Alocasia Temperature Tolerance (How Hot Or Cold Can They Get?)

Alocasia is a tropical perennial that can decorate your indoor space with large green foliage. If you own an Alocasia, you must know the temperature tolerance of these plants. That is what we will discuss today.

Alocasia enjoys warm temperatures and is sensitive to low temperatures. It thrives when it receives warm and average room temperature ranging between 65-85°F. While temperatures below 50-55°F triggers dormancy, temperatures above 90-98°F can lead to brown spots and crispy foliage.

Giving the Alocasia its ideal temperature indoors is not that difficult. This guide will explain how to save Alocasia from extreme temperatures and maintain the right temperature.

What is the best temperature of the Alocasia plant?

Alocasia belongs to the tropical rainforest and marshes of Asia and Africa.

Naturally, Alocasia thrives best at temperatures ranging between 65-85°F.

Alocasia enjoys warm temperatures along with high humidity levels.

If the temperature exceeds the ideal range, the plant will show certain signs like yellow or brown leaves, stunted growth, dry leaves, dormancy, etc.

So, if you don’t want to see such problems in your Alocasia, you should take immediate steps to amend the temperature once you spot the signs.

In the summer, the temperature should stay within 65-85°F.

Alocasia will lose moisture if the temperature rises above 90-98°F and remains like that for a long time.

In the winters, the temperature around Alocasia should remain above 60°F.

During the nighttime, it should stay at least within 55-60°F or above.

Once the temperature drops below 50°F at night, it will trigger dormancy. 

Since Alocasia will grow as an indoor plant from the moment you bring it home, it will be able to endure the same room temperature as humans do.

So, make sure not to stress them with extreme temperatures or sudden fluctuations.

There is an advantage of growing Alocasia indoors.

You can always amend their temperature and keep it under control by keeping them away from areas that can give them temperature stress.

Effects of low temperature

Since the Alocasia plants belong to the tropical rainforest areas, they are sensitive to cold temperatures.

Their sensitivity can be witnessed during the winters.

Temperatures below 50-55°F will trigger dormancy. 

Excessive low temperature will make the leaves turn brown or yellow, droopy, and dull.

It can even kill them if the plant is exposed to lower temperatures for extended periods.

Though dormancy is good for the plant, a full-blown dormant Alocasia will die completely.

As a tropical plant, Alocasia will require high humidity ranging from around 50-60%.

Low temperature can also decrease the humidity level.

Below 40%, Alocasia will result in discolored, curly, or droopy leaves.

Extreme low temperatures can freeze the plant.

It can happen if you keep Alocasia near an open window during freezing winters or place it close to air conditioners.

The plant cells will become inactive and even denaturize if the temperature drops lower than 50°F.

The extreme cold will enter the plant and damage the cells and tissues of the plant.

Also read: Should I Mist My Alocasia? (Ideal Humidity+How To Maintain)

How do I keep the Alocasia plants warm?

First, watch for the signs carefully.

If the plant shows signs like yellow or brown leaves, droopy leaves, or stunted growth, check the temperature of the particular location instead of the entire room.

Use a hygrometer to measure both the humidity and the temperature.

When you change the position of the plant to a warm location after watching the signs of damage, your plant will need time to recover from the cold.

You can remove the fully damaged leaves but let the partially damaged leaves stay.

Once the Alocasia has recovered, these leaves might get healed.

Keep the Alocasia plants near a south or west-facing window in the winters.

Sometimes, these directions might give too much heat.

Use sheer curtains to filter the light.

Or, you can try the north or east-facing window as these directions don’t get too much heat. 

Don’t keep them near an open window when the cold wind blows outside. 

For letting the plant have sufficient light, use artificial lights.

Shift your plant from an AC room and keep them in a warm room.

Also, make sure that the plant is not directly or too close to the ceiling or fans.

It can also give them cold drafts.

Your plant will be dormant if the temperature drops too low.

