Alocasia zebrina
Brown-and-cream zebra-striped stems carrying large arrow-shaped leaves: a collector's piece.
At a glance
Care
For each area, the instruction specific to this plant, then the general principle that explains why.
For this plant
Water when the surface is dry, with room-temperature water, and empty the saucer. Reduce sharply in winter.
The principle
A moderate need asks for regularity rather than volume. Water when the top three to four centimetres feel dry: in practice weekly from May to September, every ten to fifteen days the rest of the year. Adjust for the pot — terracotta dries twice as fast as fibreglass.
For this plant
Bright, indirect light all year; never direct sun on the leaves.
The principle
Partial shade is bright but filtered light: a metre back from a glazed door, behind a sheer curtain, or morning sun only. It is the broadest and easiest exposure to achieve in a Moroccan interior. Direct afternoon sun, by contrast, leaves irreversible bleached patches on the leaf.
For this plant
Diluted feed every three weeks during growth, none in winter.
The principle
Moderate growth is fed once a month from March to September with a balanced liquid feed at the maker's dose. Water with plain water first, then feed: on dry substrate, concentrated fertiliser burns the fine roots. Nothing from October to February, the resting period.
For this plant
From 18 to 28 °C with good humidity; dislikes cold, draughts and very dry air.
The principle
Heat-sensitive: above 32 °C this plant closes its stomata, stops growing and lets its tips brown. Give it a cool, bright room away from south- and west-facing glass in summer. Grouping it with other plants creates a microclimate worth several points of relative humidity.
Yearly rhythm
Calendar derived from the plant's profile — water need, heat tolerance, environment and growth rate — applied to the Moroccan climate; adjust it to your city, your exposure and your substrate.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watering | Watering in January: Reduced | Watering in February: Reduced | Watering in March: Regular | Watering in April: Regular | Watering in May: Regular | Watering in June: Regular | Watering in July: Regular | Watering in August: Regular | Watering in September: Regular | Watering in October: Regular | Watering in November: Reduced | Watering in December: Reduced |
| Feeding | Feeding in January: Nothing to do | Feeding in February: Nothing to do | Feeding in March: Reduced | Feeding in April: Regular | Feeding in May: Regular | Feeding in June: Regular | Feeding in July: Regular | Feeding in August: Regular | Feeding in September: Reduced | Feeding in October: Nothing to do | Feeding in November: Nothing to do | Feeding in December: Nothing to do |
| Pruning | Pruning in January: Nothing to do | Pruning in February: Nothing to do | Pruning in March: Regular | Pruning in April: Regular | Pruning in May: Nothing to do | Pruning in June: Nothing to do | Pruning in July: Nothing to do | Pruning in August: Nothing to do | Pruning in September: Nothing to do | Pruning in October: Nothing to do | Pruning in November: Nothing to do | Pruning in December: Nothing to do |
Morocco
Our observations city by city, crossed with the local climate. A city that is missing is not a refusal: it simply has not been documented for this plant yet.
Thrives
Well suited
Possible with care
We deliver to all of these cities.
Diagnosis
The three most common disorders on a plant with this profile, and the move that corrects them.
What you see
Dry brown leaf tips and edges, foliage that droops late in the day and recovers overnight.
Likely cause
Alternating neglect and compensation: the root ball dries out completely, then receives too much at once.
The right move
Fix one watering day a week and check with a finger before you pour. Trim brown parts with scissors, following the leaf's shape; they will not turn green again.
What you see
Bleached then brown patches in the middle of the most exposed leaves.
Likely cause
Direct afternoon sun through glass — the magnifying effect scorches the blade in a matter of hours.
The right move
Pull it back a metre or hang a sheer curtain. Marked leaves will not repair, but the next ones will be clean; remove them only if more than half is scorched.
What you see
Fine webbing in the leaf axils, white cottony spots, or tiny flies above the substrate.
Likely cause
Spider mites or mealybugs, encouraged by the hot dry air of air-conditioned interiors.
The right move
Shower the foliage, treat with diluted black soap once a week for three weeks, undersides included, and keep the plant away from the others during treatment.
Take the step
Every available size, the premium setup and delivery across Morocco are on the product page.