Alocasia regal shields, also known as the elephant ear regal shields, are beautiful velvety appearance plants with flat deep green leaves. The stunning plant spotlight most of the growers, mainly due to the velvety blackness and reddish undersides.
Its leaves are of perfect heart shape but with ruffled edges. The overall look of the plant is attractive enough to increase the attractiveness of your garden bed.
The length and growth of the plant depend on the growing conditions, and the average height of the plant ranges between 4 to 5 feet.
Every leaf of the plant has a long and erect stalk-like stem, and it is the perfect choice of yours to grow in gardens and open spaces. You can also place this plant indoors to decorate your hallway and offices.
If you are also deciding to grow this plant in your garden, this guide will help you take good care of your plant.
Classification of Alocasia Regal Shields
Family: Araceae
Genus: Alocasia
Cultivar: Regal Shield
Characteristic Feature of the Plant
1. Dormancy:
These plants show a slow growth with dropping leaves in the winter season, which is their dormancy stage.
If you are also experiencing your plant in likely condition, then do not worry, as it will start flourishing again in the spring season.
Also, you need to provide your plant with the optimum growing conditions and ensure that you don’t over-water or overfeed your plant. The average water requirement of the plant is once within two to three weeks.
2. Flowers of Alocasia Regal Shield:
The plant is known to grow for foliage and its velvety black appearance. But in the warm season, they also grow Aroid flowers with pale yellow to light green spathe.
The spadix covers the spathe resulting in the formation of a beautiful giant flower.
3. Height of the Plant:
- The average height of the plant is 3 to 6 feet when it reaches its maturity level.
- It can reach 9 feet in an outdoor environment, but this length is usually not standard.
4. Leaves of the plant:
The average length of the mature elephant ear leaves ranges from 8 to 20 inches.
5. Structure of Alocasia Regal Shield:
Different stalk-like stems comprise the structure of the alocasia regal shield with leaves at the top. All these stalks combine towards the base to create a rhizomatous rooting system.
6. Toxicity:
All the plants related to this genus are usually toxic, and if we number the toxicity level from top to bottom, these flowers come at number 4.
The elephant ear plant is poisonous and unsafe for both animals and humans. So, if you have pets and kids at home, you must keep this plant away from their reach.
Ingestion of this plant can result in causing an increase of severe health issues, resulting in allergies, vomiting, and ulceration of the throat. So, what you have to do is to keep an eye on this plant and your kids.
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Alocasia Regal Shields Care
You do not have to give these plants much time and care; ensure the right amount of light and water.
Here’s is the guide that will provide you with a deeper look at the requirements of your plant:
1. Fertilizer Requirement:
Using a household fertilizer once in spring and summer will do a pretty good job, as it will help improve the quality of your plant’s growth. You must ensure that you are using good-quality fertilizer to avoid salt formation within the soil.
Take good care of your plant by providing it with the optimum amount of fertilizer, as extra nutrition can impact the plant’s growth.
Pro Tip:
2. Humidity Preferences:
These plants love high humidity levels and the ideal moisture to promote their growth is above 80%.
But if your plant is in the dry season, you must use different artificial measures to adjust the humidity level. Misting and using a spray bottle is a valuable technique to manage humidity.
3. Soil Requirements:
Well-draining and rich soil is pretty good for your alocasia regal shiel plant. The ideal pH level of the ground ranges from 5.5 to 7. It does not grow well in sandy, rocky, and muddy soils.
4. Sunlight Preferences:
The regal shield plant grows happily in medium to bright indirect light. You need to stay conscious about light if your plant is indoor.
Direct light can burn the leaves of your plant. Indoors, you need to place your plant near the window facing south or north. Rotating the plant will also help in elephant ear plant care.
5. Temperature Considerations:
The ideal temperature of the plant is 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Alocasia regal shields are heat-hardy and can easily survive on hot days without losing freshness.
But it cannot bear a low temperature, so you need to protect it from cold and frost.
Pro tips:
6. Water Considerations:
You need to water your plant regularly using a basic watering strategy. It means that you need to water the plant when the soil gets dry.
You can check the dryness of the soil by putting your finger inside it. Other than this, you also need to analyze the watering requirements of your plant.
Checking on to your elephant ear plant is necessary for its growth, as the water requirements depend on the weather, temperature, sunlight, and moisture.
The average water requirement of this plant ranges from one to three times. Watering once in 10 to 20 days will be enough.
Pro tips for Watering:
- Water your alocasia regal shield slowly to let it reach the base.
- Making the holes on the bottom of the pot is also essential to let the water come to the central roots.
- Do not over-water your plant as it can result in causing fungal and root rot issues.
7. Pot Considerations:
Large-sized pots with drainage holes at the bottom will function the best.
8. Growth Zones:
Alocasia regal shield grows in USDA growth zones 3 to 11.
Also Check: Difference Between Hydroponics vs Aeroponics – Which Is Better?
Alocasia Regal Shields Propagation
The best way to propagate alocasia regal shield is a rhizomatous plant.
Best Season for Growth:
The best time for alocasia regal shield propagation is from the middle of spring to the center of summer. But it can also propagate well at the end of summer.
Method of Propagation:
- The first step is to select a healthy plant and lose the soil. After that, pull the rhizome out of the ground.
- After that, cut 1/3rd of the soil using a sterilized knife, and make sure it has rhizome divisions.
- The last step is to plant the rhizome in the wanted place. Make sure the soil is moist and choose a spot with indirect light.
Common Problems Faced by Alocasia Regal Shields
The following are the commonly faced issues that your alocasia regal shield can face:
- Yellowing of the leaves
- Brown spots at the leaf edges.
- Alocasia regal shields leaf drooping.
Conclusion:
Alocasia regal shield is an easy-to-grow plant and reaches 3 to 6 feet in length. The ear-shaped elephant plant has blackish-green leaves and carries numerous leaves and stems on it.
You need to provide the plant with optimum growing conditions with ample space. It will promote the prolific growth of the plant.
You can increase the plant both outdoors and indoors. The critical requirements of the plant include indirect light, high humidity, and water. Alocasia regal shield is toxic, so you need to keep your kids and pets away from it.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alocasia Regal Shields
How do you care for alocasia regal shield indoors?
The following are the care conditions to promote the growth of alocasia regal shield indoors:
i. Place the plant in indirect light.
ii. Provide them with high humidity levels.
iii. Keep the temperature between 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can regal shield take full sun?
This plant cannot beat direct sunlight and grows well in the bright sun. Excessive sunlight can even burn the leaves of the plant. So, you need to maintain the light requirements.
How often should I water alocasia?
These plants require weekly water sessions, but in winters, the alocasia regal shield requires less water. You need to check on the soil dryness to check if the plant needs water.
Do alocasia like to be misted?
These plants love to grow in high humidity, and you can also increase the humidity level by using a humidifier or mist. Do not humidify your plant excessively, as it can result in damaging the plant.
