Alocasias are fast becoming a must have indoor plant, but can it really survive in everyone’s home?

Alocasias are a tuberous growing plant, generally found in the tropics. They dislike the cold and if planted out in a garden can die down during our colder months and reshoot in the spring.

You will need a bright, or really well lit, area in your home for these babies. They tend to turn their leaves to face the light, so they’re not suitable for dark areas.

During summer, these plants appreciate you creating a little humidity bath for them. I read that sitting them in a dish filled with pebbles and water helps. The pebbles keep the roots from sitting in water, but the constant water supply increases humidity around the leaves. During winter, it’s best to let these guys dry out between waterings.

Alocasias hate to be over potted, so try to let it get really potbound before you repot it and only ever pot up to the next size.

A liquid fertilise with Triple Boost and Neem Oil once a fortnight would be appreciated. Mixing it up into a spray bottle and drenching the leaves, on top and underneath is preferable and fertilise with Organic Link (organic, complete fertiliser) at the turning of every season (every three months).

Every stunning plant needs some time out, so when my Alocasias look a little sad, I usually just place them in a shady spot in my garden and wait until they are looking amazing again.

I have found that they are susceptible to mites, yet if I remember to spray them weekly in summer, with a mixture of neem and liquid fertiliser, I can usually stop the infestation before it begins.

For me personally I have found that Alocasias grow fantastically in my garden and they are used as features either in mass plantings or single forms. For gardens that are in a lot of shade these plants have striking foliage and stems that really scream “look at me!”. Sometimes flowers aren’t the only way to provide your garden with bursts of colour.

Some of my favourite Alocasias

There are so many different varieties of Alocasias around these days that you will slowly become addicted to collecting them all. These are just some of my favourites that are commonly available.

Alocasia brisbanensis

Commonly called Cunjevoi. This plant is native to our Brisbane region. It's a clumping plant that can grow up to about 1.5m in height with large, green, spade-shaped glossy leaves. The best part about this plant is that it has a fragrant flower and juicy sweet smelling, red berry like balls. It can be used as a marginal or bog plant in full sun but it also grows beautifully indoors, in full shade on a patio or in a garden.

Alocasia Zebrina

This is one of my favourites with very long green arrow-shaped leaves and long white stems that are striped with dark markings like a little zebra. Can get up to 1.5m. Wow factor.

Alocasia amazonica 'Bambino'

The say everything is cuter when in miniature. Bambino is a beautiful baby Alocasia, with slender deep green (almost black) leaves and dramatic white veins. This little guy will only get to about 30-40cm high and wide. Perfectly sized for showing off on your kitchen table or as a border plant in the garden.

Alocasia macrorrhiza 'Stingray'

What makes this plant a must have? Well, firstly it looks cool and funky. It has unique green, stingray shaped leaves that sit upon striped stems. Really who wouldn’t want this inside to stare at all day long?

Alocasia sarawakensis ‘Yucatan Princess’

I could dive deep into the depths of Yucatan Princess’ leaves all day. She has red wine coloured stems and dark thick green leather-like leaves. I have found in low light situations her red wine stem turns the purest white which is kind of cool too.

At full growth, her stems will be about 3m long and her leaf can get to over 1.5m long! In pots she may not reach this size, but she will still be very impressive.

Yucatan Princess can stand on her own in a large container commanding attention as an indoor or shade garden focal point. She also makes friends easily and mixes nicely with other plants. I have her multi planted at the moment with Peperomia ‘Red Edge’.

I’m thinking when mine grows big I’d love to have her potted at the front door with some Rex Begonias and a walking iris around her base. I know she won’t mind sharing the spotlight.

Alocasia reginula, the Black Velvet Alocasia

Alocasia reginula, the Black Velvet Alocasia is exotic and elegant. It reminds me of Cleopatra and ancient Egypt for some reason. I want to display this beautiful plant in a gold pot with some long tapered candles in gold stands ... all dark and moody.

Alocasia reginula has thick heart shaped black velvet leaves with iridescent silver veins. The leaves grow about 15cm long and 5cm wide. They sit atop a short fleshy stems and rarely get above 20cm in height.

Finding this native of the Southeast Asian Jungle used to be rare, but nowadays due to tissue culture, he is commonly found in shady gardens and indoors.

Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'

Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale' and Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret'

The Alocasia Dragon Scale looks like something out of a fairy tale with shimmering, reflective, textured foliage that is so tough and pliable it appears crafted from, well, dragon’s scales.

Alocasia Dragon Scale is a cultivated variety of Alocasia baginda, which is native to the tropical forests of Borneo. This Alocasia is a smaller grower and its leaves only tend to get to about 60cm long. In perfect conditions the leaves can get to about 1m, with a 50cm spread.

Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret'

Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret's has incredible rich, shiny, bronzey red foliage. These guys are relatively slow growing, taking ten years to reach maturity and then only reaching full height in perfect conditions. In most instances cuprea will only get to about 50cm high and 30cm wide. If you are lucky though, their leaves can reach about 1m and they will clump up to about 80cm.

Xanthosoma Lime Zinger

While technically not an Alocasia many people do call Lime Zinger an Alocaisa so I’m throwing it into the mix here. Xanthosoma Lime Zinger is a stunning plant that features lime green heart shaped foliage. With each individual leaf capable of growing up to 50cm long and it’s stems can up to 1.5m long, this plant is guaranteed to add some WOW to pots or the garden!