are set for 8 hours daily. During the summer, they're set for 12 hours daily.
I only use gro lights because my apartment has virtually no sun light...tiny windows facing North.
Prince is about 10 feet away from the large humidifier, which on average, emits 45 to 55% humidity. It's turned off at night.
I never touch his leaves and have never misted his leaves, or any of the other of the plants leaves, for fear of bacterial infection because of the continuously moist topsoil.
He only is watered with plain distilled water during the winter.
During summer, I add Super Thrive Foliage Pro organic liquid fertilizer. This is amazing stuff! It's chocked full of the necessary nutrients that plants need to thrive and grow.
I let him get almost completely dried out between waterings and his pot has good drainage.
All plants need excellent drainage so they don't develop root rot!!!!
As far as soil goes, Wonder Soil is what I use for all of our plants and they seem to love it. It's a coco noir mix.
Last, but certainly not least, my guy is in the midst of his second flowering during this winter!!! He's got 6 flowers now. Yikes! I really don't know why he keeps flowering, but, I feel honored.
I cut off those flowers at around a month so they don't drain his nutrients.
Best of luck to you. I'm sure your Dragon Scales will thrive, no matter how you decide to grow them!
😘🤗✨🎆🦄😍
@stephonicle @CutePolypremum I know these guys have a reputation for being toxic - do you use gloves when tending to them? I’m going to have to repot as the decorative pot it came in doesn’t have drainage and will use gloves for that but how cautious are you in general with this plant?
@CutePolypremum that's too funny! Who knew Alocasia could thrive in such vastly different environments? They have a bit of a reputation for being high-maintenance divas 😂
@Laura27 as for their toxicity, that's mainly referring to the danger from consuming them, not touching them. Now, if you have extremely sensitive and reactionary skin, the sap *might* cause some very mild irritation, but it's not known to be a common issue. As long as you (and any pets) don't munch on the leaves, you're all good 😛👍
@Laura27 as for their toxicity, that's mainly referring to the danger from consuming them, not touching them. Now, if you have extremely sensitive and reactionary skin, the sap *might* cause some very mild irritation, but it's not known to be a common issue. As long as you (and any pets) don't munch on the leaves, you're all good 😛👍
@stephonicle
Indoor plants constantly surprise and amaze me and it seems that Alocasias are a total mystery and surprise. 😶
I've enjoyed reading about how you're taking care of your Silver Dragon and I hope our answers don't make Laura insane! Lol 😶😅😅😅😅😅😅
Hope you both have a lovely Sunday 😍😍
Indoor plants constantly surprise and amaze me and it seems that Alocasias are a total mystery and surprise. 😶
I've enjoyed reading about how you're taking care of your Silver Dragon and I hope our answers don't make Laura insane! Lol 😶😅😅😅😅😅😅
Hope you both have a lovely Sunday 😍😍
@Laura27 @CutePolypremum @stephonicle Ok this was super fun to read 😄 I enjoyed both care routines, and think it is so interesting how different everyone’s care experiences are! Part of the reason for the hiccups I had when I first started was that I was following other people’s advice, when they turned out to be in a much different environment than me! So Laura, I think this is a perfect example, and a reminder to find what works for you. Even someone who was your next door neighbor might have vastly different conditions than you 🤪
For me, I am closer to Joanie’s care, but I am kind of a mix of the two, in that I don’t mist or use a humidity box/cabinet, I do use super thrive foliage pro, and I do let my soil pretty much dry out 100% between waterings. I never let them stay dry for days though, often I try to water the day that they get 100% dry. (I do touch his leaves sometimes 🤫 Mine seems to not care at all 🤷♀️) Mine are all under grow lights because I am in the PNW and we are in “the long dark wet” season. I do not use any humidifiers. My home usually averages 70% and I find if I’m on top of watering, my plants are making their own humidity. Especially if they’re clustered together! When my hygrometers are registering 80%, thats after I’ve watered. But if they drop to 60%, I know it’s time to water because some plants are getting on the dry side and not transpiring as much as usual.
My substrate is similar to Steph’s , except mine is 2/3 aeration, I do:
1/3 coco coir
1/3 perlite
1/3 orchid bark
I hope you have fun figuring out what your dragon scales need to thrive in your unique space 🥰
For me, I am closer to Joanie’s care, but I am kind of a mix of the two, in that I don’t mist or use a humidity box/cabinet, I do use super thrive foliage pro, and I do let my soil pretty much dry out 100% between waterings. I never let them stay dry for days though, often I try to water the day that they get 100% dry. (I do touch his leaves sometimes 🤫 Mine seems to not care at all 🤷♀️) Mine are all under grow lights because I am in the PNW and we are in “the long dark wet” season. I do not use any humidifiers. My home usually averages 70% and I find if I’m on top of watering, my plants are making their own humidity. Especially if they’re clustered together! When my hygrometers are registering 80%, thats after I’ve watered. But if they drop to 60%, I know it’s time to water because some plants are getting on the dry side and not transpiring as much as usual.
