Elephant Ear – Kris Plant – African Mask plant
Alocasia Amazonica is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous plants from the family Araceae. Famous for the massive, fan-like leaves giving them the nickname ‘Elephant’s Ears’. There are around 70+ species native to the rainforests of South-East Asia, where the foliage is sometimes used as makeshift umbrellas during tropical downpours. The name of the plant is misleading! as anyone seeing Amazonica, might think that this plant came from the Amazon rainforest.
Alocasia Amazonica is a beautiful houseplant, adored by the plant lovers due to their deep green leaves highlighted by light green or white veins. The Leaf shapes vary from wide, hearts shapes to slim arrowheads, with all different kinds of textures.
Alocasia can be kept indoors, thus adding eye-catching foliage and color to any modern design room. Warm and humid conditions with a good amount of filtered light works best for them. Keep them at a place that receives bright indirect sunlight throughout the day. Direct sunlight might cause leaf burns and they don’t do any well if kept in shade for longer durations. It’s important to keep the plant away from air conditioners and cold drafts.
Using a porous, nutrient-rich, well-aerated, well-drained soil mix is recommended. It’s important to keep the top part of the rhizomes above the soil which ensures healthy growth. They need plenty of water during active growth and prefer high humidity at all times. Allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. Alocasias prefers a tight fit in the pot thus there’s no need for often repotting. They go through a dormant period during winter when most of the leaves fade and die which is a natural occurrence and it’s nothing to be worried about. And it’s important to keep the soil dry during this period to avoid rotting of rhizomes and roots.
Alocasias got their name African Mask plant due to the foliage’s resemblance to the hand-carved ceremonial masks. They contain insoluble oxalate crystals similar to other plants in the Araceae family, thus they’re considered to be toxic and should be kept out of the reach of small children and pets. Chewing or biting into the plant might cause irritation in the mouth and GI tract.
The Green Machines 