Description
Black Velvet is perfectly named. The heart-shaped leaves start out a rich emerald green and darken to deep green, near-black color as they mature. Prominent white veins add further interest. The soft fuzzy fininsh on the leaves really does feel like velvet. This is a small plant that generally grows up to 18″ tall.
Plant comes in a 5″ growers pot. Plant shown is representative of what you will receive.
Harmful To: Pets
Height: 12 – 18 Inches
For optimal performance, keep at 60-85°F (15-29°C).
Feed once per month at half strength when plant is actively growing.
Protect furniture when watering.
Alocasia does best with bright indirect light, but will benefit from some early morning or late day sun indoors (right in front of an eastern or western window), particularly during wintertime. You may need to use a grow light during dark winter months, or move them to a sunnier window during that time.
It prefers to be consistently moist, but not wet and needs to have good drainage. It can't take wet soil, but also doesn't tolerate dry soils well. A well draining soil is necessary and the plant should not be allowed to sit in water. Allow the top inch or so to dry out before watering again.
All-purpose potting mixes with additional orchid bark and perlite added is a beneficial medium for Alocasias.
It is happiest when grown between 60 and 85 degrees.
Alocasias also would appreciate higher humidity, so break out that humidifier.
If your plant drops it's leaves don't give up. (These plants like very consistent conditions overall when it comes to watering, temperature, and light.) Alocasias grow from bulb-like corms and can sprout new leaves under the right conditions.
