Hi, I am

Macy

WHO'S

THIS

Girl?

Hi, I'm Macy.

My Latin name is Alocasia Macrorrhiza, but you probably know me as the Elephant Ear. I have big leaves, and with these I totally brighten up my surroundings. These large leaves also make me very trendy. I am indispensable in your home!

I have flown over from the southern parts of Asia, where I come from the tropical rain forests. Here I can grow several meters tall! Here they find me very useful, as I am used here as a shelter from the rain! With my large leaves, I am extremely suitable for this.

Quick guide

meetlint
Height: 70 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?
  • Just put me in a place with lots of light, but not full sun! For example, in front of a west or east-facing window, or two meters from a south-facing window. Are my stems getting very long and are my heavy leaves drooping because of this? Then I'm not getting enough light! Occasionally turn me a little so that all my leaves can get enough light, because I grow towards the light. Put me in a place out of the draft and don't move me too often.

  • 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 really like getting some fertilizer twice a month during the growing season from March to September. Never give too much and always stick to the amount written on the package. In fact, too much fertilizer is not good for me. Outside the growing season, you don't need to give me any fertilizer, as I am dormant during this period and therefore don't need any nutrition.

  • 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?
  • Do you want to prune me? In general this is not necessary. If you do want to, for example because you don't like my shape anymore or because I have old leaves that are turning yellow, you can cut off my leaf stalk up to 2 centimeters above the stem. Always do this with sharp, clean scissors and in the spring so I can recover quickly from being trimmed.

  • 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.

Just put me in a place with lots of light, but not full sun! For example, in front of a west or east-facing window, or two meters from a south-facing window. Are my stems getting very long and are my heavy leaves drooping because of this? Then I'm not getting enough light! Occasionally turn me a little so that all my leaves can get enough light, because I grow towards the light. Put me in a place out of the draft and don't move me too often.

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 really like getting some fertilizer twice a month during the growing season from March to September. Never give too much and always stick to the amount written on the package. In fact, too much fertilizer is not good for me. Outside the growing season, you don't need to give me any fertilizer, as I am dormant during this period and therefore don't need any nutrition.

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.

Do you want to prune me? In general this is not necessary. If you do want to, for example because you don't like my shape anymore or because I have old leaves that are turning yellow, you can cut off my leaf stalk up to 2 centimeters above the stem. Always do this with sharp, clean scissors and in the spring so I can recover quickly from being trimmed.

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?

Do you want to make me happy? Then put me in a bright spot! Avoid direct sunlight as I don't like this as much.

Plant care

Medic heart

What do I like?

A regular sip of lukewarm water is most welcome, but be careful not to give too much. You may also give me some fertilizer twice a month during the growing season.

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.