Alocasia Maharani - All You Need To Know

There are a few things you need to do to care for an alocasia maharani, we run through them below in this care guide. The key to alocasia maharani care is to keep the plant humid and soil moist.

Alocasia Maharani Summary

Light needs:	Bright indirect sunlight.
Watering needs:	Let the top 30% of soil dry out before watering again.
Fertilizer:	Diluted balanced feed every month in summer.
Soil:	A loose, rich, well draining soil.
Humidity:	60%-80%.
Temperature:	15-27°C (59-81°F).
Where to buy:	Try our list of Rare Plant Shops or Etsy.
Common issues:	Lack of humidity issues like crispy leaves.

Introduction

The alocasia maharani is a small, grey dragon-scaley alocasia. It is an amazing little rare houseplant that is in high demand due to how awesome it is! This is very much a wishlist plant.

Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.

A note about affiliate links: when you buy a plant, pots, soil, or other goods through links on this article we sometimes earn a commission. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it really helps us out if you do use them. Thanks a lot! An example of this is if you buy a plant on Etsy using this link. Read our privacy policy for more information. Thanks again.

Light Needs

Bright indirect sunlight is ideal to get the best growth. No direct sunlight though as it can burn the leaves.

How Often to Water

Let the top 30% of soil dry out before watering again. You want the plant to be moist but not wet, the roots should not sit in waterlogged soil. They are prone to root rot, so be careful and make sure that you let all the excess water drain out after watering.

Tip: empty out water from the saucer 10 minutes after watering to avoid a soggy bottom!

Alocasia Maharani Fertilizer

Feed your alocasia maharani a well diluted balanced feed every month in summer months.

Soil

A loose, rich, well draining soil. The plant should sit in airy compost that gives them just enough water without letting them sit in heavy waterlogged soil. For more on which soil to buy or how to make your own see our guide: Alocasia Soil.

When To Repot

Let your alocasia maharani get a little bit root bound before repotting it, they are ok with being crowded.

Humidity

60%-80% humidity – alocasia maharani really like high humidity, a humidifier is ideal, if not use a wet pebble tray under the plant, and mist them regularly.

Tip: Keep them humid, aim for 60% in the day and they’ll be ok with a bit less at night. You can buy a hum idity meter (affiliate link) to keep an eye on maximum and minimum levels.

Temperature

15-27°C (59-81°F) is the ideal temperature range for an alocasia maharani, they will do well in any home. Keep them above 10°C (50°F) at night or the winter.

How To Propagate

The best way to propagate a maharani is through division at the base. So wait until the plant is beig enough and you have a few pups at the base (or at least one), then take the plant our of it’s pot and separate out the smaller plants and then pot them all up separately. Be as careful as you can to avoid damaging the plant.

Alocasia Maharani - close up — Alocasia Maharani – close up

Alocasia Maharani USDA Zone

They can grow outside in zones 10-11.

Alocasia Maharani Flower

The maharani flowers rarely, it is not that impressive to be honest, it puts out a spathe and spadix.

Alocasia Maharani Size

They grow to about 30cm (12inches) in height.

Alocasia Maharani Vs Melo

The maharani and melo look really similar, but the maharani has veins on it that are lighter than the rest of the leaf, but the melo does not.

Alocasia Maharani Vs Black Velvet

These platns are similar but you can tell them apart as the black velvet has much darker and more velvety leaves than the maharani, and the maharani has thicker leaves.

Alocasia Maharani Grey Dragon

The Maharani is also known as the alocasia grey dragon. They are the same plant.

Alocasia Maharani Vs Silver Dragon

The Silver Dragon is another name for the alocasia maharani.

Are They Toxic To Cats?

They are mildly to moderately toxic to pets if consumed, so seek vets advice if your dog or cat eats any.

How Big Does Alocasia Maharani Get?

They do not grow very big, they are small plants, most plants do not reach a foot (30cm) high.

Where to Buy

Try one of these Rare Plant Shops. Or Etsy.

Other Names

Grey Dragon, Silver Dragon.

FAQs and Common Problems

Crispy leaves due to lack of humidity is a common issue. Try to give the plant as much humidity as you can up to 80%.

How Big Does It Get?

The alocasia maharani will grow to about a foot tall (30cm), maybe a little over, they do not grow very tall.

Additional Resources

Buy: we recommend a digital thermometer hygrometer (amazon affiliate link) to measure humidity.