Alocasia x amazonica
Elephant ear plant, African mask
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 1m
- Position
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A plant with some of the most eye-catching foliage imaginable. This has long dark green leaves, purple on their underside. The major ribs are proud of the leaves and are coloured silver, and fine silvery veins cross the otherwise glossy foliage. This is a plant that requires rich soil and plenty of water as well as warmth and humidity. It does best in bright shade. The flower is a spike (spadix), coloured green and white, and is not a thing of beauty.
- Flower colour
- Green, White
- Foliage colour
- Green, Purple, Silver
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Weeping
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 1m
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous), Alkaline
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 15C & above (RHS H1a)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- A light position not direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 18C minimum temperature
- Use for
- Architectural
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten; skin & eye irritant
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Mist the plant daily
Soft or rain water is preferred as it doesn't mark the foliage. Don't mist when the plant is in sunshine or the foliage could be scorched.
Mist the plant daily.
Winter
Winter · Indoors
Water moderately in winter
Water moderately.
Give a small amount of water so that the plant doesn't become flaccid (leaves lose their firmness and may droop or look lifeless), or dessicated, but do not saturate the compost or leave it standing in water.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), fine bark and grit.
Indoor temperature · Planting
18C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 18 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in indirect light indoors
Give the plant a position that is cool and light, and away from direct sunshine.
Found in
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