Known for its broad and deeply veined foliage protruding on pink stems, the Alocasia Pink Dragon is a lush, fairytale addition to any home. This prodigious plant is scarce yet low-maintenance, given optimal conditions. The Alocasia Pink Dragon species will also help filter out toxic chemicals in your home.
The Alocasia Pink Dragon thrives in rich, well-draining soil kept consistently moist. Keep the plant in a warm (65 to 85°F), humid area with bright, indirect sunlight. Then, water it once twice per week. Finally, propagate and divide the Pink Dragon Alocasia during early spring.
Here is a comprehensive guide to caring for an Alocasia Pink Dragon to ensure this bold, lush-potted plant lasts for many seasons to come.
Alocasia Pink Dragon: Botanical Name
- Botanical Name: Alocasia Calidora
- Common Name: Alocasia Pink Dragon
Alocasia Pink Dragon: Description
The Alocasia Pink Dragon is native to the tropical areas of southern Asia, Australia, and the Philippines.
It has glossy-green foliage, attractive burgundy undersides, and deep veins resembling dragon scales (hence the name). The broad leaves rest upon beautiful pink petioles and stems.
The Alocasia Pink Dragon is a quick-growing plant, reaching up to 4 feet tall under adequate growing conditions.
The Alocasia Pink Dragon is a purifier that filters the surrounding air to remove toxic compounds.
Alocasia Pink Dragon: Preferences
The Alocasia Pink Dragon is easy to care for with some general guidelines. Your plant will thrive in an environment that mimics its native climate. Ensure you keep your Alocasia Pink Dragon happy by keeping it in a warm, humid area with fast-draining and consistently moist soil.
Here’s a more detailed care description.
Light
The Alocasia Pink Dragon will thrive in a room with bright, filtered light. While direct sunlight may scorch the leaves, it needs several hours of bright, indirect sunlight to keep the foliage lush and variegated.
Consider placing the Alocasia Pink Dragon near an east or west-facing window. You can set the plant near a south-facing window if you filter the sunlight with a sheer curtain or blinds.
Temperature & Humidity
Native to tropical areas, the Alocasia Pink Dragon thrives best in warm, humid climates.
Aim to keep the Alocasia Pink Dragon in temperatures between 65 to 85°F. Also, ensure to keep the plant away from cold drafts, air vents, AC units, and heaters to prevent the lush leaves from drooping.
The Pink Dragon Alocasia can tolerate normal household humidity levels. Still, it requires above-average moisture levels of 60 to 70% for optimal growth and longevity.
How To Increase Humidity For Indoor Plants?
Increase your home’s humidity by:
- Pebble-water tray: Place the Pink Dragon Alocasia atop a pebble tray topped with water to increase the moisture levels.
- Misting: Mist the Pink Dragon Alocasia to keep the leaves moist and dust-free.
- Humidifier: You can also place a room humidifier near the Pink Dragon Alocasia to maintain the desired humidity.
Watering
Keep the Pink Dragon Alocasia consistently moist. However, do not oversaturate the plant with water. Overwatering the Alocasia can cause issues like root rot and bacterial diseases.
Water the Pink Dragon Alocasia once the top two inches of soil dry out – approximately twice per week. However, reduce the watering frequency in winter.
Soil
Plant the Pink Dragon Alocasia in loose, well-draining, porous soil enriched with organic matter. An ideal potting soil composition consists of a mixture of potting soil, peat moss (or coco coir), and perlite.
Feed the Pink Dragon Alocasia’s additional fertilizer during the growing season – spring and summer – to boost plant growth. A well-balanced, organic fertilizer every second week is ideal.
Avoid feeding the Pink Dragon Alocasia fertilizer during the fall and winter because overfertilizing can cause chemical build-up and fertilizer burn.
Alocasia Pink Dragon: Care Tips
The Pink Dragon Alocasia can thrive indoors under appropriate conditions. However, you can experience common problems if they aren’t met.
Common Issues & Troubleshooting
The Pink Dragon Alocasia is susceptible to common issues, including:
- Yellow Leaves: The Pink Dragon Alocasia’s leaves can turn yellow from overwatering, overfertilizing, and root rot. Checking your Pink Dragon Alocasia’s roots of the leaves turn yellow to spot and treat root rot early.
- Drooping Leaves: The Pink Dragon Alocasia’s leave can drop if the plant isn’t receiving sufficient light, water, or humidity.
- Curling Leaves: Curling leaves on the Pink Dragon Alocasia plant indicate underwatering and low humidity.
- Stunted growth:Stunted growth generally indicates that the Pink Dragon Alocasia isn’t receiving sufficient light or humidity.
Common Pests & Diseases
This Pink Dragon Alocasia can become susceptible to common pests and diseases, including:
- Mealybugs: Mealybugs appear as white, cotton-like pests under the Pink Dragon Alocasia’s leaves and stems.
- Spider mites: Spider mites are tan, red, or black oval-shaped tiny spiders around a millimeter in size. They appear as minuscule webs between the foliage’s undersides and the stem corners.
- Scale: Scale insects are tiny, tan to brown egg-shaped bugs that attack the undersides of the foliage and leaf joints.
Regularly inspect the Pink Dragon Alocasia plant for signs of pests and apply an insecticide, rubbing alcohol, or neem oil at the first signs of an infestation.
Repotting
The Pink Dragon Alocasia is a quick-grower as a juvenile that needs repotting every 6 to 12 months. However, when older, the plant needs repotting ever 1 to 2 years.
The Pink Dragon Alocasia is sensitive to repotting and should only be done during the springtime to prevent transplant shock.
Repot the Pink Dragon Alocasia into a slightly larger container with sufficient drainage holes. Use a loose, well-draining potting mix enriched with organic matter, peat moss, and perlite.
Maintenance & Pruning
The Pink Dragon Alocasia only requires minimal pruning. You can remove any dear or discolored foliage in early spring using a clean pair of gardening shears.
Propagation
Propagate and divide the Pink Dragon Alocasia during early spring.
Remove the plant from its pot and lightly brush away the excess soil. Then, carefully divide the tubers and repot them with rich, organic potting soil with peat moss and perlite for drainage. Water the newly divided plants thoroughly and place them in bright, indirect light.
Conclusion
Follow the Alocasia Pink Dragon care requirements closely and enjoy the reward of bold, exotic leaves year-round.
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