Alocasia Zebrina

Introduction

The alocasia zebrina is natively from Southeast Asia, and is known for it’s striking pointed leaves. Like all alocasias it is a humidity loving rhizomatous plant. It has some special care needs but in general is straight forward to care for…

See also: Alocasia Frydek, Alocasia Maharani, Alocasia Lauterbachiana, Alocasia Cuprea Care.

Light Needs

Medium to bright indirect sunlight is the best range of light for an alocasia zebrina. They are fine a bit further back form the window.

How Often to Water

Check your zebrina once a week but only water if the top layer of soil is dry. Its a good idea to tip out any water from the saucer after.

Tip: you want to keep the soil moist but not wet or dry, so check the soil twice a week and only water them if they are drying out. Make sure the excess water can drain away and is not in the saucer under the plant, so they don’t get waterlogged.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced fertilizer every 2 or 3 weeks in the spring and summer. I use a very well diluted feed for the first few times in the year and then increase the dose slowly.

Soil

The best soil for an alocasia zebrina is a good peat based or similar potting compost with some added perlite for drainage. They like a well-draining potting matter.

For more on which soil to buy or how to make your own see our guide: Alocasia Soil.

When To Repot

If the plant has become really root bound you can pot it up a container size. The best time to do this is in Spring.

Humidity

60-70% is ideal humidity for an alocasia zebrina. This is above normal household humidity, so it is a good idea to at least mist them a few times a week. They will thank you for it!

Tip: get a humidity meter and keep an eye on the minimum humidity levels to make sure you are keeping from drying out.

Temperature

Ideal temperature is 18-25ºC (64-77ºF), which means they’ll do well in most households.

Alocasia Zebrina Propagation

You can propagate alocasia zebrina by separating out a new smaller plants that grow at the base. So you need a plant this is big and mature enough that is has divided and there are a few stems already. You can then to take the plants out of the soil and shake as much of the soil off as you can, then divide the plants up. You need to be really careful when separating them so you damage the roots as little as possible. Make sure with each stem you can get a good system. Then pot all the plants up separately in their own pots. I would wait a few days before watering them so any damage has healed over.

Why Is My Alocasia Zebrina Drooping?

It is normal for zebrinas to droop when they need water, because of their thin stems, just give them a watering if the soil is dry. If you’ve watered them recently, check you are not overwatering them as root can cause drooping too. It is best to check the soil twice a week and only water them if they need it – try to keep the soil moist but not soaking or dry.

Why Is My Alocasia Zebrina Dripping Water?

This is a normal process called guttation. The plant excretes excess water out of it’s leaves and they collect and eventually drip on to the floor if the droplets are big enough. It often happens after watering when the plant has plenty of moisture.

Why Is My Alocasia Zebrina Leaves Curling?

Leaves curl when they lack moisture, which is due to low humidity levels. So try to up the humidity around the plant by keeping it in a more humid room or with other plants as they give out moisture in the air too. It can also be due to underwatering, so check you are watering the plant well.

Alocasia Zebrina Vs Reticulata

The alocaisa reticulata is a type of zebrina, it just has a more elongated leaf.

Is Alocasia Zebrina Endangered?

It is prohibited take specimens in the wild in the Philippines, as it has been poached in the past.

Where Is Alocasia Zebrina From?

They grow in the wild in the Philippines.

Alocasia Zebrina USDA Zone

Zones 10-11.

Where To Buy

Always support your local plant shop when you can, if not try one of these Rare Plant Shops.

Other Names

Zebra Alocasia.

FAQs and Common Problems

Root rot from overwatering is a big problem for alocasias, so make sure you only water if it is mostly dry and make sure it is in a very well draining potting medium. If you do get root rot, take the plant out of its soil and let it dry out for a day, then plant it back into dry soil.

Look out for pests on those big leaves.

Do Alocasia Zebrina Go Dormant?

They can get much slower growth in the winter and can go dormant, meaning the leaves die back. Make sure you check the soil before watering as it is easy to overwater them at this stage as they will use up much less water when dormant. .

Can Alocasia Zebrina Grow In Water?

You can grow a zebrina in water alone, they look great when you can see their roots.

How Big Do Alocasia Zebrina Grow?

They can grow to half a meter (20 inches) up to about a meter (40 inches) in some cases.

Why Is My Alocasia Zebrina Turning Yellow?

Yellowing is most often due to overwatering, so make sure you water the plant well but do not overwater it. The best thing to do is to check the soil weekly but only water it if needed.

Is Alocasia Zebrina Poisonous To Cats?

Alocasia contain calcium oxalate in all parts of the plant, which can cause oral irritation and sometimes vomiting in pets. If your pet does eat it, they should be ok, seek vets advice.

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Additional Resources

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

Links:

• More info on the Wikipedia page.
• More info on the Kew Gardens plant page.
• More info on the Exotic Rainforest plant page.

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