An easy-care Alocasia with windy leaves

Although Alocasia sinuata has been cultivated for over a hundred years, both in the Philippines and internationally, it is still poorly documented botanically. Originally stated to be from the "Malay Archipelago", the label was later changed to the Philippines.

An early description claimed that the plant could grow up to 120–150 cm in diameter, but this is not true. Neither the type specimen nor other studied material reaches that size, on the contrary, Alocasia sinuata is a relatively compact species. It shares appearance and is sometimes difficult to distinguish from A. scalprum , which grows on the same islands.

Botanical Description

What we now know as Alocasia sinuata has had a somewhat confusing naming journey. It was first incorrectly called Alocasia guttata var. imperialis, a name that still appears in some collections, especially in Australia.

It was later given the incorrect cultivar name Alocasia 'Quilted Dreams' , even though it is not a hybrid (that type of name should really only be used for crosses). An early attempt to propagate the plant via tissue culture also resulted in another incorrectly named variant: Alocasia 'Hawaii' .

The leaves are 22–27 cm long, arrow-shaped to egg-shaped, sometimes with the stem attached to the middle of the leaf. They are dark green, slightly raised between the nerves, with a slightly wavy edge and a slightly shiny, leathery surface.

The veins are clear and create a discreet but beautiful pattern, especially on older leaves. The plant grows up to about 35 cm tall and has a compact plant form.

Care

Natural climate

The plant's natural environment is a tropical, humid climate with consistent humidity year-round, typically between 60% and 70%. Temperatures vary with the seasons, but during the day they are usually between 9°C and 31°C. At night, temperatures rarely drop below 7°C.

This environment is actually not very different from our 'normal indoor climate'. Furthermore, Alocasia sinuata grows on the rainforest floor, where the light is often at the same level as in a bright room.

These plants often grow naturally in a thin layer of leaves and the roots do not grow in 'regular soil'. Alocasia needs an airy substrate (but not leaves), e.g. our Aroid soil. Keep the substrate moist but not wet and let the top soil dry between waterings. Feed once a week in a reduced dose (about 1/4 of the recommended dose).

Divide the small shoots that come from the base of the plant to get more plants and replant them in new pots. Buy Alocasia sinuata online!