Elephant's-ears

Elephant's-ears Care

Alocasia Mortfontanensis

What is the plant

Tropical plants in the Alocasia genus feature stunning foliage that can become the centerpiece of a garden or room. In the right conditions, they can grow very fast, but they are also sensitive plants. Alocasia grows well in big pots; they can thrive in the summertime and then be brought indoors in the winter. Some species are considered invasive, especially along the Gulf Coast in the U.S. Check with your local municipality if you have concerns prior to planting this species outdoors. If you have children or pets, you may want to avoid these plants as the leaves are toxic to humans and animals.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

Toxicity

Poisonous

How to Care for the Plant

Water
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.
Pruning
Quickly remove any yellow leaves or those that develop brown or black spots as that may be a sign of a fungal disease.
Fertilizer
Alocasias can be heavy feeders, especially large specimens. Feed with liquid fertilizer during the growing season or frequent, small applications of granule fertilizer.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Needs vary from shade to full sunlight, depending on the variety. Ask the grower if the plant is sun-trained. Leaf color tends to be better among plants that grow best with more light.
Soil
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.
Temperature
Alocasias will start to suffer below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Some varieties will die back during colder weather and resprout from the rhizome.

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Container
Alocasias plants like to be root-bound in small pots, so don't rush to put them into larger pots.
Additional
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 which 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.
Popularity
68 people already have this plant 17 people have added this plant to their wishlists