Chinese taro

Chinese taro Alocasia cucullata

What is the plant

Chinese Taro is a perennial evergreen herb belonging to the Araceae family's genus Alocasia. Alocasia Cucullata is a typical member of its genus. If you can provide enough space for this plant, it will delight you with its picturesque view.

Alocasia Cucullata loves spacious rooms. The plant has a thick stem, long petioles, and large, heart-shaped leaves with pointed tips. The height can exceed 3.5 feet (1 meter).

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

20°C - 27°C

Hardiness zone

7b - 10b

Difficulty

Medium

Toxicity

Poisonous

Water
In summer, you should water the plant abundantly. However, do not forget to drain the water from the pan; otherwise, the roots may begin to rot. Before watering the Chinese Taro, the water should settle. In winter, you can reduce the amount of watering. Alocasia Cucullata loves moisture, so it responds to spraying well.
Sunlight
Chinese Taro welcomes bright lighting. However, you should keep the leaves out of direct sunlight. In winter, the plant may need some additional light sources.
Fertilizer
In summer, you can feed Alocasia Cucullata once every two weeks with a complex foliage fertilizer at half the dose. In winter, the plant needs top dressing no more than 1 time per month.

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Soil
You can use a medium-density earth mix consisting of leaf, softwood, peat, and sand in a ratio of 4:4:4:1. Soil acidity pH=5.5–6. For large specimens, you may add humus to the soil. Ready-made soil for decorative leafy plants with the appropriate acidity is also suitable. You also need to create a drainage layer.
Pruning
Get rid of damaged leaves and stems. This is important because damaged leaves and stems can actually be an energy drain on your plant. By removing those dead parts, you're taking some of that work off your plant’s plate and allowing it to divert its energy into healthy leaves and new growth!
Propagation
Alocasia Cucullata propagates by cuttings most often. You can separate them from the mother Alocasia and plant them in separate pots. It is better to do this in spring.

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Temperature
Alocasia Cucullata is a thermophilic plant. Therefore, in summer, the temperature should be at least 77 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius), and in winter, at least 64 (18) degrees. The plant does not tolerate drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Container
Chinese Taro has delicate roots, so you should choose a container with space to avoid damaging the root system. For the same reason, you should repot young plants every year. It is best to use a container with a pallet.
Fun fact
In China, all parts of the plant are used as an antidote for snake bites.
Popularity
4,742 people already have this plant 858 people have added this plant to their wishlists