Alocasia Ivory Coast, also known as Elephant ear plants, is one of the most attractive plants of their category in the market. These plants can change the whole outlook of your room or garden with their exceptional foliage color.
Make sure that you place the plant where it gets a good amount of sunlight, as it is a vital ingredient for its healthy growth.
The leaves of these plants have a unique pattern and shape that is quite similar to the elephant ear, making them one of the most highly demanded plants in recent times. They are quite easy to handle, so make sure that you follow this guide to get the best out of your precious plant.
Characteristics of Alocasia Ivory Coast
The unique character that is different from all the other plants allows them to grow alone without needing another plant to set the contrast and balance the colors. These plants already have multiple colors on their leaves, attracting every eye that glances at them.
Foliage
The foliage of the plant has dark green leaves with silver-green veins that set a perfect contrast between the two colors. The color changes its shade and becomes richer as the plant moves towards its mature age.
The stem of the plant has a light pink color that further enhances the overall beauty of the plant. All the colors are combined together to form a perfect balance that looks pleasing to the eye instead of hurting them.
Flower
These plants can produce flowers under rare conditions. If you notice a flower hanging from the pot of your plant, you are one of the luckiest planters in the world.
They can grow both male and female flowers once the plant reaches maturity, but keep in mind that Alocasia seeds take months to mature.
Height and width
They can grow up to 1.5 to 3 feet tall, but they do not cover a lot of space as they have a vertical growth habit. Each new leave will develop above the previous one with a maximum length of about 90 cm.
Pest and diseases
These plants can thrive without any pests and diseases infecting them if you keep them in an ideal humidity environment.
Spider mites are one of the most common pests that invade your beautiful plant. In any case of pest detection, we advise you to use insecticidal sprays to keep your plant protected.
Toxicity
These plants can be toxic to pets and kids, so please keep them out of their reach. We advise you to train your pets not to mess around with your plants; however, children can be protected by keeping the plant at a height where they cannot reach the foliage.
Caring tips for Alocasia Ivory Coast
These plants are quite easy to care for, but make sure that you follow all the steps mentioned in this guide carefully to keep your plant thriving and flourishing with magnificent colors.
Sunlight requirements
Bright, indirect light from the sun is ideal for the healthy growth of these plants. We recommend you place them under partial shade to protect them from direct sunlight as it can damage the sensitive leaves of the plant.
Water requirements
Water the plant when the first half of the soil is dry. These plants require more water in the active season, so make sure that you keep the soil moist without overwatering it.
Reduce the watering in the winter season as the plant becomes dormant, and regular watering would only have negative effects on the foliage.
Temperature
We recommend you keep your plant in a temperature range of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants don’t do very well in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep them away from the A/C vents if you place them inside your room.
Humidity
Keep the humidity levels higher than 60 percent by misting your plant once a week. You can also use a humidifier to maintain a high humidity level for your plant’s healthy growth.
Soil
A soil with a mixture of perlite, peat moss, and compost is ideal for your plant. We advise you to keep the soil moist all the time, making sure that it drains the excess water quickly. Please do not keep your plant’s roots in standing water as it can have adverse effects on them.
Use all three ingredients in an equal ratio to make a perfect balance of organic material in the soil. The organic material helps improve the drainage system of the soil.
Fertilizer
These plants require a healthy diet due to their big size, so feed them with a good quality houseplant fertilizer between the spring and summer seasons. We recommend you use a liquid fertilizer as Alocasia ivory coasts grow better in them than granular fertilizers.
Pruning
Pruning can help you maintain the shape of your plant; Moreover, removing all the damaged leaves can protect the plant from getting infected by various diseases. Remove all the old yellowing leaves from the plant to keep it growing healthy.
Propagating Alocasia Ivory Coast
Stem cutting is one of the easiest and most economical methods of propagating your plant, but it requires a little bit of knowledge to execute the method properly. We have listed down some tips that can help you with your plant propagation.
- Cut the stem a few inches below the leaf node.
- Ensure that the stem has a few leaves intact.
- Place the cuttings in the water and wait for the new roots to develop.
- Use a rooting hormone to boost the root development process.
- Prepare the soil with a good amount of organic matter.
- Plant the roots in the soil and water them.
Conclusion
Alocasia Ivory Coast is one of the most beautiful plants that can enhance the beauty of your garden with its unique colors. They are quite easy to handle, but make sure that you follow all the tips provided in this guide for the ideal growth of your plant.