Alocasia princeps

Habitat in the wild

Alocasia princeps is widespread in Borneo on well-drained rainforest slopes and ridge tops. It occurs over basalt, limestone and other substrates from near sea level to about 1,200 m. Sloping ground and broken mineral terrain keep water moving through many of its sites.

Growing corm-forming aroids indoors

• Light: Give Alocasia princeps 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. Wet evenly and drain completely.
• 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 princeps: leaves, petioles and roots

• Several leaves yellow or the crown droops: One older leaf can yellow normally. Several changing leaves require a direct root check: water only when the root ball is dry and firm, and inspect softness in damp substrate. The drooping guide adds the pot-weight, root-firmness and moisture checks that distinguish thirst from root damage. The root-rot guide
• Fine pale speckling or webbing: Spider mites gather beneath the leaves and along the main veins. Isolate, inspect every underside, rinse with lukewarm water and dry away from sun. Treat the divided or textured lower surfaces at the product's stated coverage and interval.
• Check smell, colour and texture together, before correcting the root ball: Do not diagnose Alocasia princeps from colour alone. Compare firmness, internal colour and smell at the affected base or root zone; agreement between these signs is stronger evidence of active decay than one dark or pale area on the leaves, petioles and roots. Rewet a dry pocket slowly and drain the pot fully. If the centre remains saturated, do not water again until the pot feels lighter and moisture at depth has fallen. Do not apply the same watering response to both conditions.

Alocasia princeps is toxic to pets

• Alocasia princeps 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.

What princeps means

Princeps is Latin for “first”, “chief” or “foremost”. Alocasia combines the Greek prefix a-, meaning “without” or “lacking”, with Colocasia, the name of a related aroid genus.