Alocasia Odora Variegated Plant, Grow & Care Guide 2022

The Alocasia Odora Variegated is also referred to as Elephant’s Ear and is part of the Araceae family of plants. The Alocasia Odora Variegated grows a spadix and spathe with both of them having a pleasant scent.

The scent gets thicker during the night which is why this plant is referred to as the night-scented lily. If it receives proper care and nurturing, this plant can grow as high as one meter. 

The Alocasia Odora Variegated should be placed in a pot that can support the width and height of the plant. As this plant is bulky and has a high weight, it should be placed in a pot with a heavy base. Let’s have a look at this beautiful plant in more detail.

Origin and Classification

There are a total of 80 different species in the Araceae family. It is a type of perennial plant. It is native to the subtropical areas of Southeast Asia & East Asia. They are also found on the Eastern side of Australia.

This plant has a long stem and large leaves. This is why it requires sufficient room both horizontally, and vertically. It should not be placed near a heater or an air conditioner.

The Alocasia Odora Variegated is very resilient, yet very sensitive to its surroundings. You can immediately notice if the plant is malnourished by checking the leaves.

Features of Alocasia Odora Variegated

Flowers and Leaves

The Alocasia Odora Variegated has blade-shaped leaves. Those leaves have a marbled pattern of white and green. Each of the leaves shows different color blends and color intensity, with some parts of the leaves having solid green & white spots.

Tolerance and Resistance

The Alocasia Odora Variegated must be planted into a mixture made up of perlite, soil, and peat in the ratio of 1:1:1. You should add peat and perlite as it increases the drainage capacity of the pot. It also boosts the aeration.

Height and Growth

The Alocasia Odora Variegated can grow as high as 1.6 meters in height. It has huge, blade-shaped leaves. The leaves have a glossy marble pattern made up of bright white, and green. The leaves can have solid green or white areas too.

Maintenance and Durability

If you barely have the time to manage plants at home, try to buy this plant when it is still small. Also, place it in a small pot, this will slow down the growth of the plant. Buying only one plant is enough, as you can easily separate the small sprouts and plant them in new pots.

Basic Care of Alocasia Odora Variegated 

Use the fertilizer during spring, which is the natural growth phase for this plant. Apply the fertilizer every six weeks. If you are not satisfied with the growth after applying fertilizer during spring, you can continue applying fertilizer during summer as well.

Using the sprouts, you can reproduce as many times as you want, and make as many small plants for your home or office. When it comes to propagation, the plant must be propagated using rhizomes.

Light and Watering

The Alocasia Odora Variegated must be placed in indirect light. If you have an east-facing window, place this plant there. It can also be placed near the south or west-facing window. Sunlight is best for any indoor plant as it has a good balance of red & blue light. You can also use artificial lighting with this plant.

Soil and Repotting

The Alocasia Odora Variegated does not require much feeding or fertilizer. But if you want to boost the growth of this plant, you can try using a fertilizer that has an equal concentration of Potassium, Nitrogen, & Phosphorus. If the NPK values on the fertilizer pack are equal, that is what you want to use.

Temperature and Humidity

The Alocasia Odora Variegated must be placed within a temperature range of 15-30 degrees Celsius. The moderate humidity range for this plant must be set at 70% or above. Warm temperature is required as this plant is a tropical plant by origin.

Fertilizing, Pruning, and Propagation

If you have been thinking about buying a few more of the Alocasia Odora Variegated plant, you should try growing them from sprouts. The shoot of this plant naturally grows new sprouts. You can cut them using a sanitized cutter, and pot the sprout into a new pot.

Common Problems Caring for Alocasia Odora Variegated

As a rule of thumb, it is advised that people use fertilizers every six weeks during spring and summer. But to boost its growth, you can continue using fertilizer during winter and autumn too (8–12-week intervals). Just like any other indoor plant, the Alocasia Odora Variegated does not attract harmful pests, especially if you regularly prune and clean it.

Growth Booster

The Alocasia Odora Variegated is usually sold in small pots. The size is also small. This can be a problem if you want this indoor plant in a big conference room or a living room. But if you want to place the plant in a big room, you can boost its growth by extending the fertilizer period.

Disease

It has a very common disease – Xanthomonas Bacterial Leaf Spot. This causes the leaves to form dark circles on the leaves with a dark yellow halo around the circle. People should take immediate action after they spot the first dark spot. Simply spraying the leaves with copper fungicides is enough.  

Rust

The Alocasia Odora Variegated is vulnerable to another bacterial infection, rust. This causes the leaves of this plant to form brown spots with a red powdery substance inside them. The rust is a direct result of insufficient sunlight.

But do not make the mistake of increasing the dose of sunlight after the appearance of the brown spots. This will only make the situation worse. The best solution to get rid of the rust disease is to cut off the leaves with the brown spots and burn them.

Spider Mites

Several pests are common to all foliage plants such as Mealybugs, Aphids, Spider Mites, & Scale. If you notice any of the above-mentioned bugs on your Alocasia Odora Variegated, simply take a wet cloth and cleanse the leaves.

These bugs mostly infest the leaves during Summer. So as a proactive measure, you can apply Neem Oil at the advent of summer. 

Editorial pick: Dragon Tail plant 

Final Thoughts

The Alocasia Odora Variegated is a popular evergreen plant. If you care for these plants, they will live for years. As we have seen above, this isn’t a high-maintenance indoor plant. The only thing you have to take care of is a proper watering schedule. Once you have it set, you have nothing to worry about.

The leaves on the Alocasia Odora Variegated are only outshined by younger, smaller leaves. Even when the plant is at a mature stage, all the leaves on this plant come with a natural glow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is variegated Alocasia Odora?

The Araceae family is an indoor plant from the Alocasia species. It is also referred to as the Elephant’s Ear plant. You can find inconspicuous bloom hidden under the petioles. It is a type of perennial plant. It must be placed in indirect sunlight. This is why they make great year-round indoor plants.  

The Alocasia Odora originates from the subtropical forests of Southeast, and East Asia. It is also found in Eastern Australia. These plants can reach a maximum of 1.6 meters in height. It has large blade-shaped leaves.

Are variegated Alocasia Odora rare?

Yes, it is. This particular indoor plant is popular for its dramatic foliage. It is a tropical indoor plant. This plant comes with white and green marbled variegated spots. If you are a tropical gardener, you must have this plant in your collection. It has heart-shaped leaves with very sharp edges. The green leaves have a natural gloss.

All the leaves on the Alocasia Odora have a unique design. No two leaves on this plant will have the same pattern. For seamless growth, this plant must be placed in low-light. The soil must be kept moist all the time. This is because the origin of this plant is in the tropical forest.

Did you know, the Alocasia Odora can produce all-white leaves. Yes, they can. But this is very rare.

How do you take care of Alocasia Odora?

Indoor plants don’t only make the appearance of your home pretty, they also cleanse the air in your home. But there is another advantage of indoor plants – low maintenance, and the Alocasia Odora is no different. Place this plant inside a pot with well-drainage. If there is a drainage issue, the roots of this plant can rot, resulting in its death.

The Alocasia Odora should be placed near an east side window. It will help the plant receive enough sunlight. In their natural habitat, these plants will grow under large trees. This is why these plants only got indirect sunlight. This is why, in an indoor setting too, only indirect sunlight is recommended.

How Do I Treat My Sick Alocasia Odora Variegated Plant?

Homemade insecticides or organic sprays such as neem oil spray can help eliminate pests and diseases from your plant. Also, you can constantly wipe your plant with a damp cloth containing a mix of organic soap and water. Also, if the leaves are affected, prune them and the affected stems.