Alocasia cuprea (Jewel Alocasia) Care Indoors, Propagation, Problems and Solutions

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Alocasia cuprea blossoms in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained aroids soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.

Alocasia cuprea also called Jewel Alocasia is one of the compact Alocasia varieties which bears enormous, spherical, green leaves with a metallic gloss, pronounced leaf veins and deep-purple undersides.

The species name, 'cuprea', is in reference to the unusual coppery appearance of the leaves which is especially pronounced in young leaves.

On account of its compact size, magnificent foliage and affinity for highly warm and humid conditions, Jewel Alocasia is among the best plants for the bathroom.

Botanical name: Alocasia cuprea
Family: Araceae

Origin

Alocasia cuprea has its orgins in the warm humid tropical areas of South East Asia to South America.

Size

Jewel Alocasia is a slow growing plant which grows to a height of 1 ft in about 2 years. The leaves are enormous and can grow to 1 ft long.

Flower

The flowers in Alocasia cuprea are unimpressive pale-colored spathes which only last a few days. To conserve the plants energy and direct it to foliage growth, cut the flowers as soon as they appear though it is unlikely to flower when grown indoors.

Varieties

One common variety is Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret' whose leaves are red with dark almost black markings.

Toxicity

Alocasia cuprea like other Alocasia Plants is toxic to both humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. It contains crystals of calcium oxalate which if ingested can numb and swell the tongue and pharynx leading to difficulty in breathing and sharp pain in the throat. Keep it away from the reach of children and pets to avoid any mishaps.

Where to Buy

If you would like to add Jewel Alocasia to your collection, you may acquire them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy) or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).

Alocasia cuprea Care Indoors

Alocasia cuprea (Jewel Alocasia) blossoms in bright indirect light, average warmth of 18-26⁰C, humidity of 70-80% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, aroids soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Jewel Alocasia requires pruning to keep it neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations. Repotting is only needed when the roots grow through the drainage holes. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Alocasia cuprea thoroughly during the growing season and allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out slightly between waterings to maintain it consistently moist.

Decrease watering during the cold season to keep the soil barely moist but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Underwatering will signal dormancy which may cause the leaves to start dying in readiness for dormancy.

Jewel Alocasia does not like to sit in soggy soil as it is prone to fungal infestations like root-rot and leaf spot diseases. Therefore, make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

Light Requirements

Alocasia cuprea grows best under bright indirect light (filtered light). Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can cause the colorful leaves to fade (dull) and die.

Too little light will signal dormancy which may cause the leaves to start dying in readiness for dormancy. If the natural lighting is not adequate, you may grow Alocasia cuprea under grow lights. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant gets light on all sides for even growth to prevent lop-sided growth.

Temperature and Humidity

Average warmth of 18-26⁰C is ideal for Alocasia cuprea. Below 15⁰C, the plant may drop all its leaves and go into dormancy. Keep it away from frost and drafts like windy doors and windows. It hates sudden changes in temperature which can cause leaf drop and death of the plant.

Jewel Alocasia requires high humidity of 70-80% to thrive. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathrom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home. Check out these techniques on how to increase humidity for houseplants.

Regularly clean the leaves by damp wiping them with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pests infestation. Make sure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Potting Mix

The best potting soil for Alocasia cuprea should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Aroids potting mixes are ideal for Alocasias.

Photo: Amazon

Gardenera Aroid Potting Mix

Soil Sunrise Aroid Plant Potting Soil Mix

Photo: Amazon

Soil Sunrise Aroid Plant Potting Mix

Photo: Etsy

Molly's Aroid Potting Soil Mix

Fertilizer

Feed Alocasia cuprea with a liquid fertilizer (foliar feed) every 2-3 weeks during the growing period for a lush growth. Do not feed in the cold season as the plant undergoes dormancy during this period and growth is minimal at this time.

Flush out accumulated salts arising from fertilizers every 2-3 months by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage holes. Let the stream of water run for a few minutes.

