2x Elephant's ear Alocasia 'Polly'

You have a variety of options upon receiving your Alocasia:

• Take an attractive planter with holes in the base and cover the holes with potsherds or gravel and stand the Alocasia, still in its nursery pot in the planter. Water immediately.
• Plant your Alocasia into a decorative planter - as long as it has holes for drainage and the holes are covered with potsherds or gravel. Plant in potting compost, at the correct depth and fill the pot with more potting compost. Press firmly down and water generously.
• Just stand this houseplant in its nursery pot, on a saucer, then water directly. Don't allow it to stand in drain-off longer than 24 hours.

Place the pot in the light, somewhere in the living room. It can handle anything but the full blast of midday sun and standing above a radiator will also not be good for it. Do try and avoid draughts too. Never allow your Alocasia to dry out entirely.
 
 

Water your Alocasia x amazonica 'Polly' regularly and do not allow the root ball to dry out. Rain water at room temperature is preferable. Feed with plant food for leafy plants during the growing season.

Alocasia likes it very humid so spray the plant generously and regularly with rain water.

Water less in the winter keeping the compost slightly drier but temperature and humidity should remain the same.

Pot your Alocasia up every 2 or three years using (for example) special anthurium potting compost which is lighter and more airy than 'normal' potting compost.
 
 

Alocasia originated in the tropical rain forests of South and Central America. In Europe it is generally used as a decorative, leafy houseplant, ideal for warm living rooms. In tropical climes this plant is widely used in parks and gardens.
Alocasia in one of the Arum family (Araceae).
A characteristic of the whole Arum family is the typical flower called a spathe which is really more a bract. The actual flowers are so small that they go unnoticed. These are at the base of the attractive bract. They last a long time because the whole process of flowering and ripening of the berries that appear can take about 6 months.