The majestic Alocasia wentii is equally impressive as a backdrop for a forest or a stunning centerpiece. Although it’s one of the more mellow varieties of Alocasia, it’s not a plant for beginners. We’ll review all you should know about Alocasia wentii maintenance to keep your plant healthy and avoid the traps.
Alocasia wentii prefers bright indirect light, high humidity, moist, well-draining soil, and temperatures between 55 and 86oF (13-30oC). It’s a large feeder that can thrive when it is slightly rootbound. It’s susceptible to thrips and spider mites and can become inactive when temperatures drop, or the light levels decrease.
Alocasia Wentii Overview
Table of Contents
Alocasia winter’s shiny green leaves sport the traditional broad shape of the family and have a slightly rough texture, with a purple-hued underside. The striking color underneath the leaves responds to the smoky light of the Asian forests.
Alocasia wentii is known by several famous names, such as “Purple Umbrella,” “New Guinea Shield,” and an encouragingly named “Hardy Elephant Ear.” It’s believed that it is a mix of Alocasia Ordora and Alocasia Gageana.
The plant thrives in ideal conditions and can grow up to three feet tall and wide. Its broad leaves can stretch more than a foot long. The warm-hearted Wentii can remain evergreen but is dormant during cool temperatures. It is a great indoor plant and excellent for outdoor landscaping in warm, humid climates.
Alocasia Wentii Care Summary
| Scientific Name | Alocasia wentii |
| Common Name | New Guinea Shield, Purple Umbrella, Hardy Elephant Ear |
| Origin | New Guinea |
| Light Requirements | Needs mainly bright, indirect light, but can tolerate a little direct sunlight in the late afternoon or early morning. Consider using a grow light in winter to prevent dormancy. |
| Watering | Maintain lightly moist conditions. Water thoroughly once the top inch of soil feels dry. Make sure to let your plant drain well after watering. Very prone to root rot if overwatered, but cannot tolerate dry soil. |
| Soil | A specialist Aroid mix is the best option. This is the one I use. It contains coconut coir, LECA, perlite, charcoal, bark chips, and worm castings. Alternatively, equal parts of cactus mix and a standard houseplant potting mix will do OK. |
| Temperature | Tolerates temperatures of 55oF (13oC) to 86oF (30oC). Cooler conditions will trigger dormancy, and the plant starts to suffer above 95oF (35oC). |
| Fertilizer | Alocasia wentii has quite high fertilizer requirements. Feed monthly during the growing season. I use a balanced fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength. Avoid fertilizing in winter. |
| Humidity | High humidity is important for good Alocasia wentii care. >60% is strongly recommended, but it may tolerate as low as 40% in some circumstances. Watch out for brown leaf edges and tips as warning signs of low humidity. |
| Flowering | Produces unimpressive pale-colored spathes that only last a few days. |
| Pruning | Prune damaged or dead leaves off as required. Take care not to damage new leave emerging from the stem when pruning. |
| Propagation | Propagate by division. Alocasia wentii produces new offsets and corms from its rhizome, which can be divided when repotting. |
| Re-Potting | Only repot when significantly rootbound. Spring is the best time to repot. Alocasia wentii is easier to care for when fairly snug in its pot. Avoid excessive disruption of the roots when repotting. |
| Diseases and Pests | Spider mites and thrips are common. Fungal leaf diseases and root rot are encouraged by warm, wet conditions. |
| Toxicity | Alocasias are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, and horses. The plant contains oxalic acid which forms intensely irritating calcium oxalate crystals. The sap can also cause dermatitis, so consider wearing gloves when handling your plant. |
| Where To Buy | Buy Alocasia wentii online at Etsy (I buy most of my houseplants from Etsy). |
Alocasia Wentii Light Requirements
Alocasia wentii thrives in indirect, bright light, but it quickly burns in light that is too strong. It can adapt to light levels that are less than ideal. However, it can stretch and turn spindly if the illumination is too dim.
A few feet back from a sunny window is usually a good location. A few rays of direct sunlight could be tolerated in the morning or later afternoon. Wentii thrives in artificial light sources as well.
Read my article about lighting for indoor plants and think about using the light inside your home using an app that measures light levels to locate the ideal location that will be ideal for the plant you want to grow.
How To Water Alocasia Wentii
Watering is an essential aspect of Alocasia gone treatment. They want their soil to stay somewhat damp without becoming too sloppy. They’re thirsty plants, especially in the outdoors – landscape Alocasias could require almost daily soakings during hot weather.
Let the top 1 to 2 inches dry by the pot’s dimensions. Alocasia wentii is a sensitive plant to excessive watering and is prone to developing fatal root rot in boggy soil. A brief period of dryness helps reduce fungal infections and diseases.
