Alocasia reversa

Natural range and habitat of Alocasia reversa

Alocasia reversa comes from the Padawan area of Sarawak, where it grows in humid lowland forest over limestone. Its shallow roots grow among limestone boulders.

Care for Alocasia reversa

• Light: Soft, bright light or gentle shade suits it. Keep the leaves out of prolonged strong direct sun.
• Temperature: Give Alocasia reversa stable conditions around 18–27 °C; move it to a warmer position before temperatures remain under 15 °C.
• Humidity: Use about 60–80% relative humidity. Gentle airflow around the foliage helps moisture clear. Keep the plant away from heaters and air-conditioning.
• Watering: Check the mix regularly and water once the upper part starts to dry, before the potting mix dries all the way through. If new leaves appear more slowly and the mix stays moist for longer, wait longer before watering again. Water the full root ball, let the excess run out freely and leave no standing water around the inner pot.
• Water quality: If your tap water is hard, use room-temperature rainwater or another low-mineral water to reduce mineral residue in the potting mix.
• Potting mix: Use a loose houseplant mix that holds some moisture and drains well.
• Feeding: While new leaves are developing, use a complete houseplant fertiliser at modest strength. Pause feeding when new leaf growth slows.
• Space: Its compact growth needs only moderate clearance around the leaves as the plant develops.
• Repotting: Check whether roots are crowding the pot or the mix is drying much faster than before. Repot when one of those signs appears.
• Propagation: Separate a rooted offset or firm corm from an established plant and pot it individually in warm conditions.

Common problems with Alocasia reversa

• A spreading yellow wash develops or several leaves lose firmness: The normal grey-green tissue between the dark veins is healthy colouring. Investigate when that pattern turns broadly yellow or several leaves lose firmness. Check the root ball first. If the pot is still heavy and the plant is weakening, take it out of the pot and examine the roots and base; if the roots are firm, consider a recent drop in light and check the leaf undersides for pests.
• The plant wilts or loosens at the base while the potting mix stays wet: Stop adding water and inspect the roots and base for soft, brown or foul-smelling tissue. Keep every firm root and every firm, healthy part of the base. If clearly rotten tissue has to be removed, use a disinfected blade, keep every firm healthy section, clean the blade between cuts and discard the removed material. Repot the healthy remainder in fresh, airy mix in a container just large enough for the roots that remain.
• Bleached patches or crisp brown margins appear: Check whether strong direct sun has reached the grey-green foliage or whether the root ball has dried out badly. Shift it out of direct sun while keeping the position bright when scorch fits, or soak a genuinely dry root ball until water runs through, then empty any runoff. Judge the correction on later leaves.

Alocasia reversa: 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 reversa means

Reversa is Latin for “turned back” or “reversed”, referring to the unusual contrast of dark veins against paler tissue.

Nicholas Edward Brown first described Alocasia reversa in 1890 in Gardeners’ Chronicle, series 3, volume 8, page 38.