Image – Flickr/Jnzl's Photos
Alocasia is a plant that receives different names: one is the one we have just mentioned, but there are others such as elephant ear or marquise that may sound more familiar to you. In any case, We are talking about a series of plants of the genus Alocasia, which usually have huge leaves and, for this reason, are often used to decorate interiors. The question we have to ask ourselves is whether or not it can be kept indoors, and under what conditions. Why? Because as it grows it can take up a lot of space.
Even depending on the species, it will not need to develop a mature main stem to occupy a table about 1 meter long. I tell you from experience. Me Alocasia wentii it is very young, but it has so many leaves, and so large that they grow sideways, that everyone who sees it tells me the same thing: why don't you take it to the garden? My answer: she is too pretty and delicate to be outside. (The thing about her being delicate is not entirely true, but it sounds convincing). So I will explain to you how I take care of the alocasia that I have indoors.
What are the basic needs of alocasia?
When we are going to buy a plant it is important that its basic needs are taken into account. It is a way to avoid headaches, or even do something wrong and lose it. Therefore, you should know that alocasia requires four things: lots of (not direct) light, moderate watering, high air humidity, and warm but mild temperatures.
In fact, a trick that can help us to know if a plant is more delicate than others is to see the size of its leaves: if it is very large, like the ones our protagonists have, we will undoubtedly be dealing with a tropical one, which will suffer damage if we left her outside in the dead of winter. Forks that for a plant to have those leaves it needs heat, stable temperatures, high humidity and frequent watering. That is why, for example, in temperate forests we do not find plants that have such large leaves.
But back to the alocasias.
How to take care of alocasia indoors?
The alocasia is a plant that what it will need most once we put it in its final location, will be water and change its pot from time to time. But we are going to explain in detail everything about the care that we have to provide so that it grows healthy:
Where should it be placed?
As it is a plant that needs a lot of light but not direct, we will take her to a room with plenty of natural light. Ideally, it should be placed in one where there are glazed windows facing east, since that is where the sun rises. But be careful: do not put it in front of the glass because if you do, its leaves will burn.
Another important detail that you must take into account is the size that your alocasia can have and how it is expected to grow.. For example, the Alocasia macrorhiza (the common elephant ear) has a more upright carriage than the Alocasia wentii, so it takes up less space, so it can be very interesting to put it in the living room, next to the sofa; the A. wentii, on the other hand, would look better on a wide piece of furniture or in a large living room; the Alocasia amazonica it is small and also upright, so don't hesitate to put it on a narrow table.
What pot do you need?
Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang
We have said that it needs frequent watering, but we don't have to make the mistake of planting it in a pot without holes or else its roots would rot. In addition to that, as a substrate we must use a mixture of peat with perlite in equal parts, or look for a universal substrate that already contains perlite as this.
As it is going to be indoors and it is not important that when watering we dirty the furniture, we will put a plate under it. But it is important that after doing so we empty it. If we want, we can fill a bottle with that water and use it later for future irrigation.
When do you have to plant it to a bigger one?
It is a plant that can grow fast, so it is advisable to check at least once every 2 years if the roots are coming out of the drainage holes, in which case it will be planted in one that is about four inches wider and taller than the one it currently has.
The best time is spring., but since it is indoors, it can also be done in early summer.
How many times a week should I water the alocasia indoors?
During the summer we will water it a maximum of 4 times a week, provided that the substrate is dry to the touch and if when picking up the pot we notice that it weighs little. Soil moisture meters can be useful, but I advise inserting a thin wooden stick and see if a lot of soil has adhered to it when removing it from the pot, in which case we will not have to water it because it will mean that it is still moist.
The rest of the year and when the temperatures are low, we will space out the waterings. Nothing will happen to the alocasia if we don't water it for several days if the soil is moist. In fact, I myself have sometimes had to stop watering for up to 3 weeks in winter, as the soil needs more time to dry out. So check how the soil is from time to time to know when to water.
How to improve air humidity for alocasia?
Since it needs a very high humidity, it is important that first of all we find out if the one at home is or No.. To do this, I advise buying a home weather station like this one from here. Now, if you live on an island or near the sea, you can assume that it is, so you won't have to do anything.
But if you are far away and/or in an area where the humidity is less than 50%, the leaves of your plants will dry if you do nothing. To avoid this, you will have to spray water once a day.
I repeat, since it is very, very important: if the humidity exceeds 50%, do not spray/spray with water. If it were to be done, the fungi would soon damage the plant. But, if it is inferior, it will appreciate that we wet its foliage.
I hope this article will help you take better care of your alocasia indoors.