Do not let the soil get completely dry, but. The plant might droop when submerged, but this is a signal of desiccation, not a gentle reminder not to wait for the plants to “tell” you when it requires water.
If you’re having trouble dealing with the issue of Alocasia wentii maintenance, you can learn some beneficial household plant watering techniques within this post.
When you water, do a routine that involves flushing your soil using extra water and then letting the excess run off. This will ensure that the entire root system is well-watered and flushes out pollutants such as fertilizers that have not been used.
Notice: Try not to get water near the tender stem, which is especially susceptible to rot on the stem.
The root of Alocasia wentii is susceptible to root rot. This stem needs to be repotted into an Aroid mix to decrease the chance of developing.
Alocasia Wentii Soil Requirements
It’s up for debate what is more crucial to your Alocasia wentii’s health, either the soil or the watering. They’re both interconnected. It is difficult to properly water this plant when it’s not in the right mix.
The most fertile soil is rich and well-drained. The mix must have a sturdy structure that allows for superior aeration while holding moderate water. Organic material is an excellent method to create the perfect consistency and increase fertility.
Soilless gardening has received lots of attention because numerous desirable tropical plants are particularly adept in light-weight combinations with coco coir, peat-moss perlite, etc. These mixes don’t have “traditional” soil at all. A mix that doesn’t contain soil at all. Alocasia wentii is a good choice for soilless mixes if it gets enough nutrition.
Here are some suggestions for soil in Wentii:
- An Aroid soil of high quality is usually advised for Alocasia wentii. I make my aroid mix of coconut coir LECA perlite, charcoal, worm castings, and even bark. I typically buy pre-made aroid mix on Etsy (Link for Etsy).
- A different option is to mix the same amount of regular home plant potting soil and Cactus soil mix. This should work okay as long as you are careful with the watering.
- Organic materials such as compost and worm castings make excellent soil amendments that increase soil fertility and help to increase the number of healthy microbes. Ten percent of one of these included in your soil mix is an excellent alternative, but it will also increase water retention and somewhat reduce drainage.
Alocasia Wentii Humidity Requirements
True to its roots in the tropical rainforest, Alocasia wentii thrives on humidity. It may have trouble surviving low humidity but is susceptible to becoming dull and developing dry, brown areas in its leaf.
Certain Alocasias can handle lower humidity better than others. Alocasia wentii is among the more adaptable varieties; however, they are a bit challenging for those living in dry environments. 60% or higher humidity is the ideal humidity for your Alocasia wentii … certain growers have had success with around 40 percent, but that’s a lot of the limit.
Even if the plant you have is at a moderate humidity level, it’s likely to prosper even more with greater levels. Here are some ways to boost the humidity inside your home:
- Plants in groups (especially other tropical plants).
- Utilize a pebble-filled water tray under the plant’s container or nearby.
- Look for the plant in a place subject to a constant flow of humid, steamy air, such as bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens.
- Make use of the room humidifier. Be aware that high humidity levels could cause mold to grow on walls. This will not likely be the addition to your garden you wish to bring home.
- Find my blog post on increasing humidity in your houseplants to know more.
Alocasia wentii is a fan of high humidity. Pictured within Linkin Park Conservatory, Chicaco (Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Alocasia Wentii Temperature Requirements
Alocasia wentii could not be more accommodating to temperatures. They like the range of 55oF (13oC) to 85oF (30oC). Cooler temperatures can trigger dormancy, and the plant will begin to suffer when temperatures exceed 95oF (35oC).
It’s normal to grow potted Alocasia wentii outdoors during summer and then bring it inside before temperatures begin to fall. They can be found outdoors all year round in warm climates. They will naturally enter dormancy once the temperature drops … however, they’re not able to withstand serious freezing.
How To Fertilize Alocasia Wentii
The plant could be heavy feeders during its growing period. Therefore you must ensure it is getting the proper nutrition. It is easy to over-fertilize, but you shouldn’t overdo it.
The damage caused by root inhibition and excessive fertilizer usually shows in the form of leaf discoloration. The tips are often brown.
Feeding each month throughout the growing season, with fertilizer reduced to half the recommended amount on the label. Be aware of the fertility of the soil.
Tips:
- If you use the dry or granulated fertilizer, apply a minimum of six inches to the plant’s root.
- Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion and worm tea are better for sensitive roots than synthetic formulations and do not require the same amount of diluting.
- Clean the soil after each irrigation by running additional water through the soil before draining to the drainage. This can help flush away any unused fertilizer.
- Don’t feed them during winter. Reduce your intake as growth slows.
- Check out my article on fertilizing your houseplants to find out all you must be aware of this crucial element of care for your houseplants.
