Alocasia Odora is a beautiful exotic plant that is found in tropical regions and rainforests of Japan, China, and other Eastern and Southeastern parts of Asia.
The beautiful vivid green leaves of the Alocasia Odora plant have earned the exotic plant a wide variety of nicknames that have stuck over the years.
Their large size and paddle shape are the reason they are known as ‘Elephant Ears’ plant, the sweet and beautiful scent it carries at night has earned it the name ‘night-scented Lily’ and its deep ties to the Asian tropical regions have earned it the name “Asian Taro”.
Growing the Alocasia Odara should be an easy task. Providing the right conditions and meeting its requirements should be all you need for a proper and healthy-looking Alocasia Odora.
| Botanical Name | Alocasia Odora |
| Common Names | Asian Taro, Giant Elephant Ear, Night-Scented Lily |
| Origin | East, and Southeastern Asia |
| Family | Araceae |
| Plant Type | Perennial evergreen herb |
| Full Size | 4-8 feet long |
| Sun Exposure | Bright, Indirect light |
| Temperature | 60 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Soil Type | Well-draining, but moist soil |
| Toxicity | Can cause skin irritation to both humans and pets if ingested |
| Soil PH | Neutral or Acid |
Caring for the Alocasia Odora Plant
The Alocasia Odora or Asian Taro requires little maintenance. Its giant leaves and sturdy roots are designed to flourish and survive a wide range of conditions.
However, to ensure that your Asian Taro grows into a proper healthy looking plant, a few requirements would need to be met.
Light Requirements
The large leaves of the Alocasia Odora require as much bright indirect sunlight as possible. So placing them in a room that meets such conditions would be ideal.
Placing the Odora plant close to an east-facing window would be the most recommended option. Try to avoid direct sunlight exposure for too long, it can damage the leaves as they might get singed or bleached.
If you can’t avoid direct sunlight, then make use of a curtain or light cloth to provide shade for the exotic plant. Either way, providing too much or too little light can be damaging to the night-scented lily.
Soil Requirements
The best type of soil for your Odora Alocasia would be well-draining soil so opting for loose soil would be an ideal choice when compared to heavy soil.
Also, adding organic matter to your soil mix is ideal, so mixing a portion of peat moss with a portion of perlite would be a great recipe for a healthy-looking Alocasia Odora.
For the soil pH, maintain a slight level of acidity. A pH level that ranges from 5-5 to 6.5 would be best.
Water Requirements
Watering your Odora plant should be an everyday affair. However, do be careful so as not to overwater them. A flooded soil could leave the roots open to fungal attacks and root rot.
What you should strive for is moist soil. Water in small amounts every day to keep from flooding the soil. Great practice for measuring the soil moisture level would be to feel it with your finger.
Dry soil is terrible for the Asian Taro, it could lead to it wilting so don’t leave them without water for too long.
In cold and winter seasons, the Alocasia Odora requires very little watering, This is because they become dormant during these seasons and could be therefore more susceptible to root rot.
Humidity and Temperature
The humidity levels of the East and Southeastern Asian tropical regions are oftentimes high and since the Odora plant thrives in such conditions, try as much as possible to replicate them in your indoor gardens and homes.
Making use of a humidifier would be perfect for the night-scented lily. Just ensure they are well spaced for enough air to reach them.
The ideal temperature for the Alocasia Odora should be from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything below could kill the exotic houseplant.
Fertilizer Requirements
Feeding the Alocasia Odora should be done in the plant’s growing season. Although the Alocasia Odora is a heavy feeder, fertilizing it during the cold season would be more harmful than beneficial to the plant.
Liquid fertilizer would be the most ideal fertilizer choice for the exotic houseplant. Just ensure you dilute it to about half of its initial strength before using it.
In addition to that, ensure you flush out the remnants of the fertilizer from its root often with water.
Propagating your Alocasia Odora
Propagating your Alocasia Odora should be through the division method. This is because the Odora plant is a perennial rhizomatic plant.
It is recommended that you propagate the night-scented lily during the warm seasons which are the summer and spring seasons, this provides the young Odora a good chance of Survival.
Pruning Requirements
Pruning your Odora Alocasia shouldn’t be an everyday affair. It requires low maintenance so you shouldn’t have to worry about it growing out of control.
However, do ensure you remove dead, damaged, or discolored leaves by nipping them off from the lower end of its stem. Also, use a sterilized knife to avoid infection.
Repotting Requirements
Repotting your Alocasia Odora shouldn’t be done often. In fact, it is recommended that you report your Asian Taro, once a year.
Ensure you use a bigger pot when repotting as the roots of the Odora plant would require enough space to breathe.
Repot your plant in its growing seasons and ensure that you use a well-draining soil mix during the next repotting.
Toxicity
The leaves of the Alocasia Odora are quite toxic to humans and animals and as such should be kept away from their reach.
They contain calcium oxalate crystals which could cause irritations in the eyes and the skin. If you notice that a child or pet ate from the Odora plant, do ensure you call a doctor as soon as possible.
Also, watch the child or pet for symptoms that might develop with time.
Common Pests and Diseases
Odora Alocasia is susceptible to a few diseases and pests. Some of these pests and diseases that you have to be on the lookout for are;
- Mealybugs
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Scale
- Root Rot
- Xanthomonas Infection
- Leaf Spot
You can avoid some of these diseases by following the proper process when watering your Odora plant.
For the Insects and Pests, spray the Odora plant with warm soapy water often. This would keep them away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Alocasia Odora plant can be grown both as an indoor and an outdoor plant
In order to thrive, the Alocasia Odora requires access to enough bright but indirect light
No, although they both have large leaves, the Alocasia Macrorrhiza is a different species from the Alocasia Odora.
Yes, The Alocasia Odora is quite hardy and can survive short durations of low temperatures.
A full Alocasia Odora plant can grow as tall as 8 feet. However, a few factors can result in rather stunted and improper growth.
