African Mask

African Mask Care

Alocasia amazonica 'Polly'

What is the plant

African Mask is known for its wide dark green leaves with light green veins. And the look of this plant will impress people who have been into plants for a long time!

This unique coloration makes it a desirable addition to the house. It is not considered a plant for beginners, but it doesn’t mean you can’t take care of it without experience. All you need is just slightly more attention to it, and with good care, it will bloom! The flowers feature spathe and spadix, but they are not so showy and often hide by the leaves. Unfortunately, this plant is toxic, and you have to place this beauty where it will be unreachable for pets or little kids.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 20°C

Hardiness zone

9b - 11

Difficulty

Hard

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
You need to remember that this plant is not drought tolerant, and brown edges can indicate that the plant hadn’t received enough water for a prolonged period. Weekly waterings are the best for this plant; you need to keep the soil moist, not wet. However, in winter, letting the soil dry out between the waterings is okay.
Pruning
Pruning is needed when it comes to removing dead leaves.
Fertilizer
The plant will only benefit from regular fertilization. Especially during the growing period when fertilizing once every two weeks will be great for its growth. The best fertilizer for Alocasia is liquid fertilizer, and the fish emulsion is also great.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
This plant needs bright indirect sunlight for about six hours a day. In its turn, bright direct sunlight can damage the plant.
Soil
Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’ prefers porous soil. The perfect combination is perlite, soil, coarse, peat, and sand.
Propagation
This plant is extremely easy to propagate, and the most successful method is not cutting but division.

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Temperature
Due to its alleged subtropical origins, it is very sun-loving, so the most optimal temperature is from 64 to 77 F (18-25C).
Container
This plant needs a smaller container because it likes to be root-bound.
Fun fact
A name for this plant was chosen due to its resemblance to African ritual masks. However, it’s not native to Africa but to the Philippines islands! What’s interesting, it’s impossible to trace the plant’s exact parents, and this species can’t be found in rainforests. So it’s believed that its scientific name is fabricated.