Alocasia Black Velvet

Scientific Name: Alocasia Reginula ‘Black Velvet’

Origin: Borneo

Light Requirements: Bright, indirect light. More tolerant of lower light than many other Aroids.

Watering: Allow the top two inches of soil to dry before watering. Prone to root rot, so avoid excessively wet conditions or overpotting.

Soil: Coarse, free-draining soil. A good mix is two parts each of perlite and orchid bark to one part potting soil.

Temperature: 59ºF (15ºC) to 80 (27ºC) or above; they grow faster at the higher end. Won’t tolerate temperatures below 55ºF (13ºC) and dislikes both hot and cold drafts.

Fertilizer: Improve soil fertility while the plant is actively developing by scraping some compost into two soil without disturbing the plant’s roots. Then, every two weeks, feed the plant a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, such as fertilizer For Growing, diluted at a rate of 1 teaspoon/litre of water.

Humidity: A minimum of 40% humidity to prevent foliage problems, but 60% to 75% is the best range.

Flowering: Very unlikely to flower indoors. Flowers are unimpressive: a pale yellow spathe surrounding a white spadix spike.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required, other than to remove dead leaves.

Propagation: By seed, separating offsets, or division of the rhizome.

Re-Potting: Does better when slightly rootbound. Avoid repotting more than once every 2-3 years, and only increase pot size slightly.

Diseases and Pests: Spider mites are the most likely pests but reasonably pest-resistant. Fungal leaf spot diseases can be caused by excessive humidity or watering.

Toxicity: Contains calcium oxalate crystals which can irritate the mouth and digestive system. It is toxic to humans and pets.