Alocasia portei
Elephant ear
Description
Source: leafsnapAlocasia portei is a perennial tuberous plant valued for its foliage. The leaves are heavily scalloped and are very decorative, and can grow to 3 ft. long.
Care Guide
💧 Water Every 3-5 days
Keep Alocasia plants moist all year; they are water-loving plants. There is a fine line with these plants. You want to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. They require less water during the winter months because the plant is dormant. Reduce watering in the winter.
☀️ Light Partial sun
The Malaysian Monster naturally occurs in places like forest understories and rocky areas, where it receives natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can tolerate full sun or full shade, showing that it is versatile and hardy.
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C
Malaysian Monster comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Consequently, it is well suited to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature shifts and prefers a steady thermal environment, so avoiding indoor temperature fluctuations is important. It typically cannot endure cold and needs higher temperatures to grow. If the ambient temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
Proper fertilization is essential for the Malaysian Monster's health and appearance. Fertilize the Malaysian Monster during summer, repeating the application monthly throughout the season. Nutrients fuel growth and help maintain the plant's components. Fertilization improves the Malaysian Monster's flower display, ensuring the best blooms.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
The Alocasia is a very poisonous plant; the leaves contain insoluble oxalate crystals. If a human or pet chews or bites into the leaves, they will release the crystals. It can cause swelling and irritation of the mouth and GI tract. Very rarely, there will be extreme swelling of the upper airway, making it difficult to breathe. Keep the plant away from children and pets and call poison control, your doctor, or vet if a person or animal ingests the plant leaves.
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-12
- Mature Height
- 0.91 m to 2.13 m
- Mature Spread
- 0.91 m to 1.52 m
- Leaf Color
- Dark Green, Forest Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Size
- 10.16 cm to 15.24 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer, Early fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall
- Native Area
- Philippines, Congo (DRC)