Alocasias, additionally known as ‘elephant ears,’ are a few of the best and most lovely foliage houseplants. They thrive in vivid, oblique mild and heat, humid situations. If ever there was an ideal plant for a sunny lavatory window, that is the one.
One of many traits that makes alocasia among the many best houseplants to develop is its potential to adapt to container life. They like moist, well-drained, and nutrient-rich soil. All elements which can be easy to regulate in a houseplant. Outside, they’ll develop exceptionally massive. I’ve one in my Florida backyard that’s greater than 10 toes tall!
In containers, alocasias have a tendency to remain smaller, however can nonetheless develop to spectacular and dramatic sizes. They multiply over time and are simple to propagate, providing you with much more attractive leaves in the home. They’re a rewarding alternative for anybody in search of a high-impact, low-maintenance plant. Listed below are a few of the best alocasia varieties so as to add to your assortment.
‘Polly’
One of many best alocasia varieties to take care of is ‘Polly.’ Additionally generally known as African masks plant, it’s common and surprisingly simple to handle. It’s compact, which makes it glorious for rising in a container. This hybrid is completely glad in conditions with oblique mild or shaded patios.
This hanging alocasia has dramatic, arrowhead-shaped leaves. They’re much less rounded than many cultivars. The foliage is deep, darkish inexperienced, which makes the sunshine coloured veining stand out as crisp and clear. ‘Polly’ might go dormant in cooler climate, so don’t panic when this occurs; it drops a leaf or two.
‘Silver Dragon’
‘Silver Dragon’ is a part of the dragon scale group and among the many best alocasia varieties to develop. These varieties are compact and identified for his or her dragon-scale-like foliage. This one has silvery, metallic leaves with deep inexperienced veins. The veins are deep not solely in shade but in addition bodily. They create a raised, embossed texture.
One other interesting function of ‘Silver Dragon’ is the underside of these attractive leaves. The highest is cool, however beneath, they’ve a touch of purple. The scale of this selection makes it nice for rising indoors and in containers. Alocasias, on the whole, want excessive humidity and don’t like direct daylight.
‘Black Velvet’
‘Black Velvet’ is one in every of my favorites, and in addition one of many best alocasia varieties to take care of. This can be a true jewel of a plant with thick, velvety leaves which can be almost black. In distinction, the pale veining additional exaggerates the darkness of the leaves. Additionally they have a slight metallic sheen.
I discover this selection to be tolerant of some direct solar, however not loads. It’s essential to offer your alocasias shelter from afternoon publicity, which is hotter and extra intense. It’s delicate to overwatering, so solely water when the highest inch of soil is dry.
‘Quilted Dream’
‘Quilted Dream’ is a wide ranging selection, and it’s grouped with the simplest sorts of alocasia to take care of. It’s an incredible cultivar for collectors and plant lovers, because it has a glance all its personal. The leaves are thick, leathery, and closely textured. They’re a brighter inexperienced than another cultivars, and have deeply coloured and textured veins.
This can be a compact selection that’s perfect for rising indoors and in containers. It loves a heat spot with excessive humidity and filtered solar. Direct solar could cause solar scorch on the floor of the leaves. ‘Quilted Dream’ is uncommon and collectible, and a dwelling piece of artwork.
‘Regal Shields’
‘Regal Shields’ is a more recent cultivar and one of many best alocasia varieties to take care of. It has the attractive coloring of its ‘Black Velvet’ father mixed with the elevated chilly tolerance of its A. odora mom. It’s each sturdy and dramatic. The leaves are massive and velvety, deep inexperienced with a slight shimmer, and have purple undersides.
This can be a bigger cultivar that grows as much as six toes tall and large. It wants a big container and a considerable area within the residence. It’s a hanging plant, and will likely be a focus in your assortment.
‘Batik’
Alocasia odora varieties are among the many best to take care of, and so they have lots of fantastic qualities. They’re sturdy and tolerant vegetation that maintain as much as a little bit of neglect. They’re additionally much more cold-tolerant than most species. ‘Batik’ is a uncommon and beautiful selection with vivid and intricately patterned leaves.
‘Batik’ is a taller, bigger cultivar with irregularly variegated leaves. They’ve lighter veining, which is the place they get their identify. It comes from the Indian means of resist dying by the identical identify. The method employs patterns of wax that resist dye to supply lovely patterns.
‘Portora’
‘Portora’ is a hybrid that additionally has A. odora as a mother or father. It’s a big cultivar, and one of many best when you’re searching for dramatic varieties. You’ll want a big container and a big area to accommodate this alocasia, but it surely’s fully price it. Odora varieties get their identify from their flowers, that are fairly aromatic.
This hybrid has a fast-growing behavior, and open air it’s going to develop bigger. It’s a assertion plant in each sense of the phrase. The large leaves are arrowhead-shaped and wavy with pleated edges. It may well tolerate extra mild than different varieties, however afternoon solar is undesirable.
‘Mayan Masks’
‘Mayan Masks’ is one other massive hybrid that ranks among the many best alocasia varieties to develop each indoors and open air. It’s a bit extra cold-tolerant than smaller sorts, so its roots will survive winters open air in zone 9. It’s common for its dimension and ease of care, which lends lots of tropical drama with little effort.
The massive leaves are shiny and huge with deep veining. The highest is vivid inexperienced, and the underside is deep purple. It’s a sturdy plant with thick, sturdy stems. ‘Mayan Masks’ is ideal for areas that may accommodate a big, attention-grabbing plant.
‘Pink Dragon’
‘Pink Dragon’ is among the many most lovely and best sorts of alocasia you’ll be able to hold as a houseplant. Its compact dimension makes it simple to discover a area for it. Beloved for its lush, metallic inexperienced leaves and gentle pink stems, and for being among the many best, it’s undoubtedly some of the common cultivars.
That is an A. baginda hybrid cultivar, and a spectacular one, at that. The pink petioles set this one other than its friends. The leaves are shield-shaped and of a manageable dimension. It’s sturdy and forgiving, so it’s an incredible starter alocasia for rookies.