Spathe Flowering
Alocasia wentii isn’t cultivated to produce flowers. However, it produces delicious spathe flowers. It is more commonly referred to as an inflorescence; the spathe lasts only a few days and dies in a matter of days.
To preserve the plant’s energy, Cut the flowers when they start to fade. If you don’t, the tiny flowers will soon begin to dry out and brown. Deadheading is recommended.
Pruning Alocasia Wentii
The main reason for pruning the leaves of an Alocasia is to take away damaged leaves or cut them back. It cannot be made shape by strategically cuts such as topiary. The growing Alocasia wentii has a more significant number of leaves than other plants and so quickly replaces the leaves that have been cut.
Take leaves off the stem’s base; however, be careful not to harm the young leaves still developing. Each Alocasia leaf will produce another, so make sure to leave a small stump to spare the newly formed leaf. Also, avoid cutting the older and new leaves off in a single.
Be sure to use sterilized blades when you prune to lower the risk of contracting disease!
Repot When Seriously Rootbound
Repotting is dangerous from the plant’s point of view, so it is best to be kind. It usually takes your plant 4-6 weeks to heal after the repotting.
Fortunately, you don’t need to repot as often. Much like other Alocasias, The Wentii enjoys being overgrown and placed in a compact container. The plant can get big in a small pot and still be content … however, it must be relocated after becoming the roots are severely bound.
Spring is the perfect time to repotter your Alocasia wentii (if you’re required). This allows the plant plenty of time to grow and recover. Avoid repotting during dormancy. You can refer to the following article for the step-by-step procedure for repotting your plants.
Do not increase the size of the pot by more than one inch or two inches. Pots that are too big for the root system of your Alocasia will hinder growth at the top because the plant can dedicate its resources to exploring the roots.
A second and perhaps more significant issue with an oversized pot is that the empty soil makes it dry out more quickly and more difficult to water adequately. Constant watering on the same routine after repotting could result in excessive watering and root decay.
New leaves appear in a tightly curled form from the base of the leaf before them.
How To Propagate Alocasia Wentii
The division is the principal method for the propagation of your Alocasia wentii.
Alocasias do not develop from cuttings in general. There is a possibility to cultivate Alocasias by seed. However, the most reliable sellers are challenging to locate. The seeds need to be planted when fresh to ensure that they sprout – just like fresh from the berry.
The process of division is much simpler and faster. Alocasia wentii develops from a rhizome, producing corms and offsets that can be taken off the plant to be grown independently. It is possible to split the rhizome into segments for the sprouting process, but this requires deconstructing the mother plant.
These are steps needed to propagate by division:
- The best time to split is during spring repotting when the roots have already been disturbed.
- Drink thoroughly for at least 24 hours before the process of repotting. Hairs that are well-hydrated have more flexibility and are resistant to damage.
- Gently take the plant out of the pot. Gently shake or clean the soil off its roots.
- Seek out small clumps or offsets or corms. They usually are tiny roots that have tangled in the bigger plant.
- Make sure to tear the root systems apart carefully. Avoid tearing them. If needed, slice them by using a tool that has been sterilized with Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- It is possible to grow plants in water or soil; however, the most popular method is to grow them in soil. There is evidence to suggest that the roots that are sprouted in water won’t work as efficiently in soil. Therefore, when you plan to transfer the roots into a pot, there will be a period to transition.
- Provide the plants with a warm area with plenty of indirect lighting, high humidity and damp but not wet soil. The new growth should be visible within a couple of weeks.
High Toxicity
Alocasias are usually harmful to cats, dogs, humans and horses. The plant has Oxalic acid, a source of extremely irritating calcium crystals of oxalate.
The signs begin with a burning sensation, which can cause vomiting, drooling and difficulty swallowing. It is uncommon, but death is possible if the swelling blocks all airways.
The sap from Alocasia wentii is also poisonous and may cause dermatitis or irritation; therefore, it is recommended to wear a protective suit when handling the plant.
Alocasia Wentii Care Tips
- Alocasia wentii is a highly thirsty plant, particularly during hot temperatures. It requires less water when it is kept indoors.
- Water consumption soars during leaf production. To prevent a damaging dry spell, clean water more frequently and inspect the soil daily.
- A higher humidity level allows Alocasia wentii to take on the greater light intensity.
- Your Alocasia wentii isn’t able to adjust to change, so you can expect the loss of some leaf when returning home or after the relocation of a significant amount. Don’t be overreactive, and then move the plant so that you can “find the right spot.”
- As with most tropicals, Alocasia wentii is the light source. Make sure to rotate the plant regularly to avoid it getting lopsided. Give the pot a quarter-turn in the clockwise direction each time you water it.
Varieties
There are nearly 80 species within the Alocasia Genus, yet only one species is Wentii.
