Alocasia ‚Loco‘ - Care

A bright location with plenty of indirect light best showcases the Alocasia's strong dark green leaf color and sharply defined white veins. Direct sun, especially at midday, quickly leads to scorching; conversely, a lack of light causes the color and veining to fade, and growth becomes noticeably sluggish. As a guideline for the genus, Alocasias generally thrive with about 150 to 500 µmol/m²/s PAR (PPFD), which corresponds to a DLI of approximately 6.5 to 25 mol/m²/day over 12 to 14 hours of light.

Water as soon as the top layer of the substrate feels dry – the root ball should then be evenly moist, without water standing in the pot. This Alocasia reacts to dryness with drooping leaves, and to permanent waterlogging with rotting roots. Room-temperature, low-lime water is tolerated much better than hard tap water; excess water in the saucer should always be poured off.

Like most Alocasias, ‚Loco‘ is a heavy feeder. During the growth phase, fertilize approximately every 1 to 2 weeks with a highly diluted liquid fertilizer, preferably with every other watering or with every watering. General guidelines for the genus are a pH value of about 5.5 to 6.5 and a rather low conductivity of the irrigation water of roughly 1.0 to 1.3 mS/cm, as Alocasias are sensitive to salt accumulation. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for precise dosage. If the plant is only placed by a window in autumn and winter, fertilize less frequently or not at all due to the weaker light. However, if the plant receives sufficiently bright artificial light year-round, you can continue fertilizing at the usual, frequent rhythm.

We consciously alternate between different fertilizers for our own plants – currently including COMPO COMPLETE, Foliage Focus, Liquid Gold Leaf, and Hesi TNT-Complex, supplemented with Hesi Root Complex, Hesi PowerZyme, and CalMag as needed.

A loose, humus-rich substrate like a mix of potting soil, perlite, and some orchid bark allows the roots to breathe well, yet still retains enough moisture. It is important to use a pot with sufficient drainage holes so that excess water can drain away quickly and the tuber does not sit in wetness permanently.

Normal indoor air humidity of 40 to 50 % is tolerable, but at levels of 60 % or higher, this Alocasia appears significantly more vigorous and less prone to brown leaf edges. A humidifier or a bowl of pebbles can help maintain optimal conditions in a room with normal humidity. The ideal temperature range is between 18 and 27 °C; cold drafts and temperatures below 15 °C should be avoided.

The triangular, slightly wavy leaves with their distinctive white venation on a deep green background are what give it its name. This feature lends this Alocasia a particularly sculpted appearance compared to smooth-leaved jewel varieties. If the plant is kept solely by a window in autumn and winter, its growth slows noticeably due to the weaker light, and individual older leaves may be shed; however, under consistently bright plant light year-round, growth generally remains stable. As with many Alocasias, a regular cycle of new leaves emerging and older, lower leaves being shed is entirely normal and not a sign of neglect.