Repotting

Alocasia cuprea prefers to be root-bound, therefore frequent repotting is not needed. Avoid frequent repotting as the plant can take upto 4-6 weeks to recover from repotting shock.

Repot into a 1 size larger pot during the growing season only if the roots have grown out through the drainage holes. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to fungal infestations. Take a look at these beautiful ceramic planters on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Alocasia cuprea is easy as it only requires removal of yellow and diseased leaves as they occur to maintain your plant neat and to reduce chances of diseases and pests infestation.

Remove the leaves by cutting at the base with a sterilized knife or pair of scissors to avoid disease transimission. Take care not to injure the new leaves that are forming.

Propagation

Alocasia cuprea (Jewel Alocasia) can be propagated by plant division at the beginning of the growing season.

How to Propagate Alocasia cuprea by Plant Division

Water the Alocasia cuprea thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

Carefully take out the Jewel Alocasia from its pot and gently divide the rhizome into sections by cutting through with a sharp sterilized knife. Ensure that each section has 1-2 stems.

Pot these sections in individual pots in moist free-draining soil at the same depth that they were in the previous pot.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges after which routine care can begin.

Alocasia cuprea Problems

Alocasia cuprea (Jewel Alocasia) problems are plant death, leaf spots, dropping leaves, yellowing leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Dark brown or black leaf spots

Dark brown or black leaf spots in Alocasia cuprea are an indication of leaf spot disease which is enhanced by soggy soil and overwet conditions.

Isolate the affected plant immediately to prevent spread to other houseplants, remove the damaged leaves and treat with a fungicidal solution.

Ensure that there is proper drainage for both the soil and the pot to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Avoid misting and wetting the leaves to keep them dry. Ensure that there is good air circulation.

Pests

Common pests in Alocasia cuprea are mealy bugs, spider mites, scales and aphids. Isolate the affected plant to prevent further spread to other plants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Read more on how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.

Dropping leaves and plant death

There are three possible reasons why the leaves of Alocasia cuprea are dropping and the plant is dying. These three reasons signal dormancy for the plant and hence the leaves die in readiness to enter dormancy.

Naturally, this happens during the cold season (winter) when the plant undergoes dormancy. Even if the foliage may die, the underground rhizome is still alive and can regrow under favorable conditions.

One possible reason why the leaves of Jewel Alocasia are dropping and the plant is dying is too little light as it requires bright indirect light to thrive. Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is inadequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.

The second possible reason why the leaves of Alocasia cuprea are dropping and the plant is dying is too low temperature as it grows best in average warmth of 18-26⁰C. Keep it away from cold and hot drafts which cause sudden changes in temperature.

The third possible reason why the leaves of Jewel Alocasia are dropping and the plant is dying is underwatering. The plant requires consistently moist soil. Water it liberally during the growing season to maintain the soil moist through out. Reduce watering in the cold season to keep the soil barely moist but never allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants correctly.

Yellowing and dropping leaves

Low humidity is the reason for the yellowing and dropping of the leaves in Alocasia cuprea as it flourishes in warm, humid conditions. Set the pot on a wet pebble tray to increase humidity or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas in the home.

However, it is natural for the old leaves to turn yellow and drop as the plant continues to grow. Remove such leaves by snipping them off at the base with a clean sharp knife or a pair of scissors to keep the plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations.

Brown leaf edges

One possible cause of brown leaf edges in Alocasia cuprea is too low humidity. Where the air temperatures are high, the air humidity is likely to reduce significantly. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

The second possible cause of brown leaf edges in Jewel Alocasia is accumulation of salts in the soil which could have come from fertilizers or water.

Flush out the accumulated salts from the soil every 2-3 months by running a stream of water through the soil until the water comes out through the drainage holes. Let the stream of water run for a few minutes and repeat several times.

Leaves losing color and dying

The reason why the leaves of Alocasia cuprea are losing color and dying is too little light as the plant grows best in bright indirect light. Position the plant in a brighter spot and ensure it receives bright indirect light or instal a grow light if the natural light is inadequate.