Alocasia Hilo Beauty Houseplant Care Guide

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Alocasia Hilo Beauty are stunning plants with some of the most beautiful foliage. This plant can be a bit sassy even in the best care and I’ve found that missing just one watering will make this plant sad.

Here are the main things to know when caring for an Alocasia Hilo Beauty.

Water. It’s important to keep the soil moist and never let it dry out completely. This plant does not like to miss a watering and you will be punished if you forget to water it.
Light. These plants prefer bright indirect sunlight which would be near a south, east, or west facing window. You can also use plant grow lights. I have mine sitting about 1 1/2 feet from a T5 Barrina grow light.
Fertilizer. Regularly feed with a natural fertilizer like worm castings or a synthetic fertilizer. Fertilize during the active growing months which is typically from March through October.
Humidity. These plants require high humidity so it’s best to keep it in a greenhouse or room getting at least 50% humidity.

Alocasia Hilo Beauty thrive with these care tips.

Light

Alocasia Hilo Beauty’s love bright indirect sunlight.

Your plant may like to be by a east, south, or west facing window given that it’s not placed directly by the window with no sheer curtain to protect it. If placed right next to a window, it’s important to place a sheer curtain so the plant still gets bright light, but not direct light.

I grow my plant under T5 Barrina plant grow lights I bought from Amazon. I placed the plant about 1 1/2 feet away from the lights.

This plant doesn’t like bright direct sunlight and the foliage will quickly die off if put in direct sunlight.

Water

Alocasia Hilo Beauty’s love to stay moist and are not drought tolerant plants. This plant needs to stay moist or else the leaves will quickly die off. This has happened to me and it happens quite suddenly, which is why I say this is an intermediate-level plant for plant enthusiasts.

Use a moisture meter to check your plants soil regularly or stick your finger in about a knuckle deep. If the soil is dry, it’s time to water your plant.

Like I mentioned earlier, this plant does not like to miss a watering so you have to be on top of it and check the plant every three days or so.

Soil

It’s important to use a high-quality well-draining soil for your Alocasia Hilo Beauty. This is because this plant loves to stay moist and if you use compact, dense soil, this can lead to root rot and kill your plant.

I use and recommend Fox Farm Ocean Forest Organic potting soil. You don’t need to add any extra ingredients to this mix because it comes already made as a well-draining soil with fertilizer mixed in.

Temerature

The ideal temperature for Alocasia Hilo Beauty is between 60°F and 80°F. These plants have delicate foliage and would easily scorch if placed outside in direct sunlight.

Fertilizer

Alocasia Hilo Beauty need fertilizer and a natural or synthetic fertilizer will do. If using a synthetic fertilizer, make sure to dilute the recipe in half as you do not want to kill your plant with too strong of fertilizer.

I use a mixture of Dyna-Gro and Liqui-dirt to feed my plants. Dyna-Gro is a fertilizer whereas Liquid-Dirt is classified as a plant food.

In my opinion, they both do the same thing and lead to new growth on plants. I like to use both to maximize growth but you don’t have to do this. I’m just being extra.

Humidity

These plants need humidity, just like most Alocasias. A room or greenhouse cabinet getting at least 50% humidity is ideal. My greenhouse ranges in the 50% area and my Alocasia thrives in this percentage.

To boost humidity around your plant, I recommend placing a humidifier right next to it. You can also place this plant in a greenhouse or dome for extra humidity.

This isn’t one of those plants that acclimate to dry household conditions. If you’ve managed to grow this plant in less than 20% humidity, you’re awesome and got lucky with a really good plant.

Propagation

Propagate an Alocasia Hilo Beauty by taking the plant out of the pot, shake the dirt off the roots, and split the rhizome.

Cut the rhizome with clear shears and repot the newly cut rhizome in well-draining soil. Make sure to water your plant immediately as well.

Keep a close eye on your new plant as this plant will need water and extra care since the roots have been shocked.

Are Alocasia Hilo Beauty rare?

