Alocasia Care Guide: Light, Water, Humidity and Spider Mites

Dramatic arrow-shaped leaves that want warmth and humidity

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Alocasias are tropical aroids from Southeast Asia and eastern Australia, grown for their bold, arrow-shaped leaves. The most common houseplant form is Alocasia × amazonica, especially the compact 'Polly', with dark green leaves and bright white veins.

They have a reputation for being dramatic. Most of that comes down to three things: they want warmth and humidity, they're prone to spider mites, and they can drop leaves and go dormant when conditions cool off. Know those and they're very manageable.

Alocasia at a glance

Water: Evenly moist, never soggy
Light: Bright, indirect
Humidity: 60% or more
Temperature: 18–27 °C (65–80 °F)
Difficulty: Moderate

How to identify a Alocasia

Arrow- or shield-shaped leaves held upright on long stalks, often with scalloped edges.

'Polly' and other amazonica types have very dark green, glossy leaves with bold white or silver veins.

Grows from an underground corm, usually putting out one leaf at a time.

Sometimes confused with Colocasia (taro), whose leaves point downward with the stalk attached partway into the leaf.

Dark Alocasia leaves with bold white veins — Arrow-shaped, dark leaves with bright white veins.

Light and water

Bright, indirect light. Avoid direct midday sun, which burns the leaves; low light leads to drooping and leaf loss.

Keep evenly, lightly moist: water when the top 2 to 3 cm (about 1 in) is dry. Soggy soil rots the corm, and drying out fully causes leaf drop.

Humidity and temperature

High, ideally 60% or more. A humidifier or a grouping of plants helps in dry homes.

18 to 27 °C (65 to 80 °F). Below about 15 °C (60 °F) it may stop growing and go dormant.

Several Alocasias in pots by a sunlit window — Bright, indirect light and warmth keep Alocasias growing.

Is a Alocasia safe for cats and dogs?

Toxic to cats and dogs. The leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and stomach.

Tips for a healthy Alocasia

Check the undersides of leaves every week or two for spider mites, especially in dry, warm rooms.

Losing an older leaf as a new one opens is normal; it often keeps only a few leaves at a time.

If it drops all its leaves in winter, check the corm is firm, water sparingly, and wait for spring.

A hand holding an Alocasia leaf to check it — Turn the leaves over every week or two to check for spider mites.

Common Alocasia problems

Fine webbing and speckled, dull leaves: Spider mites, Alocasia's most common pest.

Drooping stems: Thirst, cold or too little light. If the soil is wet, check the corm and roots for rot.

Dropping leaves: Normal one-in, one-out turnover, dormancy in cool weather, or stress from a move.

Brown spots: Overwatering, cold damage, or a fungal or bacterial leaf spot.

Alocasia questions

Why is my Alocasia losing leaves?+

Alocasias often drop an older leaf when a new one opens, which is normal. Losing several at once usually means cold, low light, drying out or a pest problem. In cool months it may go dormant and regrow in spring.

How much humidity does an Alocasia need?+

Around 60% or higher is ideal. In dry rooms, a humidifier helps more than misting, which only raises humidity for a few minutes.

Is Alocasia toxic to pets?+

Yes. All parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed.

Identify it with a photo

Don't know what you've got? Take a photo in OFPlants and Tad names your plant in seconds, tells you if it's toxic to cats and dogs, and gives you a care guide for light, watering, temperature and humidity.