How to grow Alocasia macrorrhizos (giant taro)? Detailed guide to cultivation methods and precautions

Other names for Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos, wolf's bane (underground stem), tian yu, guanyin lotus, xiu tian cao, gu po yu, and others.

Growth habits of Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos grows at temperatures of 20-30℃, and can tolerate low temperatures down to 8℃. In summer, as long as the soil is kept moist, water is sprayed frequently and shade is provided, it can still grow normally during high temperatures. In winter, room temperature must not fall below 5℃. Alocasia macrorrhizos is an understory plant of tropical rainforests, so its growth requires high humidity, and diffused light is best.

It is a shade-tolerant plant that prefers semi-shaded environments, and should be placed in an environment that is both shaded and well ventilated.

Flower language of Alocasia macrorrhizos

Like-mindedness, sincerity, interest, inner elegance.

Alocasia macrorrhizos is an evergreen perennial herbaceous plant with medicinal value; its corm and leaves can be used medicinally. Under conditions of warm, humid air and relatively saturated soil moisture, water will drip downward from the leaf tips. When air humidity is too low, the water produced evaporates immediately, so dripping generally occurs mostly in the morning, and is known as the "guttation" phenomenon.

Its flowers are spathe-shaped, belonging to the "spadix inflorescence". It is a warm-loving ornamental flower that also likes plenty of sunlight, generally blooming in winter and spring. The dormant flowering period runs from November to May or June of the following year, with February to April being the peak blooming period.

Is Alocasia macrorrhizos toxic

The white sap in the rhizome of Alocasia macrorrhizos, the "water" it drips, and its fruit are all toxic.