Alocasia ‘Jacklyn’

Where Alocasia tandurusa grows naturally

‘Jacklyn’ is a cultivar of Alocasia tandurusa, a species native to wet lower mountain forest in northern Sulawesi. It grows on the humid forest floor, sheltered by the canopy and supplied with regular moisture.

Growing Alocasia ‘Jacklyn’

• Light: Place it in bright, filtered light and soften the strongest midday sun. Its wet lower-montane habitat supports diffuse exposure, and gradual acclimatisation helps the deeply divided leaves adjust to brighter conditions.
• Water: Keep the root ball evenly moist; water as the surface begins drying, distribute water through the full pot and let the excess drain freely.
• Humidity: Maintain 60–75% relative humidity; stable humidity supports the opening of the divided blades and limits drying along their narrow lobes.
• Temperature: Aim for about 18–27°C, keeping the root zone steadily warm while the plant is active; avoid temperatures below 15°C.
• Airflow: Give the foliage gentle circulation, especially at higher humidity. Moving air helps moisture evaporate from the leaf divisions and the central growing point.
• Substrate: Use an airy, nutrient-holding mix of coco or peat, fine bark and pumice or perlite so the fibrous roots stay moist without losing oxygen.
• Feeding: During strong leaf production, give ‘Jacklyn’ a low-strength complete fertiliser regularly. Reduce it as soon as growth loses pace.
• Repotting: Choose a moderately deep container from the size of the roots and rhizome. Add around 20–30% fresh mix and preserve the established planting depth.
• Leaf care: Clean the often-pubescent upper surface with a soft, dry brush. Support the petiole and divided blade gently during handling.
• Propagation: Collect the small corms produced around the rhizome during repotting and sprout them warm. Rooted basal shoots can also be separated once each has an active growing point.
• Handling safety: Before repotting or unpotting, disturbing the root ball, cutting, pruning, division or propagation, wear gloves and keep Alocasia sap away from skin and eyes. After handling, wash hands and clean tools.

Understanding changes in Alocasia ‘Jacklyn’

• Leaves show deep lobes and an even covering of fine hairs: These established features of Alocasia tandurusa need no action while tissue remains firm and unchanged.
• New foliage develops silver scars, black specks, stippling, bronzing, webbing or distortion: Inspect folded growth, lobes, sinuses, vein junctions and undersides for thrips, mites or their characteristic traces. Once the pest is confirmed, isolate the plant, rinse accessible insects and reduce dust. If live pests or fresh damage remain, use one locally registered product whose label lists the identified pest and indoor ornamentals. Test a small inconspicuous area first, then follow the label's instructions for protective equipment, ventilation, dilution, coverage, repeat intervals and maximum applications. Keep wet treated foliage out of direct sun and recheck each newly opening leaf. A single dry, clean crease can be contact damage; prevent repeat contact.
• Cottony wax or sticky residue gathers at sheath bases or the growing point: These signs support mealybugs. Isolate the plant, wipe honeydew and gently remove visible insects, testing an alcohol-damp cotton swab on a small area before using it on an individual mealybug and keeping alcohol off the leaf. If insects continue, use one locally registered product whose label lists mealybugs and indoor ornamentals. Follow its instructions for protective equipment, ventilation, dilution, coverage, repeat intervals and maximum applications. Recheck sheath bases, the growing point and pot edge. If visible root-zone insects justify unpotting, wear gloves and avoid sap contact with skin and eyes before disturbing the root ball, then wash hands and clean tools; dispose of an infestation that cannot be contained.
• The plant yellows or wilts over wet medium, or the base softens: Stop watering, empty standing water and review drainage, cold, light and feeding. Before unpotting, wear gloves and avoid sap contact with skin and eyes; retain firm roots and cut only tissue directly confirmed as dark, mushy, hollow, slimy or collapsing. Repot into a clean draining pot with fresh airy medium, then wash hands and clean tools. A soft spreading or water-soaked base needs isolation and professional diagnosis before further cutting.
• A leaf mark becomes soft, water-soaked or larger: Isolate the plant, keep foliage dry and stop splash transfer. Before removing a severely affected leaf, wear gloves and keep sap away from skin and eyes; cut with a disinfected tool, then wash hands and clean tools. Rapid, recurrent or crownward spread needs professional diagnosis.

Alocasia ‘Jacklyn’: toxic if chewed

• Pets: This Alocasia is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep the plant and any cut pieces where pets cannot chew them.
• Children and handling: Keep it out of reach of children. Sap from damaged tissue can irritate skin and eyes, so wash your hands after pruning and avoid touching your face.
• Why it irritates: Alocasia tissue contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing or contact with sensitive tissue can cause immediate local irritation.
• Possible symptoms: Mouth exposure can cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, nausea or vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
• After exposure: For a pet, contact a veterinarian. For a person, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse with water; seek medical or poison-control advice if symptoms are significant. Breathing difficulty or rapidly increasing swelling needs urgent medical attention.

How ‘Jacklin’ became ‘Jacklyn’

Tandurusa Latinises the Indonesian tanduk rusa, “deer antlers”, for the deeply divided leaves. Enjie Jacklin of Gorontalo popularised the plant online as ‘Jacklin’; the later spelling ‘Jacklyn’ became widespread in trade.

Aditya Prameswara and Alistair Hay described the plant as Alocasia tandurusa in 2023 in Aroideana, volume 46(2), page 388.