Alocasia Hilo Beauty aren’t typically found in big box stores like Lowes or Home Depot, but commonly found at speciality plant stores. I find this plant typically pops up in plant stores in the spring.

How much is a Alocasia Hilo Beauty?

An Alocasia Hilo Beauty goes for about $15 for a 4 inch pot.

How do you identify a Alocasia Hilo Beauty?

Alocasia Hilo Beauty are identified by their unique spotty dark green and light green foliage. The stems are quite thin and lanky which is why you may want to prop this plant on a moss pole for added support.

How do you care for Alocasia Hilo Beauty?

To properly care for an Alocasia Hilo Beauty, it’s important to keep your plant in well-draining soil that stays moist. This plant does not like to dry out completely and will quickly show you it’s sad. If the plant is dry for too long, you’ll quickly see leaves dying off.

Make sure to place your plant in bright indirect sunlight or even under plant grow lights. Alocasia Hilo Beauty needs high humidity so be sure to place it next to a humidifier or in a greenhouse.

Are Alocasia Hilo Beauty fast growers?

Alocasia Hilo Beauty’s are decently fast growers depending on the conditions they are in. My plant produces a new leaf once every two weeks.

Do Alocasia Hilo Beauty climb?

When producing a new leaf, the new leaf comes from the rhizome and doesn’t branch out like other plants. The stem can get tall and lanky which is why adding a bamboo pole for added support is ideal, otherwise your plant may fall over since they can get quite tall.

Are Alocasia Hilo Beauty poisonous?

Yes, this plant is toxic to both animals and pets if ingested.

Why is my Alocasia Hilo Beauty leaves yellowing?

If your Alocasia Hilo Beauty is yellowing, this can be from overwatering or underwatering. This plant does not like to dry out completely.

I’ve noticed if I miss just one watering the plant will wilt and there’s no turning back for the leaf once that happens.

Why is my Alocasia Hilo Beauty leaves curling?

This may be due to the plant being thirsty or not getting enough humidity.

Do Alocasia Hilo Beauty like to be misted?

You can mist your Alocasia Hilo Beauty for added moisture, but your best bet is to place your plant in a spot getting adequate humidity. Misting is not enough especially if you’re placing this plant in a spot getting less than 50% humidity.

How big does a Alocasia Hilo Beauty grow?

When grown indoors, Alocasia Hilo Beauty can get up to 4 feet tall depending on the growing conditions.

How do you know if your Alocasia Hilo Beauty is happy?

If your Alocasia Hilo Beauty is continuously putting out new leaves, your plant is happy. It is very common for this plant to kill off a leaf in order to produce a new leaf, so do not be surprised if this happens.

Is Alocasia Hilo Beauty toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets and humans. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Common pests

Since this is an Alocasia, it is common for spidermites to problem a problem. This is why it’s important to be on top of pest preventives and make sure you’re doing what you can to avoid pest pressures.

Since spidermites aren’t pests, typical pest spray isn’t going to do the job. A natural recipe to kill spidermites is 3 tablespoons of dish soap to 1 gallon of water. Then you can spray your plants as needed.

Or you can do what I do which is use Azamax, a natural pest killer. I treat my houseplants with Azamax once a month and really believe this product is why I never have pest pressures.

You can also use Bonide Systemic Granules which is a granule you sprinkle on top of the plants soil.

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Alocasia Hilo Beauty has brown tips, this may mean your plant is not getting enough humidity or not enough light.

Yellowing leaves: If your Alocasia Hilo Beauty has yellowing leaves, this may be due to overwatering. Make sure your plant is in well-draining soil as this may help if you tend to be an overwaterer.

Curly leaves: There are many reasons your Alocasia Hilo Beauty may have curly leaves, with two of the main reasons being lack of humidity or not enough sunlight.

Key Points To Remember

Alocasia Hilo Beauty is a stunning plant that is for intermediate plant owners who know how to take care of high humidity plants.

Remember, this plant does not like to miss a watering so be careful to ensure you don’t let the soil dry out completely.