My substrate is similar to Steph’s , except mine is 2/3 aeration, I do:
1/3 coco coir
1/3 perlite
1/3 orchid bark
I hope you have fun figuring out what your dragon scales need to thrive in your unique space 🥰
@DreamMachine @Laura27 just wanted to add, if I didn't have mine in a humidity box, I would never mist it. Misting doesn't actually raise humidity levels and increases the chance of leaf rot. I lift the humidity box lid, pump in the mist, then close the box to trap it in there ☺️
@stephonicle @DreamMachine @Laura27
You gals are the most awesome ever!
This is a fun post and Nadia reminded me (I forgot to mention) never to let our plants go longer than about one day of being dry, before watering.
I actually am finding that if I wait the day after Greg says to water, it's the perfect time they need it! When in doubt, I use a water meter or pick up a plant's pot to judge the weight...(if the pot's not to heavy for me to lift).
Also, the example she gave of even living next door to each other, our environments could be totally different.
All of my plants are also clustered together but I have to rearrange them from time to time, depending upon their growth. My living room where they all are is quite small and otherwise there's just my kitchen, bathroom, and small bedroom.
You know that I must be in love with The Tribe after you read this part. Our summers here in Upstate NY are absolutely dreadful. We get, for weeks on end, 100 degree temperatures and even above that. 😶😑😐 It's also not a dry heat but humid...steamy in fact with humidity also reaching up to 100 percent. There's no central air and I have a window AC for the living room.
This year, because our babies have grown into adults, that AC cannot be used in the living room because it would blast cold air on them and many would end up in the plant graveyard. I absolutely abhore summer and live in dread of it coming. I'm a cold weather gal! 😅
Ok...I admit that I'm spoiled... Back in the day, we lived fine without AC!
😁😂😎😘
Have an awesome day y'all.
You gals are the most awesome ever!
This is a fun post and Nadia reminded me (I forgot to mention) never to let our plants go longer than about one day of being dry, before watering.
I actually am finding that if I wait the day after Greg says to water, it's the perfect time they need it! When in doubt, I use a water meter or pick up a plant's pot to judge the weight...(if the pot's not to heavy for me to lift).
Also, the example she gave of even living next door to each other, our environments could be totally different.
All of my plants are also clustered together but I have to rearrange them from time to time, depending upon their growth. My living room where they all are is quite small and otherwise there's just my kitchen, bathroom, and small bedroom.
You know that I must be in love with The Tribe after you read this part. Our summers here in Upstate NY are absolutely dreadful. We get, for weeks on end, 100 degree temperatures and even above that. 😶😑😐 It's also not a dry heat but humid...steamy in fact with humidity also reaching up to 100 percent. There's no central air and I have a window AC for the living room.
This year, because our babies have grown into adults, that AC cannot be used in the living room because it would blast cold air on them and many would end up in the plant graveyard. I absolutely abhore summer and live in dread of it coming. I'm a cold weather gal! 😅
Ok...I admit that I'm spoiled... Back in the day, we lived fine without AC!
😁😂😎😘
Have an awesome day y'all.
@CutePolypremum @CutePolypremum @Laura27 You’re such a sweetheart Joanie, and I know and feel that you love your plant babies so much to do that 🥰 We’re almost in opposite conditions. I always said that I live in a temperate rainforests, but I just found out that I’ve been lying 🤥 The temperate rainforests are 26 miles to the west, north, and east of me, and I actually live in a small unicorn valley of MEDITERRANEAN climate??! 🤯 So we generally have 9 (sometimes more) months of wet, cool, and very humid time, and a 1-3 month hot and DRY summer. I guess I should have had an inkling when I’ve always known rosemary bushes to be just that—gigantic hedge bushes 😅 Even though I’m like a vampire and hiss at the hot summer, I don’t think I could survive a humid summer 😆
@DreamMachine
Mediterranean climate?!?! That sounds absolutely divine.
I love the Pacific Northwest... Especially along the coast.
Your Valley sounds like a dream. What's a "small unicorn valley"?
I love you too...your patience, kindness, wealth of knowledge and experience, and so much attention with which you help so many of us Greggers...
Thank you 🤗😇🤗
Mediterranean climate?!?! That sounds absolutely divine.
I love the Pacific Northwest... Especially along the coast.
Your Valley sounds like a dream. What's a "small unicorn valley"?
I love you too...your patience, kindness, wealth of knowledge and experience, and so much attention with which you help so many of us Greggers...
Thank you 🤗😇🤗
@CutePolypremum
I KNOW! I just learned this a few weeks ago. I used unicorn as a synonym for ‘rare’ there 😄 Because it seems like a little pocket of unique climate conditions compared to the general area around me.
And oh my goodness, you are such a dear, and the sentiment is returned back to a hundred fold! You bring a tear to my eye 🥹 I am so very blessed to be able to call you my friend, it is such a pleasure to know you! 🥰🥰🫶🏼🤍💚✨🌈
I KNOW! I just learned this a few weeks ago. I used unicorn as a synonym for ‘rare’ there 😄 Because it seems like a little pocket of unique climate conditions compared to the general area around me.
And oh my goodness, you are such a dear, and the sentiment is returned back to a hundred fold! You bring a tear to my eye 🥹 I am so very blessed to be able to call you my friend, it is such a pleasure to know you! 🥰🥰🫶🏼🤍💚✨🌈
@DreamMachine
It's the same way that I feel about you! ❤️ 💙 💜 💖
It's the same way that I feel about you! ❤️ 💙 💜 💖
