Elephant's Ear (Alocasia) Care: Exotic Foliage for Warm, Humid Spots

Dramatic Presence

Alocasia × amazonica has arrow-shaped, scalloped leaves with bold silver-green veins on glossy dark green. Grows from rhizomes; each produces several 1-ft leaves. ‘Polly’ stays compact.

Care Essentials

• Light: Bright indirect. No direct sun.
• Water: Spring–fall: moist. Winter: sparingly, almost dry between.
• Humidity: High. Humidifier best. Mist daily to deter spider mites.
• Temp: 65–75°F.
• Soil: Peat-based.
• Fertilizer: Every 2 weeks spring–fall, 20-10-10 half-strength. No winter feeding.

Maintenance

• Repot spring when needed. Drainage holes.
• Winter rest: drier, no fertilizer. May go dormant if bone-dry—recovers in 1–2 months with care.

Propagation

Divide rhizomes in spring. Keep rhizome top above soil to prevent rot.

Fussy but spectacular. Worth the humidity effort.