Alocasia cuprea is a unique tropical plant. Mirror plant and Jewel Alocasia are its other common names. The plant is naturally found in Asia and in high humid parts of South America. Alocasia cuprea care is just like other plants of the Alocasia family.
Home growers use this plant to decorate their indoor space. Because it produces beautiful leaves that look like plastic leaves. The surface of the leaves has a metallic pattern and the underside is red in color.
You can put it in any part of the house. Its growing needs are limited. You can grow it without many efforts. Just put the plant pot in a good location and water when required. It will grow healthy and produce dual-color leaves.
Now let’s talk about Alocasia cuprea care requirements in detail. This will help you to grow it easily in your home.
Quick care guide
| Common Names | Jewel Alocasia, Mirror plant |
| Light | Filtered low light |
| Soil | Light weight, well-draining |
| Water | Moderate |
| Humidity | Above 60% |
| Temperature | 12 to 28 degrees C |
| Fertilizer | Liquid houseplant fertilizer in active stage |
| Pests and Diseases | Aphids, Mealybugs, root rot |
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Light
The Alocasia cuprea plants need shaded light. Direct sunrays can burn the plants. The first signs of excess bright light are yellow leaves of Alocasia cuprea.
In Alocasia cuprea care, there is no particular time period of minimum or maximum light requirements per day.
Because the plant has a fast metabolic system. That means this plant is able to make its food faster even in low light.
Put the plant pot near the east-facing window.
If the leaves are turning yellow. Then immediately move it to the less bright place. Because once more than 60% of the leaves turn yellow. Then you cannot revive your plants and they will surely die.
Having 1 or 2 yellow leaves in the summer months is common. It can be due to the low humidity and less watering.
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Water
Watering Alocasia cuprea plants do not require special watering skills. Just water it like you waters other tropical plants. The water has to be clean and free from harmful bacteria.
It can tolerate a little bit of dryness before the watering session. But this does not mean it can survive without water. Alocasia family plants need regular water.
In most cases, we see that people fix the under-watered plants. The real problem is overwatering. This triggers root rot.
When the soil gets wet, it becomes heavy. The oxygen cannot pass through the heavy materials.
We all know oxygen is necessary for all living things on this planet.
When plant roots do not get enough oxygen, they start to decompose. This gives brightness to fungus bacteria. These fungi particles attack the plant roots and start eating them. When the roots get infected the plants start dying.
Therefore, follow the traditional method of watering houseplants. Poke the finger in the soil check the moisture. If the soil is dry water it immediately else wait until it gets a little bit dry.
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Soil
The soil is an important factor when you think about growing houseplants. The outdoor soil naturally has all the essential nutrients. Moreover, the garden plants do not get infected by root rot. Because the outdoor soil is naturally well-draining. The extra rainwater goes down into the earth. This saves plants from many fungi diseases.
This clears that for Alocasia cuprea care you need to use well-draining soil.
The good news is making well-draining soil at home is an easy process. All you need to do is mix few things together and your soil will get ready.
The formula is
Mix equal parts of Perlite + Coco coir + Normal garden soil.
This mixture is called homemade Alocasia cuprea potting soil. The perlite stores the water in it for a long time. Our plant also needs regular moist soil.
Coco coir is derived from coconuts. So, it has many essential nutrients in it. These organic nutrients help plants to make their food even in low light conditions.
Coir also increases the aeration and it has neutral pH.
The garden soil holds the plant firmly and with the other two ingredients. It acts like them and becomes lightweight, well-draining, and well-aerated soil.
Humidity
Growers, you need to use a humidifier if you live in a dry area. Alocasia cuprea needs high humidity between 80 to 93%.
In its native place, the plant grows in more than 90% humidity year-round. Therefore, it needs the same percentage of humidity to grow.
But as we all know little ups and downs are okay with it.
Keep the humidity above 75% for excellent growth. In today’s world humidifiers is the best option. Because they raise the humidity of a standard size room in few minutes.
On the other side, If you live in a moderately humid area. And your home humidity stays between 50 to 65 %. Then you can use the pebble tray method, no humidifiers are required.
