October 12th, 2021

Hey Plant Friends!

This week we are talking about Alocasia reginula commonly known as Black Velvet Alocasia or Little Queen. Alocasia belong to our beloved Araceae or Aroid plant family and are native to Southeast Asia. When you hear the word Alocasia you probably think to elephant ears, but this type is known as a dwarf variety as it is smaller and more compact – great for smaller spaces and tabletops. Topping out at about 20 inches tall with leaves about 6 inches long, this specific Alocasia is known for its velvety dark green, almost black leaves and stunning bright white leaf veins. Alocasias are known to be a bit picky but with the right care will thrive.

Let’s talk about care. Alocasias are tropical plants – period/Amen! Place them in a warm (70 degrees F would be ideal), bright, sunny spot with plenty of humidity (at least 50% relative humidity). However too much direct sunlight could lead to leaf scorch on their fragile leaves. Mist daily to add humidity. We recommend the Mossify Continuous Mister. So easy, it has batteries and is rechargeable. Plant is a well-drained soil that is able to maintain some moisture. We recommend Tonka Terra or the Espoma’s Organic Potting Mix. Watering your Alocasia should be frequent, but light during the growing season and never fully saturated. Cut back drastically when dormant in the winter. In the summer you will notice your Alocasia is popping out new leaves left and right. Water about once per week or when the top 2 inches of soil dry down. If your Alocasia goes dormant, water thoroughly upon wilt. Like all Aroids, Alocasia Black Velvet will flower on occasion, putting out a pretty insignificant inflorescence.

We currently carry Alocasia Black Velvet in 4” pots. If you have any further questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us - hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy Planting!