In such cases, do not bother them with watering or fertilizing.

Limit the watering and stop fertilizing. Water the plants with tepid or room temperature water.

Don’t use hot water to warm them up. That will raise other issues.

While changing the position of the Alocasia plants suddenly to protect them from cold drafts, you need to do it gradually.

Acclimatization is essential to keep the plant from sudden temperature shock. 

Changing specific situations and letting Alocasia have its ideal temperature the whole year can also stop the plant from being dormant in winters.

Will high temperatures affect the Alocasia plants?

Alocasia plants enjoy warm temperatures.

They do best when the temperature range is between 65°F to 85°F. 

Alocasia’s love for warm temperatures doesn’t mean they will enjoy extremely hot and high temperatures.

There is a limit to enduring warm temperatures.

If the Alocasia plants are exposed to high temperatures above 85°F to 90°F, it will create problems in the plant’s health and interfere with its smooth growth and development.

Alocasia gets exposed to high temperatures during 2 conditions:

• They are exposed to direct sunlight during the summers.
• They are placed near heaters or radiators to give them warm temperatures.

Some people keep them under the direct sun with the thought of providing them with warm temperatures.

But instead of giving them their ideal temperature, you are unknowingly pushing them to an unsafe zone. 

Since Alocasia plants are tropical plants, they thrive well in bright but indirect sunlight.

Direct sunlight not only leads to sunburn but also increases the temperature.

Some signs of sunburnt Alocasia are:

• Scorched leaves
• Brown spots on leaves
• Crispy foliage

Similarly, shifting them near the heaters, radiators, or fireplaces is not the right way to warm up the plant during the winters.

Instead, you are risking the plant’s life.

A slightly high and warm temperature is fine, only if the humidity remains around 40-60%.

Extremely high temperatures will also reduce the humidity levels, dry up the surrounding air and destroy the plant’s health.

This will result in discolored leaves, droopy, curly, and dull leaves.

How to address the issue?

For amending the temperature, you can follow some steps:

• If your plant is close to an open, sunny window, shift them a few feet back. Fix transparent curtains to filter the light. It can lower the temperature to some extent.
• Water the Alocasia regularly during summers. Giving them sufficient water can reduce the temperature, keep them cool and prevent dehydration. Use normal room temperature water and not cold water.
• High temperature is not a serious issue unless the air around dries out. So, make sure that the Alocasia plants receive at least 40-60% of humidity indoors. Fix a humidifier or use a pebble tray to increase the humidity. You can also place them in the bathrooms receiving some amount of indirect sun.
• You should never put the plant near heaters or radiators. Always keep the plant away from heaters, radiators, or fireplaces. These areas can decrease the humidity to a great level and stress the plant.
• Remove the fully brown or dry leaves. But let the little or partially affected leaves stay. They will revive once the plant recovers the stress.
• You can keep the Alocasia plant in the kitchen but not close to the ovens. The kitchen can provide the plant with warm temperatures and high humidity, but being close to ovens can give them heat stress.

How do I maintain the correct temperatures for my Alocasia?

To give the Alocasia plants the right temperature, you can follow the above suggestions.

But still, if you want a clear conception about it, I will be sharing certain locations and conditions that can save the plant from temperature stress.

