Alocasia longiloba ‘Dragon’s Tooth’

Where the species behind Alocasia longiloba ‘Dragon’s Tooth’ grows naturally

‘Dragon’s Tooth’ belongs to the variable Alocasia longiloba group. The species ranges from mainland Southeast Asia into the western and central Malay Archipelago. It grows on humid forest floors, in damp ravines and in pockets of soil among boulders and cliffs.

Growing Alocasia longiloba ‘Dragon’s Tooth’

• Watering: Let the upper part of the mix begin to dry, then water again before the potting mix dries all the way through. Water until excess runs from the drainage holes. Let the pot drain, then empty any water left in the saucer or cover pot.
• Potting mix: Use a loose, rich mix that holds some moisture while draining freely and staying airy after watering.
• Light: A softly lit position or bright filtered daylight works well; avoid intense sun for long periods.
• Feeding: Feed at the rate on the fertiliser label only while new leaves are actively developing; pause when growth slows.
• Temperature: Keep it around 18–29 °C and away from cold windows or draughts. Move it away from cooler spots before temperatures fall below 15 °C.
• Humidity: Alocasia does best with medium to high humidity. Keep it in a bright spot away from heaters and air-conditioning. If the air is dry, place it near other houseplants that like similar conditions, leaving space between the leaves, or use a clean humidifier.

Problems you may see on Alocasia longiloba ‘Dragon’s Tooth’

• Older leaves continue to disappear and fresh growth does not keep up: One ageing leaf is normal when another is developing. If replacement growth stalls, compare the plant's current light and warmth with stronger-growing periods and check the roots and base if the decline continues.
• The whole plant feels soft or sags while the pot is damp: Stop watering and inspect the root system and lower base. Retain anything firm; mushy, hollow or foul-smelling tissue indicates rot. If repotting is necessary, use a container sized to the roots that remain instead of jumping to a large pot. Our root-rot guide covers recovery.
• An emerging leaf twists and carries silver scratches with black specks: Search inside the folded leaf and around its lower junction for thrips. When you find them, keep ‘Dragon’s Tooth’ away from the collection and use a treatment labelled for thrips on indoor ornamental plants, repeating it according to the label.
• New pale speckles run along the narrow blades: Inspect the underside of each leaf, especially the main vein and sheltered area near the base, for spider mites. Silver-white veins and the burgundy underside are normal; live mites or new webbing are not. Use a treatment labelled for spider mites on indoor ornamental plants, repeating it according to the label.

Alocasia longiloba ‘Dragon’s Tooth’: 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.

What longiloba means in Dragon’s Tooth

The epithet longiloba combines Latin longus, “long”, and lobus, “lobe”, referring to the elongated leaf lobes.

Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel described Alocasia longiloba in 1856 in Flora van Nederlandsch Indië, volume 3, page 207.