30% increase is possible with traditional humidity increasing methods.
Fill the tray with water and put the plant pot on it. Make sure the water does not reach the bottom hole of the plant pot.
When the air touches the water. It gets evaporated and collected around the plant pot. This increases the humidity in the room.
Note: In case of emergency, for instant humid boost put the plant pot in the bathroom right after you took shower. Bring the plant pot out of the shower room after 24 hours. Because the bathroom has 100% humidity and it not a good place to grow plants. high humidity invites many harmful bacteria and viruses.
Fertilizers
Liquid fertilizers are best for the houseplants like Alocasia cuprea. For good care of Alocasia cuprea plants, fertilize them in their growing season. Do not use fertilizers in the winter months.
Because winter is their rest time.
Any normal houseplant fertilizer will do best for this plant. No need to buy any particular nutrient supplement.
Before using nutrient supplements check the instructions. Follow them and dilute accordingly.
Excess fertilization results in the salt build-up in the root area. This will block the absorption of nutrients and water. Which is a deadly situation for the growing plants.
Propagation
There are two Alocasia Cuprea propagation methods. First is root division and plating in soil. The second is using water as a growing medium.
Using root division
Remove the plant from its pot without damaging its roots and stems.
You will see the clumps of roots.
Shake the plant or use sharp shears to cut them from the main root.
Take a pot filled with soil. The pH of the growing medium has to be neutral.
Plant the cutting in the pot.
Give some water to the soil
Put the plant pot in a bright and warm location.
Using water as a growing medium
In this method growers normally use stem cuttings and water as a growing medium. But in this case, we use root clumps. Take the plant out of the pot and cut the root clumps.
The entire process is the same as the above method. We just use water instead of soil.
Put the roots in the bowl of water.
Change the water once per week.
The roots will develop and expand in few weeks.
In this time prepare the pot with soil. Because once the roots grow large and expand. You need to transport them into the pot.
3 inches length is appropriate for the soil transfer. Take out the root from the bowl and sow them in the potting soil.
Put the plant pot in a warm and bright location. With regular watering sessions, you can speed up the growth of the plant.
Alocasia Cuprea care and problems
In this part of the article, you’ll know about the common plant diseases that can infect your plants. Also, the solution to get rid of them.
Mealybugs, Aphids, and Spider mites
All these three pests are common on Alocasia cuprea plants. They attack those plants that are being left in a dirty environment. Or if the soil or other plant pot is infected by them.
These pests suck all the nutrients from the plants. They make tiny holes in plant leaves and suck nutrients.
Once the plant becomes nutrient deficient it starts dying.
To prevent this problem, keep the growing area clean. Use a cotton cloth and clean the plant leaves.
If plants are infected then to get rid of them use neem oil and insecticidal soap. First of all, wash the plant under the running tap water.
Then apply soap on plant leaves and stems (do not take out the plant from its pot).
Put the plant again under the running tap water. This will remove and kill all kinds of insects.
After this inspect the plant and leaves. If you see a few of them use rubbing alcohol and cotton cloth and wipe them.
Or
Make an alcohol spray by mixing 1 part of rubbing alcohol in 10 parts of water.
Or
You can spray neem oil on the entire plant. This will kill the remaining pests.
Using natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial sprays is the best option to prevent many plant diseases and pest infections. Neem oil is best to use.
Alocasia cuprea yellow leaves
The Alocasia cuprea yellow leaves are due to the excess watering applications. They get collected in the bottom of the pot and roots get infected.
Take out the plant from its pot. Inspect the roots closely. If you see damaged roots then cut them, plant them again in the pot. Before planting it back check the moisture in the soil. If the soil is too wet then add fresh soil to it and then plant it back.
Alocasia cuprea and rusty leaves
A fungal disease is responsible for the rusty leaves in Alocasia cuprea. More than 2,000 fungal types can cause rusty leaves.
Once you see rusty leaves in your plants. This means they are suffering from deadly plant disease.
Separate them from the other houseplants. Remove the rusty leaves and burn them.
Then use a fungicide to save your plants. limited use of bio-fungicides is recommended. Overdosage can damage the plants.
