Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty'

🌿 Botanical Name: Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty'

🐾 Pet Warning: Toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, can cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. It's advisable to keep this plant out of reach of pets.

💧 Care Level: Moderate to High. Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty' is known for its specific care requirements, especially in terms of humidity, watering, and light, making it somewhat challenging for those without prior experience with similar plants.

📏 Approximate Size: Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty' typically reaches about 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) in height and width. Its large, variegated leaves are the focal point of its stunning appearance.

Description: Alocasia 'Hilo Beauty' stands out for its unique, camouflaged-patterned foliage, with splotches of green, black, and yellow. This striking pattern makes it a highly sought-after variety for collectors and enthusiasts looking to add an exotic touch to their indoor garden.

🌞 Light: Prefers bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch its leaves, while too little light can lead to fading of the variegation and less vigorous growth.

💧 Water: Maintain consistently moist soil without letting it become waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, using filtered water or rainwater to avoid leaf spotting from tap water minerals.

💦 Humidity: Requires high humidity levels to thrive. Employ a humidifier, mist the plant regularly, or place it on a pebble tray with water to increase the surrounding humidity.

🌡️ Temperature: Thrives in warm conditions, with ideal temperatures ranging from 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C). Protect from temperatures below 60°F (15°C), as cold can cause damage to the plant.

❄️ Hardiness: Not frost-tolerant and best suited as an indoor plant in most climates, or outdoors only in tropical climates.

🌱 Fertilizing: Fertilize every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce feeding during the winter months.

🔄 Re-potting: Re-pot in the spring every 1 to 2 years, using a well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter. Choose a pot that is slightly larger than the current one, as 'Hilo Beauty' does not like to be overly root-bound.

🌱 Propagation: Propagate through division during repotting. Ensure each division includes at least one growth point for successful propagation. Propagation requires care to ensure the health of both the parent and offspring plants.