Alocasia macrorrhizos aka Giant Taro
Taxonomy
Alocasia macrorrhizos, commonly known as Giant Taro, ʻApe, Giant Alocasia, Biga, Pia, and Cunjevoi (a term which also refers to a marine animal) is an herbaceous shrub that can reach up to 2.5m in height. The leaves are very large, heart-shaped with a silvery green sheen on top and purplish veins on the underside. It has prominent veins and is a monoecious species, meaning that separate male and female flowers are found on the same plant. It is suitable for indoor landscaping, however all parts of the plant are toxic upon ingestion or may cause contact irritation. Alocasia macrorrhizos is native to rainforests in Maritime Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Queensland, and elsewhere in the tropics. When grown outdoors, the leaves can reach enormous sizes and they have underground corms similar to bulbs. Be mindful that they contain calcium oxalate crystals, making them a hazard for children and pets.
Common names
Giant Taro, Elephant Ear, Ape, Giant AlocasiaHow to care for Giant Taro
Difficulty
If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Giant Taro is a great choice to test your gardening skills.
Water
Giant Taro should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Soil
Giant Taro 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.
Dormancy
During the cold period, it is common for Giant Taro to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.
Toxicity
There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.
Humidity
No extra humidity is necessary for the Giant Taro. Absorption of water by plants is primarily done through their roots, and soil watering is the most effective method to provide humidity to your plants.
Fertilizer
Repotting the Giant Taro should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.
Region of origin
Giant Taro’s native range is tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia.
More info:
Wikipedia
More Species in Alocasia Genus
Alocasia nebula Alocasia Nebula
Alocasia azlanii Red Mambo
Alocasia melo
Alocasia wentii Alocasia Elephant Ears
Alocasia boa Upright Elephant Ear
Alocasia reginula Alocasia Black Velvet
Alocasia lauterbachiana Purple Sword Alocasia
Alocasia mortfontanensis Alocasia Polly Plant
Alocasia micholitziana Green Velvet Alocasia
