Alocasia princeps ‘Purple Cloak’

Cultivar origin and habitat

The species behind ‘Purple Cloak’ grows on Bornean forest ridges and slopes across a wide elevational range, rooted in well-drained ground over several rock types. The purple-backed cultivated form shares this rainforest lineage and was selected in cultivation.

Growing corm-forming aroids indoors

• Light: Give Alocasia princeps ‘Purple Cloak’ 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 ‘Purple Cloak’: leaves, petioles and roots

• Soft lower stem or a sour-smelling root ball: A soft base, sour smell or roots that lose their outer layer points to active root or stem damage. Isolate the plant, keep firm tissue and replace wet collapsed substrate with a fresh airy mix. The root-rot guide
• Bleached tan patches or dark water-soaked areas: Dry tan patches on the exposed side fit sudden sun. Dark, water-soaked tissue after contact with cold glass or a draught is consistent with chilling. Correct the exposure and watch for the damaged edge to stop expanding.
• Compare the root-ball edge and centre, before correcting the root ball: Inspect how roots occupy both the edge and centre of the plant's pot. A dense dry outer mass needs different correction from a stagnant wet core, even when the leaves, petioles and roots shows a similar loss of firmness. 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 ‘Purple Cloak’ is toxic to pets

• Alocasia princeps ‘Purple Cloak’ 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.

The meaning of princeps in Purple Cloak

The Latin epithet princeps carries the meanings “first”, “chief” and “foremost”. Alocasia combines the Greek prefix a-, meaning “without” or “lacking”, with Colocasia, the name of a related aroid genus.