Hi, I am

Carice

WHO'S

THIS

Girl?

Hi! I'm Carice.

I'm an Alocasia Cucullata. You may also know me as an Elephant's Ear. I am a true tropical plant and bring jungle vibes into your home. With my arrow-shaped leaves, I am a real eye-catcher. Yes, you want me in your spot!

I come from very far away, specifically from the southern parts of Asia. Here I grow in the tropical jungles and can grow over two meters tall! In these rainforests, I am also used as a shelter from the rain with my large leaves. Multifunctional is what they also call me!

Quick guide

meetlint
Height: 65 CM
plantenpot
Diameter: 19 CM
zon
Placement: semi-sun, no direct sunlight
water
Water: frequent, lukewarm water
air cleaning
Air purifying
do not eat
Toxic, not for consumption
schaar
Cut away old leaves
voeding
fertilize twice a month, not during winter
Monstera blad

MORE INFO

  • Where should you place me?
  • I like to be in a place where I am not in bright sunshine all day, but where I can catch some sunbeams. Think, for example, directly in front of a west or east-facing window, or two meters from a south-facing window. If I don't get enough light, my stems will become very long so my leaves can still reach the sunlight, and then my leaves will also eventually droop because of the weight. Also turn me a little from time to time so all my leaves can catch light. Put me in a nice place without a draft, and don't move me too much.

  • How much water do I drink?
  • I like a slightly moist soil and prefer not to dry out, as this causes my leaves to droop. Never give me too much water, as this causes root rot. Regular sips of lukewarm water are enough for me. This does vary per season: in winter I drink less than in summer, because it is warmer and lighter in summer. In addition, the brighter my location, the more I drink. Water me from below, it's better for my roots and this also reduces the chance of bugs. It also allows me to absorb the amount of water I need. You can give the rest of the water to another plant after I have drunk for 15 minutes. In between waterings, you can feel with your finger how wet the soil is. Does soil stick to your finger after you put it in the potting soil? Then it still has enough water. Is your finger dry and clean? Then give me something to drink. Also, feel free to lift me up. Am I heavy like a tree? Then I have enough to drink. Am I light as a leaf? Then I like a sip. Cheers!

  • How much fertilizer do I need?
  • I only need fertilizer during the growing season, which runs from March to September. During this period, give me fertilizer twice a month in the ratio described on the packaging. I don't like too much fertilizer. This will cause my roots to rot. Outside the growing season, I don't need fertilizer either, as this is my dormant period.

  • When do I need to be repotted?
  • If you have just bought me, you don’t need to repot me for the first few months. I need all the energy I have to adjust to my new environment. You can, of course, put me in a decorative pot. After the first repotting session, I’d like a new pot every two years that is 20% bigger than my previous pot. Please repot me in Spring, this is when I’m at my strongest. I also like fresh potting soil, because this is filled with nutrients that I need to grow. Sometimes, it happens that I go through a major growth spurt and need a new pot sooner. You can check if I need a new pot by checking my roots. Do they grow out of the bottom of the pot? Then you can repot me sooner.

    It is very important to plant me in an inner pot first before putting me in a decorative pot. Thus, you can check if you’ve overwatered me by checking if there is water on the bottom of the decorative pot. You can also easily water me from the bottom.

  • When do I need to be pruned?
  • Generally you don't need to prune me. Should you no longer like my shape, or do I have an old leaf that is turning yellow? Then you can cut it off. Cut off the leaf stalk 2 centimeters above the stem with clean, sharp scissors. Preferably do this in spring, when I have lots of energy to recover properly.

  • What is my superpower?
  • I am a real air purifier! Thus, I make sure that the room I am standing in is provided with clean air. I do this by converting the CO2 in the air into oxygen. This gives you a boost of energy, focus and creativity.

  • Did you know that...
  • It may be that I do lose some drops of water via my leaves. This often happens when I have had too much water. This is called guttation, and is also known as 'sweating'.  

  • Am I edible?
  • No, I am not edible.

I like to be in a place where I am not in bright sunshine all day, but where I can catch some sunbeams. Think, for example, directly in front of a west or east-facing window, or two meters from a south-facing window. If I don't get enough light, my stems will become very long so my leaves can still reach the sunlight, and then my leaves will also eventually droop because of the weight. Also turn me a little from time to time so all my leaves can catch light. Put me in a nice place without a draft, and don't move me too much.

I like a slightly moist soil and prefer not to dry out, as this causes my leaves to droop. Never give me too much water, as this causes root rot. Regular sips of lukewarm water are enough for me. This does vary per season: in winter I drink less than in summer, because it is warmer and lighter in summer. In addition, the brighter my location, the more I drink. Water me from below, it's better for my roots and this also reduces the chance of bugs. It also allows me to absorb the amount of water I need. You can give the rest of the water to another plant after I have drunk for 15 minutes. In between waterings, you can feel with your finger how wet the soil is. Does soil stick to your finger after you put it in the potting soil? Then it still has enough water. Is your finger dry and clean? Then give me something to drink. Also, feel free to lift me up. Am I heavy like a tree? Then I have enough to drink. Am I light as a leaf? Then I like a sip. Cheers!

I only need fertilizer during the growing season, which runs from March to September. During this period, give me fertilizer twice a month in the ratio described on the packaging. I don't like too much fertilizer. This will cause my roots to rot. Outside the growing season, I don't need fertilizer either, as this is my dormant period.

If you have just bought me, you don’t need to repot me for the first few months. I need all the energy I have to adjust to my new environment. You can, of course, put me in a decorative pot. After the first repotting session, I’d like a new pot every two years that is 20% bigger than my previous pot. Please repot me in Spring, this is when I’m at my strongest. I also like fresh potting soil, because this is filled with nutrients that I need to grow. Sometimes, it happens that I go through a major growth spurt and need a new pot sooner. You can check if I need a new pot by checking my roots. Do they grow out of the bottom of the pot? Then you can repot me sooner.

It is very important to plant me in an inner pot first before putting me in a decorative pot. Thus, you can check if you’ve overwatered me by checking if there is water on the bottom of the decorative pot. You can also easily water me from the bottom.

Generally you don't need to prune me. Should you no longer like my shape, or do I have an old leaf that is turning yellow? Then you can cut it off. Cut off the leaf stalk 2 centimeters above the stem with clean, sharp scissors. Preferably do this in spring, when I have lots of energy to recover properly.

I am a real air purifier! Thus, I make sure that the room I am standing in is provided with clean air. I do this by converting the CO2 in the air into oxygen. This gives you a boost of energy, focus and creativity.

It may be that I do lose some drops of water via my leaves. This often happens when I have had too much water. This is called guttation, and is also known as 'sweating'.  

No, I am not edible.

Fave spot

Where should you place me?

I like a place where I can catch some rays of sunlight, but don't like a spot with direct sunlight.

Plant care

Medic heart

What do I like?

I like a regular sip of lukewarm water, but be careful not to overwater me. During the growing season, I like to get fertilizer twice a month.

Adopt Rainforest

Plantanious works together with the Work with Nature foundation. Our tropical rainforests are disappearing at a rapid pace and an enormous biodiversity is being lost along with the trees. If it were up to us, the jaguar would soon walk around again in the rainforest in Costa Rica protected by 'Adopt Rainforest'! The place where many of our special plants originate. In order to make an important contribution to the goal of the foundation - to protect 2,000 hectares of rainforest in the next ten years - we donate part of our turnover to protect part of the tropical rainforest. To achieve their goal, the foundation puts money into protection, conservation, reforestation, education and research.