• To provide the Alocasia with the right temperature, you should keep them in the right location and maintain certain things.
• Before placing the plant in a particular location, check the temperature of that location and not the room. It must be within 65-85°F.
• If your Alocasia is close to the door or balcony, bring it inside and place it in a warm area. The best room for Alocasia will be the one having large windows with curtains. The sunlight can enter the room by penetrating through the windows to reach the plant. The curtains will filter the direct sunlight.
• Put on sheer curtains during the summers if your plant is placed near an open window. Also, bring them a few feet back. A north or east-facing window is good for summers.
• A south or west-facing window will be good for winters. Still, you should fix curtains if the sun is intense anytime.
• Never place your plant near a window or door that is frequently opened and closed. The air drafts enter the room constantly and reach the plant, thus resulting in severe temperature fluctuations.
• Changing the watering routine can maintain the right temperature. Watering the plant regularly during the summers can keep the plant cool and reduce the temperature. 
• Reduce the water amount and frequency in the winters. Alocasia won’t utilize too much water as they grow slowly or become dormant. Instead, it can lower the temperature and shock the roots with cold. Water them once in 2-3 weeks just to keep them hydrated.
• Don’t put the Alocasia plants near the direct fans or air conditioners. As they enjoy warm temperatures, keep them in a warm room with 40-60% of humidity. But not too close to heaters, radiators, or ovens.

Can Alocasia survive in AC rooms?

As Alocasia enjoys warm temperatures to survive, keeping Alocasia in an air-conditioned room can be risky.

But, with proper care and maintenance, you can keep them in such rooms. 

You just need to ensure that the humidity remains within the ideal range, and they should not stay directly near the air conditioners.

Follow the following steps to keep Alocasia healthy in an AC room:

Season: You can keep the Alocasia during the summers, but not during winters.

The temperature already stays cold enough indoors in normal rooms.

So, if you are keeping it in an AC room, bring it out when the temperature starts dropping during the fall.

Hydration: When you keep them in an AC room, the air in the surrounding will remain dry.

As a result, the soil can dry out faster. You should maintain hydration. 

Water them frequently.

But, note that since an AC room is cool enough, the plant might not require too much water.

So, always check the moisture before watering the plant.

Location: The plant’s location in an AC room is of utmost importance.

Firstly, the plant should not stay close to the air conditioners.

The direct air should not reach the plant.

Secondly, search for a sunny window.

The plant should receive bright but indirect sunlight.

Humidity: When the plant stays in an AC room, the air will stay very dry. 

In such cases, you must take care of the plant’s humidity.

It must stay around 40-60%.

You can increase the humidity by misting. It will even clean the leaves. 

Though it is easy and quick, it helps only for a short time.

Besides, misting can invite infestations if the water doesn’t dry out or evaporate.

Misting, however, won’t help if the humidity is below 40%.

There are other effective methods. 

Fix a humidifier near your plant.

This device can mimic the exact humidity requirement of the plant.

Keep a pebble tray with some water and place the pot over it.

The pebbles will stop the pot from being wet.

The water will evaporate, rise and add humidity to the plant.

Refill the tray with water once the level goes down.

If you own lots of tropical plants, keep them close to each other.

But, also maintain an adequate space in between for good airflow; otherwise, they will be prone to fungal diseases.

Protect the plant: While growing Alocasia in an AC room, you must protect the plant from the direct air vents.

If your Alocasia is small or medium, put it in terrarium jars.

This can protect the plant from cold and dry air and maintain hydration and humidity.

The plant will remain warm inside the jar, and when they release water vapor, it will increase the humidity, and this water will recycle and run down in the soil, thus hydrating the soil.

Maintain health: While staying in jars, you should maintain their health. 

Always allow the plant to have enough airflow.

Clean the leaves and remove dead leaves and other debris. Otherwise, the plant can develop infestations.

Final thoughts

Always remember, an average room temperature is the best temperature for Alocasia. It should always remain between 65-85°F.

It should not go below 50-55°F, especially during the winters, at night. It should also not rise above 85-90 degrees, during summers, especially at night.

Direct sunlight is good during winters but not during the summers. Avoid areas near air conditioners, fans, ovens, fireplaces, heaters, or radiators. 

Go for rooms with open windows with curtains, a bathroom, or near the aquarium. These will keep the plant warm and even maintain the right humidity levels.

Altering the watering habits can amend the temperature to some extent. Increase during summers and reduce in winters.

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Reference: Science Direct, Propagation of Alocasia, The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Alocasia sanderiana, Alocasia micholitziana.