Alocasia portei
Images by part: leaf (2) · flower (0) · fruit (0) · bark (0) · habit (0) · other (1)

Alocasia portei

Elephant ear

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: partial_sun Toxicity: high
Water every
4 days
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
Click count
5
Observations
1

Description

Source: leafsnap

Alocasia 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.

Suggested frequency: Every 3-5 days
☀️ 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.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ 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.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 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)

Tags (9)

Common Names (1)

en Elephant ear