Alocasia longiloba aka Rare Alocasia Amazonica
Taxonomy ID: 235
Alocasia longiloba is an impressive and striking flowering houseplant that is part of the Araceae family. It is native to China, Southeast Asia, and western and central Malesia, and is known for its enormous 'elephant ear' foliage. It has grey-green leaves with white veining that emerge from an underground corm. It may be part of species complex which includes varieties such as 'argyrea', 'korthalsii', 'lowii', and 'watsoniana', or used to produce hybrid plants such as Alocasia × mortfontanensis or Alocasia × amazonica. Alocasia longiloba must be kept out of reach as its leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals and they grow from underground corms, similar to bulbs. When repotting keep an eye out for baby Alocasias as they will only support a few leaves at a time and will continue to mature with more sun.
Common names
Rare Alocasia Amazonica, Elephant's Ears, Kris Plant, Alocasia Longiloba VelvetyMore information about Rare Alocasia Amazonica
How difficult is it to take care of Rare Alocasia Amazonica
Rare Alocasia Amazonica requires a bit more attention and knowledge to thrive, making it a suitable plant for those with some gardening experience.
What is the region of origin of Rare Alocasia Amazonica
Rare Alocasia Amazonica’s native range is tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia.
What are the water needs for Rare Alocasia Amazonica
Rare Alocasia Amazonica should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
What is the right soil for Rare Alocasia Amazonica
Rare Alocasia Amazonica loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
What is the sunlight requirement for Rare Alocasia Amazonica
To ensure optimal growth, the Rare Alocasia Amazonica prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
What's the right humidity for Rare Alocasia Amazonica
The Rare Alocasia Amazonica does not necessitate supplementary humidity. Plants primarily absorb water through their roots, rather than their leaves. Hence, the most effective way to supply humidity to your plants is by watering the soil.
How to fertilize Rare Alocasia Amazonica
The Rare Alocasia Amazonica should be transferred to a new pot once it has increased in size two-fold, or on an annual basis, whichever occurs earlier. Replacing the soil with fresh potting soil containing all the necessary nutrients, is sufficient enough to support the growth of the plant, thus avoiding the need to use fertilizer. It's important to note that plants derive their energy from the sun and not fertilizer.
Is Rare Alocasia Amazonica toxic to humans/pets?
Ploi does not possess verified information regarding the toxicity of this particular plant. In the event that you, a member of your family, or a pet ingests plant material with an unclear toxicity level, it is highly recommended to seek the advice of a medical professional.
What seasonal care does Rare Alocasia Amazonica need?
During the cold period, it is common for Rare Alocasia Amazonica to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more during this period.
Cultivars
- 'Lowii'
- 'Purple'
- 'Thibautians'
- 'Watsoniana'
About Ploi
Consistent watering is the most important factor in keeping houseplants healthy. Ploi, a 4.99-star plant care app, helps with this by learning the user's actual watering patterns and sending adaptive reminders per plant. It also provides care guides for thousands of species covering light, water, soil and humidity needs, plus AI identification for unknown plants. Available free on iOS, Android and web.
