Alocasia 'Jacklyn'

Alocasia 'Jacklyn'

Alocasia 'Jacklyn' is a cultivated form of Alocasia tandurusa, a Sulawesi species with deeply divided leaves and a textured surface. Each blade is cut into long lobes, creating an antler-like outline above the pot.

The plant grows from a rhizomatous base and carries its leaves on upright, patterned petioles. Mature foliage can show dark veins, a lightly fuzzy surface and a sharply divided outline.

Divided tandurusa foliage

• Cultivated form of Alocasia tandurusa.
• Deeply lobed, antler-like leaves.
• Textured leaf surface with visible dark venation.
• Patterned petioles on mature plants.
• Rhizomatous growth with corm and offset production.

Patterned petioles from a Sulawesi species

This Sulawesi species grows in wet tropical habitat. Long, divided lobes create the deer-antler outline reflected in the species name.

Warm substrate allows the roots to take up water more reliably, while softened light reduces scorch on the textured leaves. Use an airy mix so the rhizome does not sit in dense wet soil. The divided leaves are delicate while unfurling, so check the undersides regularly for spider mites.

Jacklyn care for divided leaves

• Light: Place it in bright filtered light. In dim light, petioles can stretch and new leaves often come in smaller.
• Water: Keep the substrate lightly moist while the plant is making new leaves. Dry swings can make a new leaf stick, while constantly wet mix can rot the roots.
• Substrate: Use an airy aroid mix that still holds light moisture. Bark, coco chips, pumice, lava and perlite reduce the risk of dense wet soil around the roots.
• Humidity: Around 60% or higher is useful while the divided leaves are opening, especially with gentle airflow.
• Temperature: Keep it around 20–28 °C. Cold glass, cold surfaces and draughts can make the leaves droop.
• Feeding: Give small fertiliser doses while new leaves are forming. Too little feed during active growth can lead to undersized leaves.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot or the plant becomes unstable. Keep the rhizome firm and close to the substrate surface so the base does not stay wet.
• Propagation: Corms, offsets or careful rhizome divisions can be grown on once young plants have active roots.

Stuck leaves, drooping and mites

• New leaves tearing or sticking: Low humidity, dry roots or pests can damage the leaf while it is expanding.
• Drooping petioles: Dry roots, root rot or cold conditions can stop enough water reaching the leaves.
• Yellow lower leaves: One older leaf may yellow and die back as a new leaf grows; repeated yellowing points to wet roots, dry swings, cold conditions or root rot.
• Fine speckling or webbing: Inspect the undersides, veins and petiole bases for spider mites.

Handling textured petioles

Alocasia 'Jacklyn' contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals. If plant tissue is ingested, it can irritate the mouth, tongue and throat. Place it away from pets and children, and clean your hands after handling cut tissue.

Tandurusa behind Jacklyn

Alocasia is part of Araceae. The epithet tandurusa is derived from Indonesian tanduk rusa, meaning deer antlers, and refers to the deeply lobed leaf blades.