How to Care for Alocasia Houseplants

Alocasias are striking additions to any indoor garden. With an affinity for warmth and humidity, Alocasias bring a touch of the tropics to your space. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned plant enthusiast, the unique foliage of Alocasias makes them a captivating choice for all plant lovers!

Family: Araceae

Genus: Alocasia

Commonly: elephant’s ear

WATER

• Alocasias thrive on consistently moist but not soggy soil. Check the top half of the soil for dryness before watering to ensure you’re striking the right balance.
• They can be sensitive to minerals in tap water – explore using distilled or rainwater to keep the foliage looking vibrant.
  • Pro-tip: Have our crowd-fav Variegated Frydek? We’ve found that these prefer to dry out close to completely between soaks in certain conditions. If you notice the leaves drooping or that the stems are light in color, try cutting back on watering frequency.

LIGHT

• Filtered sunlight is best for Alocasias, offering the ideal blend of brightness without the risk of the leaves scorching from direct rays.

HUMIDITY & TEMP

• Embracing warmth and humidity mirrors their natural habitat. Mimic tropical conditions by placing Alocasias in a cozy, humid spot to promote lush foliage and overall health.
  • Did you know? Alocasias can go dormant in the winter because of temperature changes and lack of light. You can expect some foliage to fall away, but it’ll return better than ever in the spring!

SOIL

• A well-draining soil is best for Alocasias, allowing the roots to aerate and preventing soggy soil.
• Opt for something with lots of chunky media - perlite, pine bark, and coco coir are essentials.
  • Try our signature, hand-blended mix: Dirt Bag!

FERTILIZING

• A balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season will keep your Alocasia well-fed and helps sustain full, healthy growth!
• Dilute to half-strength or stop fertilizing in the fall and winter when the plant is heading into dormancy.
  • Incorporate our Arber Plant Food during your routine waterings to promote lush, bright foliage.

PESTS

• Alocasias can be susceptible to spider mites and scale insects, so be sure to inspect your collection frequently!
• A preventative routine is best to keep infestations away - include Arber Insecticide during your weekly maintenance.

PRUNING & PROPPING

Pruning

• Pruning your Alocasia will help control its shape and size while promoting new growth! It’s super normal for lower, older leaves to head out as new growth emerges - trim them away with some sanitized shears to encourage more energy.
• In certain conditions, Alocasias can flower! Some plant parents trim the blooms away and some let them dry out on their own - neither will hurt the plant 🌸'

Propping

• Alocasias can be propagated from “seeds” in the soil called corms! They are typically found in more mature plants but may pop up in younger ones.
  • Check out Propagation 101 for the how-to!