Aroid Care

How to Care for Aroids

Temperature: Most aroids grow in lower and mid montane forests and prefer temperatures from 60-85 degrees.  Extremes tolerated for short durations may be from the upper 40's to the upper 90's; however, protection should be provided during those times.  There are some species that have different preferences and these are noted in the product descriptions for each species.

Humidity: Most aroids are understory growers and most species prefer high humidity to thrive (>70%).  Gentle air circulation can be beneficial; however, drafts directly over the plants can cause stunted growth especially in the very broad leaf species.

Soil: A loose and airy mix.  Often used mixes use around equal parts orchid bark, perlite, sphagnum moss.  Well leached coconut chips is another excellent additive.  There's a wide range of mixes that work for different growing environments.  Keep in mind the more sphagnum moss in your mix then the more likely it will be to stay wet.  NOTE: We strongly discourage use of peat moss in mixes because it has the frustrating characteristic of staying too wet most of the time but being difficult to rehydrate when it does dry out. See our soil mixing guide for more information.

Light:  This varies widely across the genera.  However, generally, low to medium light is best.  Here's some tables of genera specific lighting recommendations when using grow lights.  In greenhouses, most aroids do best with around 70% shade.  When receiving your plant, do not expose to direct sun immediately, try to acclimate slowly.

Waterings: Let the soil go just damp between waterings.  For Alocasia, let the soil go fully dry between waterings.  Aroids prefer high purity water if it can be provided (such as rain water or reverse osmosis).  Tolerance for salts varies greatly from species to species.

Pot Size: Aroids can be prone to root rot if the soil remains too wet.  Therefore, it's important to not overpot them.  Choose a pot that fits the current root system plus around 1-2 inches in each direction to grow.

Fertilizers: Many growers use worm castings.  We use extended release fertilizers such as Osmocote or Nutricote at 1/4 label strength with good results.  We recommend not to fertilize your aroids right away when they are received.  Allow a few weeks for the roots to recover from transit first.

Acclimating Plants: Aroids can be more prone to root/stem rot than other plant groups.  For Alocasia, Monstera, Philodendron and Anthurium, we recommend keeping them a bit on the dry side (media just moist) as they establish roots.  NEVER soak them in water for an extended period of time (more than a few minutes).

Need more information? See our growing tips and care guides.