Alocasia 'Stingray'

Origin of the cultivated form

Alocasia macrorrhizos ‘Stingray’ is a mutation of Alocasia macrorrhizos first found in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Similar village-grown forms were propagated in Thailand before the plant reached the US trade in the early 2000s.

The species ranges through humid tropical regions from Borneo and the Philippines to New Guinea, Queensland and the Solomon Islands. ‘Stingray’ therefore joins a warm island background with a long history of village and nursery cultivation.

Growing corm-forming aroids indoors

• Light: Give Alocasia ‘Stingray’ bright indirect light, with gentle morning or evening sun after acclimation. Avoid hot midday sun.
• Watering: Water when the upper layer begins to dry, checking deeper in a large pot than a small one. Large leaves use water quickly, but corms need full drainage.
• Humidity and airflow: Moderate to high humidity is usually enough. Keep air moving around the crown, especially where large leaves overlap, and avoid cold draughts.
• Temperature: Keep in steady indoor warmth, with roots kept away from chilling temperatures. Avoid sudden chills and cold, wet substrate. Keep the corm and roots steadily warm; cold, wet substrate is especially risky.
• Feeding: Use a complete fertiliser at a low dose sparingly while growth is strong. Feed less often when growth or available light decreases.
• Leaf care: Clean one leaf at a time with a soft damp cloth, supporting it from below. Check undersides and petiole joints for pests.

Troubleshooting Alocasia 'Stingray': large leaves, firm petioles and a substantial root ball

Several large leaves lose firmness

A macrorrhizos-type crown may retire one lower blade as a new one expands, provided the heavy petioles and corm stay firm. When several broad leaves lose firmness at once, weigh the pot and inspect the deep roots and corm before deciding that a large Alocasia is thirsty. For a macrorrhizos-type root ball, compare pot weight with moisture near the corm before watering. An evenly dry, firm root system needs a thorough soak; damp substrate around soft or hollow roots needs inspection instead. The drooping guide explains how pot weight and deep-root firmness separate thirst from root damage in a large plant. The root-rot guide

A fixed patch appears on the exposed side

Across a macrorrhizos-type blade, compare the exposed face with the shaded side and trace whether the damaged boundary remains firm. A dry patch across the window-facing surface supports scorch on a large leaf; a dark translucent area matching contact with cold glass supports chilling. Give the affected leaf clearance from strong sun or cold glass and mark the edge; a stable boundary confirms that the exposure has ended.

Alocasia ‘Stingray’ is toxic to pets

• Alocasia ‘Stingray’ is toxic to cats and dogs.
• Chewing releases insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause immediate mouth pain, drooling and difficulty swallowing.
• Contact a veterinarian promptly after suspected chewing, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Alocasia: a name altered from Colocasia

Alocasia was coined by altering Colocasia, the name of a related aroid genus.