Alocasia baginda is a jewel Alocasia with thick, stiff, deeply textured leaves that look and feel like reptile skin.
It grows on limestone in Borneo, in shallow pockets of debris rather than deep soil, which explains why it wants such a free-draining mix.
Light
Alocasia baginda grows best in medium to bright indirect light. It comes from shaded cliff faces and has never seen direct sun.
Too much light
The leaf surface bleaches and the texture flattens out.
Too little light
Growth stops, and new leaves come in noticeably smaller.
Watering
Water when the top 3cm (1 inch) is dry. This species has a small corm and fine roots, and it rots faster than the large Alocasia.
On average:
- Spring & summer: once a week
- Autumn & winter: once every 2-3 weeks
Signs of overwatering
- Leaves yellow and drop suddenly
- Stalks go soft at soil level
- Soil stays wet for days
Signs of underwatering
- Leaves droop and stalks bend
- Leaf edges curl and crisp
Humidity and temperature
Humidity of 60% or above. Jewel Alocasia do best in cabinets and terrariums where this is easy to hold.
Keep it between 18°C and 27°C (65-80°F).
Soil and repotting
Soil
Very free-draining, heavy on bark and perlite with little compost. Many growers use pure sphagnum or semi-hydro instead.
Repotting
Rarely, in spring only. The root system is small and it dislikes disturbance.
Feeding
Quarter-strength balanced fertiliser once a month through spring and summer. Nothing in winter.
Pruning and grooming
Remove fully yellowed leaves at the base. The stiff textured leaves hold dust in their ridges, so brush them gently with a soft dry brush.
Dormancy
It goes dormant readily in low light or cold, often dropping every leaf. Keep it barely damp and warm, and check the corm before giving up.
Common problems
Sudden leaf loss
Dormancy, or overwatering. Check the corm and the stalk bases to tell which.
Crispy leaf edges
Humidity too low.
Flattened, dull texture
Too much light.
Spider mites
Common in dry air, and the deep texture makes them hard to spot early.