Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Araceae
Alocasia princeps
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Alocasia princeps
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~20–30% dry
Substrate
Aerated • Moisture-buffered • Balanced organic + mineral • Medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–29 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright clumping herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 120 cm • Max. spread: 90 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to Borneo
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Alocasia princeps
Alocasia princeps is a Bornean species with leathery triangular leaves, dark petioles and purple-toned details that become clearer on well-grown plants. Young blades can appear dark green and glossy, with an angular outline that gives the plant a defined leaf shape.
This species comes from rainforest habitats on well-drained slopes and ridges. Indoors, it needs warmth, humidity and a chunky substrate that lets water move through the pot while keeping light moisture around the roots.
Leathery triangular leaves from Borneo
- Leaf shape: Hastate to triangular blades with an angular outline and slightly wavy margins on some leaves.
- Texture: Leathery leaves, often dark green and shining when young.
- Undersides: Purple tones can appear beneath the leaves, especially as blades mature.
- Petiole colour: Dark brownish-green petioles may show purple-brown lines or dots.
- Growth habit: Upright and rhizomatous, usually holding a limited number of strong leaves at a time.
- Root-zone preference: Use an airy, draining mix around the rhizome and thick roots.
Rainforest slope growth pattern
Alocasia princeps is native to Borneo and is associated with rainforest slopes and ridgetops, including basalt and limestone substrates. A warm, humid setup with a chunky substrate, steady moisture and fast drainage matches this growth pattern indoors.
Drainage-led care for Alocasia princeps
- Light: Give bright filtered light. Young glossy leaves can scorch if exposed to direct sun.
- Watering: Water thoroughly, then allow the upper part of the mix to begin drying before watering again.
- Substrate: Use a chunky aroid mix with bark and mineral particles so water drains quickly around the rhizome.
- Humidity: Higher humidity helps new leaves open cleanly and reduces dry margins on angular blades.
- Temperature: Keep warm and stable, especially around the roots.
- Airflow: Gentle airflow around the plant reduces stale, wet conditions near the base.
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth; pause fertiliser when the plant is resting or root conditions are cool.
Problems on triangular Alocasia leaves
- Soft yellowing growth: Check for dense substrate, cold roots or water sitting too long around the rhizome.
- Scorched patches: Move the plant away from direct sun or intense light hitting young leaves.
- Dry margins: Increase humidity and check that watering reaches the root zone evenly.
- Slow new leaves: Cool nights, weak light or root disturbance can delay the next growth cycle.
- Pests: Inspect the undersides, petiole joints and new growth for spider mites and mealybugs.
Safety
Alocasia princeps contains calcium oxalate crystals and can irritate the mouth, throat and skin. Keep it away from pets and children, and wash hands after pruning or handling damaged tissue.
Botanical name background
The genus name Alocasia combines Greek a-, meaning not or without, with Colocasia, a closely allied aroid genus. Alocasia princeps was first published in 1888 and is also linked historically with the synonym Alocasia porphyroneura. The epithet princeps comes from Latin for first, chief or foremost.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
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Alocasia princeps
Sale price€65,00
FAQs about Alocasia princeps – shape, mineral mix, and indoor size
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