Alocasia macrorrhizos: 2 Years Stunted Indoors, Giant Outdoors

Giant Taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos) from Southeast Asia's tropical forests. After two years of slow growth indoors with mealybug problems, moving it outside to a semi-shaded spot in spring produced dramatic results — leaf after leaf, each larger than the last. Key lessons: indoor failure was due to insufficient light and low humidity (below 40% in winter); mealybugs thrived in still, dry air. Outdoors, airflow and rain naturally controlled pests. Overwintering notes: bring in before nights drop below 10°C, place at brightest window, increase humidity with a pebble tray, reduce but don't stop watering.