How to Grow and Care for Alocasia Odora

Alocasia odora, also commonly known as giant elephant ear, Asian taro, and night-scented lily, is a large evergreen perennial that is native to East and Southeast Asia. It’s a popular ornamental plant due to the impressive size of its leaves, which can reach up to two feet tall at maturity. The entire plant usually grows between six to eight feet tall in the right conditions.

You can find the alocasia odora grown as a houseplant, in outdoor containers, and in shade gardens where its large foliage is the main attraction. That being said, this perennial does produce large, peach-colored flowers as well (although it's unusual to see it flower when grown indoors), which resemble the spathe-like shape of a lily.

Like all plants in the alocasia genus, the alocasia odora is considered toxic to pets and humans if ingested, so take care if you have curious little ones running around.

Alocasia Odora Care

Here are the main requirements for growing an alocasia odora:

• Avoid direct sunlight—indirect light is best.
• Ensure this alocasia is planted in a rich, well-draining soil mix.
• Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
• Warm, humid conditions are ideal.
• Hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11.

Light

Good news for all those gardeners and homeowners with limited light: this perennial is a shade lover. Outdoors, it does best in partial to full shade, and indoors it should be kept in medium to bright indirect light.

Soil

This alocasia prefers soil that is rich, moist, and well-draining. When grown as a houseplant or in containers, mix potting soil with plenty of perlite and some orchid bark to provide nutrients and aeration. If you are growing the alocasia odora in your garden, avoid clay soils if possible and add lots of fresh potting soil, perlite, and sand to increase soil quality and drainage.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Alocasia odora enjoys moist conditions but is sensitive to overwatering and should never be left sitting in wet soil. Ensuring the soil has proper drainage is important, along with monitoring conditions to ensure you don’t water more often than necessary. Keep in mind that in fall and winter when temperatures begin to drop, your alocasia likely won’t need as much water and you can cut back on watering slightly.

Temperature and Humidity

Alocasia odora does best in warm temperatures and humid conditions and is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11. For gardeners outside of these zones, this alocasia is better suited as a container plant or houseplant where it can be easily protected from cold winter temperatures. That being said, it is possible to grow the alocasia odora outdoors in the summer and then dig up the corms and store them indoors for the winter if you choose. Avoid exposing this alocasia to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius), and keep humidity above 60% for the most vigorous growth.

Fertilizer

This plant can benefit from being regularly fertilized during the spring and summer when it is actively growing. A balanced liquid fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer are both excellent options. Like all alocasias, the odora goes dormant in the fall and winter and should not be fertilized during this time.

Propagating Alocasia Odora

The most common way to propagate alocasia odora is by division. Since this alocasia naturally grows new corms and plants as it matures, you may choose to divide your plant to control its size, or simply to create new plants to share with family or friends. Here’s how to propagate alocasia odora in a few simple steps.

1. First, check that your plant is ready to be divided by looking for separate stems in the pot. These will look like smaller plants, potentially growing near the base of the main plant that have their own corms. 
2. If your plant is growing in a pot, it’s usually easiest to remove the entire plant from the pot to divide it (repotting is a great time for this). If it’s planted in a garden, grab a trowel or shovel to help you dig up the part of the plant you wish to separate. 
3. Gently pull the two plants apart, breaking as few roots as possible. The offshoots may still be attached to the mother plant with a large tap root, in which case you will need to sever it to separate them.
4. Once you have separated one or more of the plant’s offshoots, re-bury or re-pot the mother plant and give it a good watering. If its in a pot, return it to its original location. 
5. The freshly separated offshoots should be planted immediately. If they only have the large tap root, or most of the roots got broken off in the removal process, you can place them in a vase of water for a couple of weeks to help them grow new roots before planting. Otherwise, plant them in rich, well-draining soil and water thoroughly.  

Potting and Repotting Alocasia Odora

If you are growing an alocasia odora in a container, it should be repotted once it has outgrown the pot, usually once every one to two years. If possible, wait until spring or summer to repot, since the plant is actively growing and can recover more quickly. 

Choose a pot that is only two to four inches larger than the previous container, and refresh as much of the potting soil as you can without breaking too many roots. Since these alocasia can get quite large, don’t be afraid to recruit a friend to help you out with the process.

Overwintering

Overwintering alocasia corms is simple and relatively quick to do. Once temperatures begin to drop in the fall, cut off any remaining foliage and dig up the corms, being careful to keep the roots intact. Wash the dirt from the corms and roots and set them out in a warm, dry location for a couple of weeks to completely dry out. Then, you can store the corms in a dark location in a bit of coco coir in a paper or mesh bag for winter. 

After the last frost, when you are ready to plant the corms again, rehydrate them by placing them in a bowl filled with water for 20 to 25 minutes. Then plant them in a shady or partially shady location with well-draining soil, and water well.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Watch out for common pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs on your alocasia odora. It’s also susceptible to a few common diseases including root rot and leaf blight. Treat for both pests and diseases as soon as you notice the problem, and isolate affected plants if possible to prevent spreading.

Common Problems With Alocasia Odora

Since alocasias enjoy humid conditions, they are often considered finicky and tricky to grow, particularly as houseplants where household conditions tend to be dry. As a result, it’s normal to run into a few problems as you learn how to care for these tropical plants.

Yellow Leaves

If your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, there are a number of potential causes. Usually, it’s a sign that your alocasia is not getting enough water, humidity, or light; but it can also be a result of overwatering, too much sun, or too little light. Ultimately you’ll have to examine your plant’s current growing conditions to determine the most likely culprit. Also remember that sometimes, yellow leaves are a completely normal part of the plant’s life cycle. If it’s just the oldest leaves turning yellow and falling off every once a while, you likely have nothing to worry about.

Brown Leaves

Leaves that are turning brown and crispy are almost always a sign that your plant is not getting enough humidity. However, if this alocasia receives too much direct sunlight, it can also develop leaf burn which looks like brown crispy spots. 

Drooping Leaves

Limp, drooping leaves are likely a result of underwatering or a lack of light. Ensure that the soil stays evenly moist, never drying out more than a couple of inches. Also keep in mind that while this alocasia can survive in shady locations, it does not do well in low-light conditions indoors. Indoors, make sure that you provide the alocasia odora with medium to bright indirect light to keep it happy and healthy.