Alocasia Purpley

Alocasia 'Purpley' is one of our favorite varieties. It's a selected clone of Alocasia x amazonica which produces brilliant Purpley emergent leaves with gorgeous veining. The backs of the leaves stay deep purple. Growing instructions, pot and soil will be included in the shipment.

What is the lifespan of an Alocasia?

Size and Growth An Alocasia Polly plant has an average lifespan of about 5 years. However, since it can be propagated by divisions you can always have fresh young plants growing.

How often should I water Alocasia plant?

Alocasia Polly enjoy weekly watering sessions and frequent misting, keeping their soil moist but not wet. In winter, we recommend allowing the top 2' of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot.

Do Alocasia come back every year?

Most elephant's ears are perennials and will come back every summer in the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South. Some are perennials in the lower part of the Middle South. They like the soil to be relatively dry in winter.

Is Alocasia a beginner plant?

Alocasia plants in general are not recommended for the beginner so do think carefully before spending big bucks on one of these houseplants because they might not last very long if the care provided isn't right.

Does Alocasia like sun or shade?

There are two types of elephant ears: alocasias and colocasias. Colocasias display their leaves with tip of the heart pointing down. They prefer full sun and consistent moisture. Alocasias hold the tip of their leaves out or upward and they prefer more well drained soil and a little shade.

Can you touch Alocasia?

Wear gloves - You should always wear gloves when handling your Alocasia to avoid any contact with bare skin. Wash hands - If your skin does make contact with the plant, wash your hands immediately and avoid touching your eyes or mouth.

Do Alocasia need lots of sun?

Alocasias need bright, but indirect light. This is due to the plant's natural habitat, on the forest floor beneath the tree canopy. Direct sun will cause the leaves to burn, so avoid placing your Alocasia in a spot where it'll be exposed to direct sun for a prolonged period.

How do I get my Alocasia to grow more leaves?

If you want your plant to push out new leaves actively and produce the large leaves it is known for, then make sure the alocasia is in a spot where it can receive plenty of bright indirect light. The plant will survive but not grow as quickly when placed in an area with lower light levels.

Do Alocasia like to be misted?

Your Alocasia prefers a humid environment so mist often. Mist the leaves regularly using a Mister, place a humidifier nearby, or use a pebble tray to raise the humidity. Your Alocasia prefers warm temperatures between 65–85°F.

What does an overwatered Alocasia look like?

Overwatering. If you overwater your Alocasia, it's possible that it will develop root rot or a fungal infection. Watch for brown or black spots developing on the leaves and monitor the soil for moisture. The soil should be damp, but not saturated with water, for optimal health.

Should you cut off dead Alocasia leaves?

The oldest leaves will start to yellow and droop as they naturally die off. This will be the lowest leaf on the plant, and will usually only happen to one leaf at a time. They will fall off on their own but to keep your plant display looking gorgeous you will need to trim the leaf off as close to the base as possible.

Is Alocasia high maintenance?

Elephant Ear (Alocasia spp.) They need good light and humidity to thrive. You'll need to mist the leaves frequently without leaving the leaves wet. You'll also need to wipe the leaves clean once a week and protect the plant from pests such as spider mites.

Why do Alocasia leaves fall off?

Alocasia leaf drop is likely due to cool temperature and low humidity, in addition to lack of sunlight. You can look into a grow light and humidifier to help it thrive in the colder months.

Should I let my Alocasia flower?

SHOULD I LET MY ALOCASIA FLOWER? I would recommend always cutting off your Alocasia inflorescences as soon as you spot them. What is this? The reason is that your plant will expend energy sustaining that growth, and most of us would rather redirect the plant's energy into foliage growth instead.

Can Alocasia grow in just water?

It's a very decorative way to grow houseplants and they can actually thrive in water pretty much indefinitely with the right care. What is this? To grow your Alocasia offset in water, simply clean any soil off its roots and find a container that you like to place it in.

How often do Alocasia grow new leaves?

In the right conditions, Alocasia grows fast. You can expect a new leaf every week during the summer. Sometimes, each leaf can be double the size of the one that came before it. If you need to control your Alocasia's growth, repot it annually and split the rhizome into 2 containers when you do so.

Do Alocasia grow quickly?

Alocasias are fast-growing in summer – some can produce a new leaf per week – however they stop growing when they become dormant in winter, and may even die down and lose their leaves. Feed with liquid fertilizer once or twice a month in summer. Alocasia leaves shrivel and die occasionally – this is perfectly normal.

Do Alocasia like deep pots?

Choose a container that's at least 18 inches wide and 16 inches deep for Colocasia varieties, or 36 inches wide for the larger Alocasia varieties. Using large pots will allow these plants to develop to their greatest potential and it also means you won't need to repot them for several years.

Does Alocasia purify air?

At Logee's, we also use Elephant Ear Plants (Alocasias and Colocasias), Dracaenas, Ficus and Calatheas to clean the indoor air. These varieties also made the cut on the NASA list.