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As a tropical plant, Alocasia displays beautiful leaves which can become the heart of a garden or room and are also known for their large shiny leaves. Curling leaves are common problems that can also affect Alocasia like all plants. But curling the leaves is not the same problem as spots. However, Curling leaves are not unusual.
To ensure your plant’s healthy ness discovers the reason behind it before your plant can be treated.
This article will discuss everything you may need to know about leaves curling on your Alocasia plant reasons along with precautions. Let’s get started.
Alocasia Plant Origin, Shape And Color
In the tropical rain forests of South-Eastern Asia, Alocasia has become a member of the Arum family. There are currently 79 known species on Earth. They may well grow in containers, but also they are vulnerable plants. It can well grow in containers, but it is also a sensitive plant. It can reach a height of four meters, especially in Borneo.
Alocasia has wide, beautifully pattering leaves for this they called elephant’s ear. The shapes of the plate can extend from the thin arrowheads to the broad leaves. They have colored veins and a variety of thick, waxy, slick and shiny textures. There is a species with leaves similar to African masks, one with crinkled leaf borders and a skeleton plant. But its flora isn’t as stunning as a household.
Why My Alocasia Leaves curling
There are several possible reasons behind Alocasia’s curling leaves. Curling leaves should never be ignored. Most concerns are related to proper caring and environmental problems. You need to identify the problem if you take the time to inspect your plant and the care you are providing.
Under-Watering
Because Alocasias are tropical plants, they need very high moisture to keep them healthy. When you stop regularly watering your plant, the curling of the leaves often happens. On the other hand, its leaves become dry and crispy when your Alocasia plant deal with the problem of underwatering.
Prevention: The plants of Alocasia love moisture, and they grow well when the soil is wet. Never let the soil dry out of Alocasia. However, Water your Alocasia once a, and that should be enough for it to thrive.
Using Over Fertilization
If you have a plant in a pot, you must fertilise your plant regularly to thrive, and Alocasia needs it as well. But the root system, which ultimately affects the entire plant and can burn by over-fertilization. Using excessive fertilizer, excess nutrients damage the leaves’ cells, and then the leaves are curled.
Prevention: The winter season is your Alocasia’s growth period, and it is not a good idea to fertilise your Alocasia plant in another season. So only during the winter seasons, you should feed your Alocasia plants every two weeks.
On the other hand, it is sufficient to use a regular water-soluble fertilizer in spring and summer.
Potassium Deficiency
Potassium deficiency also causes curling and drying of the leaves. Usually, the lower and older leaves are affected first. Don’t concerned if you realise the matter because there is a way to cure your Alocasia of potassium deficiency.
Prevention: Try to feed your plant with seaweed, compost made of banana peels or comfrey liquid if you thing to use organic fertilizers. There are some of the best fertilizers for your plant, such as potassium chloride and potassium nitrate. All of this fertilizer must ensure that your plant has sufficient nutrients.
Cold Temperature
Alocasia is tropical plants, but at low temperatures, they cannot survive. They do not thrive well in cold weather. If your Alocasia stays most of the time in temperature below 10°C/50°F leaves curling issues can be found for this reason.
Prevention: First of all, place your plant in a room with a higher temperature.
Overwatering
Alocasia plant-like wet soil to survive, but overwatering can cause root rot issues. Brown spots and curled leaves are the sign that you water your plant overly.
Prevention: It’s time to give you special attention if your plant begins showing signs of root rot. Cut off the rotten roots first and drain out the water accumulated entirely. The best will change your watering process and repot your plant.
Too Much Light
Alocasia plants are tropical, and they prefer bright spaces. Too much light can harm more than adequate and create one of the leaf curling problems.
Prevention: Although there have chances to stress and burn with too much light, so it is essential to hold them 6 to 8 hours daily in balanced sunshine. Balanced sunshine means the heat of the sunlight is not soo heavy and not soo low.
Pot Size
Alocasia prefers large pots as they like to get big, and if the pot is small, then your Alocasia root system cannot spread. However, they can’t take water and nutrients properly from the soil in small pots and cause the leaves to curl.
Prevention: If you decide to put your plant in a bigger pot, put it into a larger container that the root can spread beautifully in the pot.
Caring Tips Of Alocasia Plant
Caring is wholly dependent on you; it needs to done by you regularly. What your plants want to stay healthy and beautiful, it’s called caring. Alocasia plant managing is not challenging; it’s similar to another indoor plant after read tries to put the process on your plant to get a good result.
- Proper Sunlight
It feels best in our room in the semi-shade. But leaf color is more likely among plants that grow best with more light. Keep it bright, but protect it from the intense sun, or you can get Alocasia directly if you have a window where the sun is shining.
- Perfect Soil
Use an organic, lightly ventilated soil with good moose, allowing the few inches of the soil surface to get almost dry before watering. On the other hand, add some builders’ sand or perlite if the soil seems heavy.
- Proper Watering
This plant wants to stay in wet soil, but make sure that the pot doesn’t last a long time in the water. The soil must be kept moist but not soggy. Check the upper 1-1.5 cm of soil if it dies, then water. In winter, Alocasia plants require less water when they are asleep.
- Perfect Temperature And Humidity
The tropical plant is Alocasia, and they love warmth. Do not suddenly open your door in the winter season if it closes, as a result of the sudden cold temperature can cause some sensitive issue of your plant. Alocasia plants prefer to have warm temperatures between 60°-80°F (15.6°-26.7°C).
They require very humid environments and thrive well. Put it on a tray full of rocks too. Raise the humidity around your plant.
- Pests
Metal bugs, scales, aphids and spider mites are common pests in Alocasia. Put the spray with warm soapy water on the plant every few weeks to avoid these pesticides and keep the plant free of dust. Use ultra-fine insecticide oil or Neem Oil when infestation usually occurs.
- Repot
It is a good idea to replant Alocasia into bigger pots with the fresh and light potted ground. Alocasia is like growing big in your appropriate location so that the root can usually spread correctly. When the growing season comes, change your pot then.
Final Word
Alocasia is mostly known as a tropical plant, and it is very easy to planting and caring. But the disease can not say that I am coming, man. It can come anytime. Some wrong routines and processes can take responsibility for the illness because the different tree needs a different environment and additional water.
Some want a warmth place. Some want low humidity in their soil. Every tree needs extra care to stay healthy. Lack of knowledge of caring for the plant is the main reason why you face the issues. You have to know the unknown to see beauty.