Pests
Alocasias are known to be pest magnets. However, it is mostly because of two culprits, thrips and spider mites. Other pests may cause problems; however, they are not as expected.
Pests can be a problem quickly, and it’s difficult for the perfect Alocaisa wentii maintenance to be damaged due to a pest issue. Checking for pests every time you water is a great practice.
They can be found under leaves or in crevices and joints; therefore, you must be aware of these areas.
Spider mites are often too small for you to notice – a magnifying lens is useful and can keep you from snarling over every grain you spot. You can spot tiny webbings on the leaves and the stems.
Thrips appear like tiny dark slivers of leaves. Their damage is much easier to spot because their feeding habits create streaks of silvery spots.
No matter what pest appeared at the table, The treatment process should begin with removing the affected leaves and then giving the plant a nice bath. Get rid of all pests that are in the area.
Do not forget to separate the plants affected by pests from your other plants. Pest infestations can quickly spread. Therefore, you must act quickly!
A well-known method to combat these pests is neem oil. It is a plant-based insecticide that kills upon contact. Because neem oil has mild residual effects and has a low impact on the environment, some cultivators employ it for Alocasia frequently went as a preventative.
A low-toxicity option that is especially efficient in fighting spider mites is to sprinkle plants with diatomaceous soil (DE). Clean or wipe it off in three days. DE must be dry to be effective. It can be difficult to apply (use masks); however, it can successfully eliminate even a severe infestation.
Disease
Alocasia wentii treatment is enough without worrying about diseases, too. Fungal infections are the most frequent ailment you’ll come across, and many are caused by moisture and can cause discolored leaf spots.
Keep the plant in a safe place until the infection is gone. If you are moving the plant, make sure not to alter the conditions in a way that is too drastic. Small outbreaks can be prevented by keeping the plant dry and careful not to drown the plant. Increasing ventilation helps.
If the leaves are covered with large spots or damage, They can be removed and cut.
There are fungicides and treatments with different effectiveness, but certain diseases are not treated effectively. Plants that are severely affected should be removed. Learn more on how to recognize how to treat and prevent common diseases of houseplants In this post.
Alocasia Wentii Care Problems (And Solutions)
Tips of brown leaves indicate stress. Low humidity, watering issues and overfertilizing are some of the reasons.
My Alocasia Wentii Lost All Its Leaves – Should I Throw It Out?
Your Alocasia will stay evergreen for so long as the conditions are sunny and warm. They generally go into dormancy if temperatures drop or light intensity diminishes.
The most commonly cited causes of dormancy are taking a plant inside from outside, acclimation following buying your first plant or a lack of light or cooler temperatures during winter. Any sudden reduction in temperature or light can cause dormancy.
Dormant Alocasia goii will likely lose many or all its leaves and eventually become an unattractive stump, not what most owners desire. If you wish for your Alocasia wentii to maintain its leaves and stay dormant, you must keep its temperature and light level close to what it experiences in the summer.
A plant that’s not in a state of dormancy isn’t. It’s simply going into hibernation. Set it into a cooler area and allow the soil to dry out slightly, and then when the weather warms up, you can begin normal care when the plant recovers.
Why Is My Alocasia Wentii Getting Yellow Leaves?
The most typical reason for the yellowing of leaves is excessively moist soil. Overwatering causes the most yellowing, but it is also the riskiest. The yellow leaves indicate conditions for root decay.
Eliminate rot by examining roots. Healthy roots are light, firm and have a sour, earthy smell. If you find that your roots are rotting and you suspect it’s rotten, you must immediately and perhaps even take extreme action to save your plant.
If soil moisture isn’t the problem, keep looking for other possible causes of yellowing leaves, such as the effects of temperature extremes, waterlogging, and intense light. The yellowing of leaves can also be triggered by the cumulative pressure of the low humidity level, pests and diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. The blues that repot.
Why Is My Alocasia Wentii Getting Brown Leaves?
The main reason that causes brown leaves on Alocasia wentii is the low humidity level. It is most often caused by brown edges on the leaf and tips. I suggest keeping track of humidity using an electronic hygrometer and attempting to keep the humidity level over 60 percent.
Brown leaves may also result from excessive light, diseases or pests, excessive fertilization, or a combination of stressors. If you notice a brown leaf on the Alocasia wentii, read this article for step-by-step guidance to determine what is causing the problem.
How Do I Know When To Repot My Alocasia Wentii?
Remove the pot gently and look at the rootball. Alocasias will be ready to be moved into a larger area when they are severely rootbound.
If the plant seems well-established, repotting is not recommended to do it until late spring or summer.
Here are the signs that Wentii is rootbound
- Large, slender roots are growing around within the interior of the pot.
- The rootball can fill the pot to the point where its soil has been sucked away.
- The soil has needed regular watering in the last few days.
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