This is a very rare elephant ear and is quite different from the typical. The incredibly large thickly sculpted glossy green leaves are held upright on dramatically rigid stems. The foliage is covered in white blotches. This rare species requires 40-60% shade and can reach heights in excess of 8'-10 ft. No tropical garden is complete without Macrorrhiza Variegata as a centerpiece.
Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Depending on your conditions this may be as little as once a week, but plants grown in more light, heat or that are larger will often require more freqent watering. Underwatering causes browning leaf tips, and overwatering will lead to yellowing leaves and stems that become mushy.
Medium to bright indirect light indoors. Partial shade outdoors. A little less light seems to be better than too much, and promotes better leaf size and variegation.
Half strength time release fertilizer every 3 months will help promote larger size. If you want it to grow bigger, repot whenever it is getting rootbound to avoid stalling it's growth.
Plant in loose, well-drained potting mix or a crumbly loamy soil. Try to let the top few inches of soil become nearly dry before watering. This will help keep it evenly moist. Soggy soil makes the plant susceptible to many fungal infections.
Alocasias will start to suffer below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Some varieties will die back during colder weather and resprout from the rhizome. They thrive in very humid environments. To raise the humidity around your plant, place it on a tray filled with pebbles and then add water until it rises to just below the bottom of the pot. Keep them away from cold drafts from windows, doors, and air conditioning.
