Alocasia, also called elephant’s ear, is a prolific and striking plant hardy in USDA zones 8b through 11. It requires very little maintenance once it gets going and it can grow to impressive size, making it ideal for an attention-grabbing spot in the garden or a pot. How do you go about propagating alocasia plants? Keep reading to learn more about alocasia propagation methods and how to propagate alocasia.
How to Propagate Alocasia Plants
Alocasia grows from rhizomes in the ground, and the best method of alocasia plant propagation involves splitting up these rhizomes. Propagation of alocasia should be done in spring or early summer, when the plant is just coming out of dormancy from the winter. With a shovel, carefully dig around the plant and lift it out of the ground. Dig at least 12 inches (31 cm.) around the plant to avoid damaging the roots or the rhizomes themselves. Gently lift the plant out of the soil-- there should be many long tubers just underneath the ground (those growing in containers can be gently pushed from the plant). Brush the soil away and carefully divide the tubers-- each of these will grow into a new plant of its own.
Tips on Alocasia Plant Propagation
The next step in alocasia plant propagation is to plant the rhizomes in a new spot. Choose somewhere that has rich, damp, loamy soil and receives partial shade. Don’t plant them any closer than 36 inches (91 cm.) away from each other. Dig a hole just deep enough that the tuber can be placed in it at the depth it was before. Give the new plant plenty of water, and before long you should start seeing new growth. If you’re propagating alocasia plants in containers, make sure to keep them somewhere warm and humid and to give them plenty of water.
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