Detailed Guide to Caring for Alocasia macrorrhizos and Points to Note

Alocasia macrorrhizos is a plant that likes warm, humid and slightly shaded environments, but during its flowering period it requires sufficient sunlight, otherwise its spathe will take on a green color, thus affecting its quality. For Alocasia macrorrhizos, it is essential to ensure 3-5 hours of light per day, otherwise its leaf stalks will elongate, affecting its ornamental value. Alocasia macrorrhizos is not very cold-tolerant, and by mid-October each year it must be moved into a greenhouse. In summer, it needs to be kept in shade and sprayed with water frequently to cool it down and retain moisture. Alocasia macrorrhizos is naturally fond of moist, fertile soil, which is what farmers often call "heavy fertilizer and heavy water", so during its growth period it should be watered in small amounts but many times.

Alocasia macrorrhizos is currently a very common home-grown green potted plant. Because it is a tropical plant, it generally does not bloom in the north. However, if the temperature and humidity and other conditions at home are suitable, it may also bloom. Although Alocasia macrorrhizos does not have high requirements for soil, it is most ideal to plant it in well-drained, organic-matter-containing sandy loam or humus loam, where it grows best.  More >>

When growing Alocasia macrorrhizos, pay attention to the following aspects:

1. Temperature. >=18°C is a critical point for the growth of Alocasia macrorrhizos, because if the room temperature is lower than 18°C, it will cause Alocasia macrorrhizos to enter a dormant state and stop growing.  More >>

Points to Note

Placing Alocasia macrorrhizos in the living room is a relatively good spot, but you must note that the stem of Alocasia macrorrhizos is toxic, so never break it. If you get the toxic sap on you, remember to rinse it off with water immediately. In addition, families with children had best not keep one. >>More

Care Knowledge for Alocasia macrorrhizos

    Alocasia macrorrhizos is also known as giant taro and hen yutou, of the Araceae family, Alocasia genus.

    Origin and habits: native to South China, Southwest China and Taiwan, China, and also distributed in Southeast Asia. It likes high temperature, high humidity and a semi-shaded environment; it is cold-tolerant and afraid of drought, avoids direct sunlight exposure, is averse to saline-alkali soil, prefers slightly acidic soil, and is best cultivated in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam.

    Morphological characteristics: perennial evergreen herbaceous plant. Roots are slightly fleshy. Stems are long, soft, slender and smooth, climbing in form. Leaf-like branches are slender, numerous, clustered in bundles of 6-12, arranged horizontally, and the stem is robust. Leaves are large, broadly arrow-shaped; the spathe is yellow-green; it blooms in summer, with a spadix inflorescence resembling a club shape. The rhizome is fleshy and robust, cylindrical; larger ones can reach up to 30cm long and up to 10cm thick, with a tea-brown outer skin.

    Care: It has no strict requirements for soil. For potting soil, a mix of leaf mold, peat soil, river sand and a small amount of thoroughly composted cake fertilizer can be used. Repot once a year, and the time can be arranged in early spring or late autumn. Because of long-term watering and drenching, the potting soil easily becomes compacted, so loosen the soil once a month to keep the potting soil in a well-aerated state. The suitable growth temperature is 20°C to 30°C. Keep the soil moist, spray water frequently, and provide shade. It is shade-tolerant; from mid-spring to mid-autumn, always provide shade with a frame to avoid large-area scorching of the plant. It likes moisture, so spray the leaf surface with water from time to time, otherwise the leaf edges will wither. It relatively likes fertilizer, especially increased application of nitrogen fertilizer.

    Ornamental value: Alocasia macrorrhizos has the effect of removing dust from the air. It is a plant that likes warmth, humidity and sufficient sunlight. Generally, small and medium pots can be placed in living rooms, studies, bedrooms, meeting rooms, etc., and can be enjoyed for a relatively long period. In a dimmer indoor space, it can still maintain a fairly good ornamental state when enjoyed continuously for 1-2 months.

Key Points for Caring for Alocasia macrorrhizos in Winter

In the cold winter, many gardening enthusiasts worry about whether their plants can safely overwinter. Many plants are not cold-tolerant, so in winter it is necessary to do a good job of cold protection and warmth keeping. Will our relatively common Alocasia macrorrhizos (detailed introduction) also freeze to death in winter? The editor will introduce to you the relevant knowledge about whether Alocasia macrorrhizos will freeze to death in winter.

Alocasia macrorrhizos (detailed introduction)

1. Will Alocasia macrorrhizos die in winter?

In its place of origin, Alocasia macrorrhizos is a perennial evergreen plant. In southern China, Alocasia macrorrhizos will not die in winter and will remain green. However, in areas north of the Yangtze River, if it is indoors (with heating), it will still remain evergreen and grow normally. If there is no heating, then the leaves will gradually turn yellow and wither. If the temperature is not too low, it is fine if the leaves are frozen yellow and withered; they will still grow out again the next year. Now let us look at the second question below.

2. Will Alocasia macrorrhizos freeze to death?

It will freeze to death. If planted outdoors in Northeast China, it will certainly freeze to death. However, if it is in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, where winter temperatures are not very cold, although the leaves will be frostbitten, as long as the roots are protected well, when the temperature rises in early spring the next year, it can still sprout and grow green leaves.

3. Alocasia macrorrhizos leaves turning yellow in winter

Alocasia macrorrhizos is a tropical plant. When the temperature drops in winter, it is unavoidable for the leaves to turn yellow and wither. As stated above, as long as the root system is protected well, it can still sprout and grow the next year.

Alocasia macrorrhizos is a tropical plant, so when caring for it we must pay attention to temperature; temperature is very important.