Alocasia Stingray Care Guide
FRANK THE ALOCASIA STINGRAY
LIGHTING
The Alocasia stingray likes bright filtered light but nothing too bright that will scorch his leaves. Frank definitely prefers a bit more light than shade and will not tolerate low light. Keep Frank at least 1 metre away from any windows to avoid damage to his leaves.
WATERING
The best way to check if the Alocasia stingray needs watering is by checking the soil with your finger. The weight of Frank’s nursery pot can also be a good indication that he is ready for a drink. Getting the balance may be tricky as he won’t like his soil to completely dry out or be too soggy. Every week check the first 2-3 inches of the soil and make sure it is dry before watering.
HUMIDITY
The Alocasia stingray prefers slightly higher humidity levels than what a usual household can provide and he will struggle in very dry spaces. To increase humidity use a humidifier or place a pebble tray underneath Frank’s pot to help raise humidity levels. Find out how you can increase humidity here.
TEMPERATURE
The perfect indoor temperature for Frank is between 18-25ºC degrees celsius. As long as the indoor temperature doesn't dip lower than 15°C Frank will be happy.
FERTILISER
The Alocasia stingray requires rich fertile soil to thrive. Fertilise every 4- 6 weeks with half the recommended strength in the months from March-September. Use our fortifying fertiliser.
REPOTTING
The Alocasia stingray would prefer his roots to be tightly compact. Repot him every 1-2 years to give him more room to grow. You can check the bottom of the nursery pot. If you can see his roots sticking out the bottom it's time to repot.
TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR ALOCASIA STINGRAY
Brown/crispy edges -The crispy or dry edges could be a sign of two things.
- Frank is lacking humidity. This is usually followed by dropping and the occasional yellowing leaf. Increase humidity levels, use a humidifier, pebble tray or move her to a bathroom.
- Occasionally Frank’s leaves will turn brown if they have been scorched from the sun. Keep Frank away from any direct sunlight and at least 1 metre away from the window.
Drooping leaves -The Alocasia stingray prefers his soil to be semi moist without drying out completely between each water. When the soil dries out Franks leaves will start to droop and this will indicate that she needs a drink. If the first few inches of soil is bone dry to touch water Frank thoroughly. Pour out the excess water from his decorative pot, avoid letting Frank still in any extra water
Yellow leaves - The yellow leaves could be a sign of overwatering. Always check the first three inches of the soil before watering. Frank is not drought tolerant and will like the soil to be consistently moist but not soaking.
Leaning or uneven growth - The Alocasia stingray is in a low/medium light he may start to lean towards a light source. Move him closer to a window where we can get more light.
OUR TOP 3 CARE TIPS
Top tip 1: When the Alocasia stingray starts to push out new growth it's important to water him more frequently as he will be using more energy.
Top tip 2: Don’t panic if Frank loses a couple of leaves when first brought home. He is getting used to her new environment.
Top tip 3: If Frank is dropping a lot of her leaves, this could be a sign he is making room for new growth. He is a fast grower and his leaf turnover is high.