Alocasia ivory Coast and Pink Dragon both are two different varieties of the Alocasia plant group. Because their family is the same, they have some similarities and some differences. To know them better keep reading this article.
You will learn the difference between Alocasia Ivory Coast Vs Pink Dragon Leaf design and texture, foliage color, flower, size and structure, and toxicity,
Then we will move to their growing needs and similarities.
Let’s start
About the pink Dragon plant
Naturally, the pink dragon is a resident of Asian tropical jungles.
Because people like it to have in their indoor collection due to its beautiful appearance. They start propagating it and this way it spread all over the globe.
Now it is available for growth in almost every part of the world.
Alocasia pink dragon has a unique marking on its leaves and pink stems. This makes it a different plant from other Alocasia dragon varieties.
To know more about it read the below parts of the article.
About the Alocasia Ivory Coast
Oglesby plants international develop this plant by cross-breeding alocasia plants in their Tissue Culture Laboratory in Florida.
They are the leading supplier of beautiful ornamental plants with years of experience in the field. Every year they introduce new varieties of ornamental plants to their customers.
Alocasia Ivory coast is one of them. It is a well-balanced young plant supplied by them.
It is not very common among houseplant growers. But now it is gaining popularity due to its ease of growing and beautiful foliage design.
Ivory coast alocasia is somewhat similar to Elephant Ear Alocasia.
This is the reason both these plants have the same growing and caring needs.
What are the differences between Alocasia Ivory Coast and Alocasia Pink Dragon?
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Leaf design and texture
Alocasia ivory coast
This plant produces arrow-shaped long green leaves with the touch of silvery dust. The size and shape of its leaves make it unique among many alocasia varieties.
You will observe light green veins on the top surface of the leaves. They start from the center and spread all over the leaf.
In its initial stage of growing ivory coast, alocasia produces simple arrow shape green leaves without special makings.
When the plant gets mature and gains its full size then it develops a silver hue and light green markings also called veins.
In ideal growing conditions, the leaves of plants can grow from 8 to 18 inches.
Pink Dragon
As the name suggests this plant has a lot of pink color in its design. That makes it different from other dragon plants.
It has green leaves with silver vines and also has pink color stems. The green leaves grow on the top of the pink stalk making it brilliantly beautiful and unique in its category.
Pink dragon alocasia has green glossy leaves with light pink undersides.
For the propagation, you will rhizomes.
Leaf color
Alocasia Ivory Coast
Green color leaves with silver vines give a slightly glossy look.
Perfect arrow-shaped leaves with sharp edges.
Bold vine structure that is neatly visible.
Alocasia pink dragon
For proper care of the plant, you need to give it the best-growing environment just like its native place.
Then the pink dragon will produce glossy green leaves with light green to yellow vines and light pink leaf undersides.
Due to the pinkish undersides and pink stalk people name it alocasia pink dragon.
Flowering
Both plants produce flowers but for that, you need to wait until the spring and summer.
They produce flowers for a short period of time because they are foliage plants, not real flower plants. In 65 % of the cases, the indoor growing Alocasia plants do not develop flowers.
The reason is the change in their natural habitat.
Due to low humidity and less availability of nutrients alocasia plants do not produce flowers. In some cases, you will see flowering seeds. But they will not develop into green alocasia flowers.
Help your plant by giving it proper care it will surely flower in the spring season. For that, you have to read our below alocasia growing guide.
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Size and Structure
Both alocasia plants can grow up to 1 to 10 feet tall.
But their growth and size of leaves depend upon the growing environment.
The more you put them close to their natural habitat they will grow tall and large.
If you want to keep them under 2 feet then use a small size pot to grow alocasia ivory coast and pink dragon.
This does not allow roots to grow large and the plants do not grow tall.
Toxicity
Do not grow alocasia Ivory Coast or Pink Dragon if you have children and pets at home.
Because these plants are toxic to humans and pets.
Their leaves contain harmful chemicals that can cause irritation in the throat and in the stomach.
If you see your kid or pet vomiting, have rashes on the skin, or have a sore throat or any unusual symptom.
Contact the nearest hospital immediately. Tell them that you have an alocasia plant at home. This helps them to identify the root cause. And they will start the treatment immediately.
What are the similarities between Alocasia Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon?
Now that you know about the difference, now is the turn of similarities.
