Alocasia Calidora - Elephant's ear

Alocasia 'Calidora' is a hardy Elephant Ear variety with vigorous growth and thick foliage. Its leaves are very large, wavy, and toothed along the edges. It reaches over two metres in height at maturity under good growing conditions. This variety requires high ambient humidity to thrive, higher than that found in our homes, as well as good light. This majestic, imposing indoor plant needs space: a generously sized room with high ceilings.

Alocasia 'Calidora' belongs to the Araceae family. This horticultural cultivar is an American hybrid resulting from cross-breeding between Alocasia odora and Alocasia gageana. Its parent plants originate from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, particularly in India, China, and the Philippines. They grow naturally in dappled light in rich, moist, well-drained soil. Alocasia 'Calidora' develops slowly but can reach 2 to 2.50 metres in height and slightly less in width at maturity under good light and humidity conditions. It forms a large clump of immense, arrow-shaped, upright leaves, beautifully veined in light green. This cultivar can be moved outdoors during the warmer months after a period of hardening to sunlight. As its rootstock can tolerate frost down to around -5°C under thick mulch, it can be planted in borders in mild climates. In this case, its foliage will disappear in winter and regrow in spring.

to help it flourish indoors, place Alocasia 'Calidora' in a bright room, but avoid direct sunlight hitting its foliage through a window, especially in summer. Air humidity must be kept high (around 60-70%) to prevent its leaves from drying out—using a humidifier, for example. Its substrate should always remain slightly moist but not waterlogged, as the roots of Alocasias dislike stagnant water as much as drought. The ideal temperature for this plant is between 15 and 27°C, ideally around 20°C.

Alocasia 'Calidora' excels in a tropical setting and can also serve as the sole plant element in a generously sized room. This variety pairs perfectly with other plants from the Araceae family, such as Philodendron xanadu. This combination enhances the lush, exotic feel of an interior decor, conservatory, or greenhouse.