Episode Details

If there is one genus of plants that has captured my imagination for years but repeatedly evaded me, it’s Alocasia. These tropical plants with their large, alien-esque leaves and jewel-toned undersides have long obsessed me. I’d often pick them up from the garden center, only to watch them rapidly decline in my dry, temperate home. But after lots of trial and error, I’ve finally cracked the code to make them thrive! In this episode, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about growing Alocasia houseplants, including care tips, troubleshooting, and some of my new favorite varieties that are thriving in my home.

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] Maria’s experience with Alocasia
• [02:21] Why Alocasia is not difficult to care for—it just requires very high standards of care!
• [02:43] Why Alocasia are called alien-like plants
• [03:34] Characteristics and other common names of Alocasia
• [05:02] Where do Alocasias grow naturally?
• [06:31] Alocasia Care #1: Light requirements (bright indirect light)
• [09:06] Light is very independent of every person's own environment!
• [10:30] Alocasia Care #2: Soil moisture (keep them in evenly moist soil)
• [11:58] 2 different ways that you can measure soil moisture
• [13:34] What types of pots can you use for your Alocasia?
• [14:47] Alocasia Care #3: Humidity
• [15:28] Why you should use a humidifier
• [17:20] Other tricks to increase humidity in your home
• [18:19] Alocasia Care #4: Fertilizer (fertilize when you see growth)
• [19:13] Alocasia Care #5: Dormancy (aka quiescence)
• [20:11] Use plant-life parallels for your personal growth
• [20:50] Alocasia troubleshooting tips
• [21:24] Understanding your Alocasia's needs
• [22:25] How to save a plant from dying
• [24:20] Find the best Alocasia varieties for your plant collection with Proven Winners LeafJoy!
• [26:41] What are the different Alocasia species?
• [27:11] Alocasia 'Ninja'
• [27:46] Alocasia cupraea
• [28:49] Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'
• [30:08] Alocasia longiloba
• [30:46] Alocasia watsoniana
• [31:33] Alocasia macrorrhiza 'Stingray'

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 46: Understanding Natural Light: General Rules
• Growing Joy Ep 47: Understanding Natural Light: Measuring Tools
• Growing Joy Ep 74: Grow Lights 101 With Leslie Halleck
• Growing Joy Ep 92: Begonias With Marc From NYBG
• Growing Joy Ep 200: Common Houseplant Pest Identification And How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats, Spidermites, Scale, White Flies And Mealybugs
• Growing Joy Ep 213: How Much Light Do My Houseplants Need?
• Free Download: Understanding Natural Light
• Moisture Meter and Hygrometer Review / Humidity Products for Houseplants Haul
• How to Save and Revive a Dying Houseplant: Saving My Prayer Plant from the Brink of Death!

For my favorite alocasia varieties,

check out the full show notes and blog here!

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Proven Winners

If you want to have success with houseplants, you’ve got to have two things: the knowledge to care for them successfully