You will be surprised to know that despite the difference between leaves, foliage color, size, and structure. Their growing needs are the same.
Their toxic effects are the same, and their light requirements and humidity need all are the same.
This means you need to follow the single growing guide for growing and caring alocasia Ivory coast and pink dragon.
Light needs
Pink Dragon and Ivory Coast cannot tolerate direct sun rays.
The highly intense rays sunburn their leaves and you will see faded leaves in your alocasia plants. Therefore, growing them indoors is the best idea.
Choose a west-facing window and put it on the sill.
If you do not have a west-faced window then you can use the artificial growing lights. If you like you can buy a LED growing light. But it is not necessary to have a growing light for growing alocasia ivory coast and pink dragon.
Because these plants need a limited amount of bright light. The normal fluorescent bulb light will full their light requirements.
Your plants can handle the low light conditions but they cannot tolerate the hot sun rays.
Remember that light energy also increases the temperature of the plants and the room. This makes the plants dry in a short period of time, and you need to supply them with water more frequently.
Temperature
Alocasia Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon need a warm environment to grow. You need to keep the temperature of your home on the warmer side.
Because they are tropical plants and we all know the tropical forests are warm and humid jungles.
Set the room temperature between 60 to 85 degrees F. This means if the temperature drops below 60 degrees F your plants will start suffering.
Below 60 degrees F the Ivory coast and pink dragon go into the dormancy period.
The problem comes in cold days of the winter when the temperature drops below 10 degrees C. To keep your plants warm do not put them close to or next to the heating vents.
But you can use cotton cloth for the insulation.
Remember that the direct falling sun rays also increase the temperature of the room and plant. But it is not advised to explore Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon alocasia to direct sun rays.
Humidity (Alocasia Ivory Coast Vs Pink Dragon)
For the best possible care and growth mist, the water on Alocasia Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon leaves keep them moist.
This will also increase the humidity and give relaxation to the plant leaves.
Misting water on leaves is important when your plants are suffering from low humidity.
Other humidity-increase methods are pebble tray or humidifying devices. Fill the tray with clean water and pebbles. Then put the pots of alocasia Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon over it.
The evaporating water will increase the humidity around the plant. Fill the tray when it gets empty.
At last, if you find this technique time-consuming and it increases your workload. Then use simple electric plant humidifiers. They are small portable humidifiers designed for plants.
They consume very little electric energy and increase room humidity in a few minutes. For the best deal visit Amazon.
Watering Alocasia Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon
If you cannot water your plants a few times a week then do not grow these pants. Because both the Alocasia plants need a high amount of water.
This means frequent watering applications, especially in hot weather.
In winter Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon need less water than in the summer season.
Root rot and Overwatering are common problems of the winter growing season. Check the soil moisture before watering in winter.
If the top 2 inches of the soil are dry then pour some water directly into the base of the plant.
Never mist water on the plant leaves on cold days of winter.
For watering Alocasia Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon always use clean filtered water. Never use tap water because it could contain heavy minerals. Those are unnecessary for the plants.
Fertilizing Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon
This is the important part and you will be happy to know that you do not need to spend money on fertilizers.
Because both alocasia types do not need fertilizers to grow. But they do need nutrients.
Therefore, at the time of potting, they add compost to the potting soil.
It will help both the Alocasia plants to grow healthy and strong. Compost has slow-releasing nutrients at a slower rate this way your plants will never go out of nutrients.
It has organic substances that keep the soil nourished and fertile.
Soil for Alocasia Ivory Coast Vs Pink Dragon
If you know how to make potting soils at home then you can mix general potting soil + sand+ perlite in equal parts.
There are many other alocasia potting soil formulas but for me, this is the best formula. I always use the same mixture to grow all types of alocasia plants.
The soil must have good draining properties along with proper aeration.
The roots of both alocasia plants need a good amount of fresh air to grow and stay healthy.
The lack of fresh oxygen increases the chances of root rot and leaf rot.
Note: Your garden soil is not ideal for growing Ivory Coast and Pink Dragon alocasia in plant pots.
Repotting
When you see that the plants are growing large and the pot become small. Then you need to change the pot.
Use one size bigger pot for repotting.
Spring and summer are the best seasons for repotting alocasia plants.
You should also propagate them at the same time for higher success.
This is all about the alocasia ivory coast vs pink dragon plants. If you have more questions write us.
