Alocasia Care Guide

(This information is based on my own experience and my most trusted source: Aroidpedia. This isn’t a foolproof perfected guide, some of my plants still die lol…)

If you have an Alocasia (or are about to get one), congratulations: you’re officially entering a relationship more psychologically torturous then the one I had with my ex. But done right, they’ll reward you with beautiful large leaves and plenty of new mini versions of themselves.

All basic info here is based on data from Aroidpedia – Alocasia.

1. Origins & What These Plants Really Like

  • Alocasias come from tropical & subtropical Asia, Australasia, and the Malay Archipelago. In nature they’re used to abundant rainfall, high humidity, warm and stable temperatures. Aroidpedia
  • They tend to grow in ever-wet or seasonally wet forest zones, often in the shady understory where light is diffused. Aroidpedia

👉 Keep this in mind!! They want to feel at home with you…

2. Temperature & Humidity (Yes, Huge Deal)

  • Temperature: Ideal daytime temps are ~ 25-30 °C (77-86 °F) when they’re actively growing; somewhat cooler (~22-26 °C or 72-79 °F) is okay. Anything below ~10-12 °C (≈50-55 °F) will stress them. Aroidpedia
  • Humidity: Aim for 60-80% relative humidity for best growth and leaf health. Lower than that they tolerate—but they may sulk, drop leaves, or become more pest-prone. Aroidpedia

(I personally keep most of my small ones in a terrarium/greenhouse or greenhouse cabinet.)

3. Light Requirements

  • Bright, indirect light is the name of the game. These are forest plants at heart. Too much direct sun → scorched leaves. Too little light → slow growth, dull colors. (Good look finding the perfect spot, every plant has their personal preferences and are pickier than my cats with their food…)
  • Outdoors (in Switzerland only during summer months obviously, see temperature), shade cloth that filters ~70-80% of sunlight (please mind any fire hazards); indoors, near windows but not baking in midday sun. Aroidpedia

4. Soil & Potting Mix

  • Use a rich, well-draining mix: peat or coco coir, perlite, orchid bark, maybe pine fines, worm castings. The mix needs to hold moisture without staying soggy and suffocating the roots. Aroidpedia
  • Avoid huge pots. Alocasias don’t like being “drowned” in oversized soil masses. They prefer snugger pots, so the rhizome and roots aren’t sitting in too much wet substrate. Aroidpedia

(When repotting I usually put them in a pot barely bigger than the original one.)

5. Watering

  • Keep the substrate consistently moist, but never waterlogged. Let the top layer dry out a little (but not completely) between waterings.
  • Use water that’s at least room temperature; cold water + cold roots = grumpy plant. (You wouldn’t want a cold shower either, right?)

6. Fertilization

  • Alocasias are heavy feeders when growing. Weak, frequent doses are better than one heavy dose. Think: “weakly weekly”.
  • You can use liquid fertilizers with waterings or slow-release forms in the soil. Aroidpedia

7. Propagation & Growth Habits

  • They produce offsets / pups / cormels naturally. Dividing rhizomes is also possible; many enthusiasts propagate by separating these. Aroidpedia
  • Some species are more forgiving; others are finicky. Know your species! (If you want my personal recommendation for each Alocasia species I have owned so far, scroll down.)

8. Pests & Common Problems

  • In low humidity, or if conditions are off, pests like spider mites, thrips etc., may show up. (Alocasias are chronic pest magnets so it’s not an IF it happens it’s an WHEN it happens.)
  • Also root rot if overwatered or in bad-draining soil; yellow leaves if either too wet, too cold, or too low light.

9. The “They Just Don’t Like Certain People” Rule

Yes — scientifically speaking, plants don’t have feelings (highly doubt that)… but sometimes it feels like your Alocasia just doesn’t like you.

What I’ve observed:

  • You buy the perfect specimen, follow all rules, yet leaves droop, split weirdly, or just don’t flair. Might just be that particular plant, or a species that dislikes sudden changes, drafts, or inconsistent care.
  • Some Alocasias are more dramatic than others; some will sigh dramatically at low humidity, others will sulk if they don’t get a bit of direct morning light.
  • So patience + observation wins. Try moving it, adjusting humidity, or giving it more consistent care. If that fails, maybe it’s just one of those plants.

10. Routine Care Checklist

Task How Often / Notes
Watering Keep moist; more often in warm/humid growth phases; reduce slightly in cooler periods
Fertilizer Weak dose every week (or slow-release in soil) during growing season
Humidity monitoring Aim for 60-80%; misting, pebble trays, humidifier as needed
Light checking Bright, indirect; avoid intense midday sun; rotate pot for even leaf growth
Pot check Make sure roots aren’t crowded; repot if necessary but don’t oversize pot