Marcus

Alocasia 'Regal Shield'

Elephant ear

• Marcus likes...
  • 
    Regular watering

    Check the top two inches of soil and if they’re dry then give Marcus a drink. The brighter the spot he’s in, the thirstier he’ll be. Cut back watering over winter.

  • 
    Bright light

    Marcus likes to sun bathe so position him near a window in the brightest room in your home. Rotate him regularly so he doesn’t grow at an angle towards the light. 

  • 
    Feeding

    To support his growth – which with those large leaves is impressive – feed Marcus with plant food every fortnight.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Alocasia ‘Regal Sheild’

  Nickname

  Elephant ear 

  Plant type

  Indoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  120-130cm 

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic if eaten

  Nursery pot size

  35cm

• About Alocasia ‘Regal Shield’

  If you’re an experienced plant parent and want to up your plant game to create a lush indoor jungle, then Alocasia ‘Regal Shield’ is your go-to. It has large, heart-shaped, slightly ruffle-edged leaves with distinct veining. These are held upright by thick fleshy stems that gently arch outwards. You need space to show off this regal beauty and for that maximum jungle effect, it would look great with a variety of other tropical plants displayed around and under its umbrella-like leaves. This would also help create the humid micro-climate that it needs to grow happily and healthily. 

  
  

  To keep your plant in top nick, there are a few things you need to know. It likes consistently lightly moist soil and won’t enjoy drying out completely. Too much moisture however, can cause its tuberous roots to rot, so it’s a fine balance. Not only is soil moisture important but how dry or damp the air is will make a big difference. Remember this is a tropical plant and its large leaves will lose a lot of moisture in a hot, dry environment. The more humid it is, the less hard work it has to do. Higher humidity will also keep off the pesky red spider mite that thrives in hot dry conditions and loves to suck the sap out of those juicy leaves. Keep your Alocasia out of hot or cold drafts and ideally at a consistent temperature. If it gets a bit cold in winter, it may lose some leaves. If this happens, don’t worry. This is just its way of preserving energy. It will grow back with new vigour in spring.

  Did you know?

  The largest wild alocasia can grow leaves as large as 90cm. You’d need a big living room for those.