Alocasia Silver Dragon Plant Care Guide

Alocasia Silver Dragon or Alocasia Baginda Silver Dragon is a member of the Arum, Araceae family. The Alocasia Silver Dragon is a hybrid between the Alocasia baginda ‘Silver’ and the Alocasia baginda ‘Dragon Scale’ cultivars.

As this plant is a cultivar its not found in the wild, but bred by humans. The Alocasia Baginda it is cultivated from is native to Borneo though.

Alocasia Silver Dragon at a glance.

Alocasia Silver Dragon Appearance & Leaf Texture

The Alocasia Silver Dragon has texture resembling dragon scales. The front of the leaf is silver with dark green veins and the back side of the Alocasia Silver Dragon is light green with purple veins. 

Light Requirements for Alocasia Silver Dragon

Alocasia Silver Dragon thrives in bright, indirect, medium-bright light to maintain its vibrant leaves.

You will want to avoid direct sunlight, as it can scorch the foliage. Low light can cause leggy growth.

An east- or north-facing window with filtered light is ideal. If you have it in a south or west-facing window, you may want to use curtains to further filter the light.

Ideal Temperature & Humidity for Alocasia Silver Dragon

Alocasia Silver Dragon like temperatures between 15-30 degrees celsius, and high humidity (60%).

When thinking about humidity, you can think about where the plant is native to and where it grows. Is it in a rainforest with high humidity? If yes, you will likely need a humidifier, and to set it somewhere between 40 and 60 humidity. I use two Levoit humidifiers on opposite sides of my apartment: the Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier (LV600HH) and Levoit Bedroom Humidifier. This allows me to set my preferred humidity level, and read the display so I know how humid my apartment is at all times. A moisture meter is also helpful for this.

Growth & Fertilizer Needs for Alocasia Silver Dragon

Like other alocasias, the new leaves of the Silver Dragon in a petiole, from the centre of the base of the plant. The petiole for the Silver dragon is a pinkish colour while the stem is a bit yellow-green. It grows up straight, with a curled leaf, and slowly opens itself up to the sun.

The foliage will be a bright, almost lime green at first, and will darken and turn silver over time.

The plant can grows up to 60cm.

To encourage health growth, fertilize your Alocasia Silver Dragon with a balanced fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growth season (spring and summer).

When & How to Repot Alocasia Silver Dragon

You will know its time to repot your Alocasia Silver Dragon if its been 2 years since your last repot, the plant is becoming top heavy, the roots are growing out of or circling the bottom of the pot.

The best time to repot is your Alocasia is in its spring growing season.

Below is a video showing you what a top-heavy Alocasia looks like (even though its my Cuprea, the same concept applies.

How to Repot Alocasia Silver Dragon

1. To repot your Alocasia Silver Dragon, choose a pot that is one size larger (2″) with a drainage hole.
2. Add fresh, well-draining soil to the bottom of the new pot.
3. Gently remove your Alocasia Silver Dragon from its current pot, and detangle the roots.
4. Place your Alocasia Silver Dragon in the new pot. Add additional soil as required to cover the roots. You want the base of the plant to be 1″ from the top of the pot.
5. Pat the soil around the base of the pot to secure the plant. If the Alocasia doesn’t feel secure, you can add a stake into the soil, and secure it with plant velcro.
6. Water your Alocasia Silver Dragon, and place it back in its regular spot within your home.

For everything you will need for a successful Alocasia repot, check-out my guide on repotting essentials.

Alocasia Silver Dragon Blooming: What to Expect

Alocasia Silver Dragon can bloom, but this is rare indoors. When they do bloom, they produce pale, hooded flowers similar to other aroids.

When Alocasia bloom it directs its energy to the flower instead of new foliage. If you want new foliage, you can prune the bloom. It will only bloom when it reaches maturity, which can take several years.

Most growers focus on its dramatic, silver-veined foliage, as the blooms are not nearly as nice as the striking leaves.

How to Propagate Alocasia Silver Dragon (Corms)

Propagation is done by corms. Sometimes new plants may emerge from the soil (grown from a corm), but most of the time you will find the corms near the roots of the plant. You will have to detangle the corms from the roots and place them in a bit of a humidity chamber or prop box. I just used a glass tupperware container with a lid and a bit of water, filled up half of the height of the corms. It is important to change the water every now and then to avoid algae buildup and molding.

If you used the humidity chamber method, once roots have grown you can pot the corm in soil. I personally wait until I see a petiole to be sure and then pot that in a well draining soil.

Watering Alocasia Silver Dragon: How & When

When the top half of the soil is dry. I typically bottom water this plant through the drainage hole of the pot on a tray. It’s the easiest way to know if your plant is thirsty or not. Overwatering can lead to fungus gnats, root rot, or the death of your plant.

You can top water, but it’s best to do so in a pot with drainage until water is flowing out of the hole. If your pot doesn’t have drainage, you might accidentally drown your plant or make some fungus gnats very happy.

You should top water from time to time to make sure any built up minerals can wash through the plant. The water should drip out of the bottom of your drainage hole.

If you are going away for more than a week, you will want to make sure your Alocasia Silver Dragon is taken care of. Check-out my guide on 3 ways to keep your plants alive on vacation with automated systems.

Common Pests & Problems in Alocasia Silver Dragon

Below is a list of some common problems and pests you may encounter in your Alocasia Silver Dragon care.

• Spider Mites: If you see webbing or or signs of damage on my leaves, spider mites may have taken to your plant. I spray the plant with a mixture of neem oil, soap and water. I repeat this about once or twice a week (depending on the severity of infestation) for about a month. It’s also good to do this preventatively once a month or so. Learn how to eradicate Spider Mites.
• Drooping Leaves: Your plant is likely thirsty. Just give it a little water and it should be as good as new.
• Yellowing Leaves: If you have a new leaf coming in, your plant is likely fine. Plants pull energy from older leaves to support new growth. But it can also indicate over- or under- watering or lighting issues
• Mealy Bugs: these look like little white cotton balls on the plant. You can remove these with your fingers if you catch them early enough, but I would use a cotton swab with a drop of Isopropyl alcohol and try to scrape them off the stem.
• Fungus gnats: spray with the neem oil, soap, and water. I also let the soil dry out and add dryer sheets on top of the soil so the gnats can’t sense the moisture on the soil.
• Thrips: these are little, dark bugs that look like dirt. They suck the life out of the leaves, and lay eggs within the tissue of the leaf. As they age, they can grow wings and infect other plants. I spray the plant with a mixture of neem oil, dish soap and water. I repeat this every few days to try and get both the pest and the eggs. Sometimes I just chop the affected leaf since they are hard to eradicate. Complete guide on how to get rid of thrips.

Alocasia Silver Dragon Toxicity: Is It Safe?

Alocasia Silver Dragon is toxic to pets and humans if ingested. The calcium oxalates in the plant can cause irritation of the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. Make sure you keep this plant out of reach of curious children and animals to ensure no accidental ingestion occurs.

Alocasia Silver Dragon Quick Care Guide