Alocasia Dragon Scale
Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'
Run your finger across the leaf. That raised, bumpy texture is real and it looks exactly like reptile scales. From the limestone forests of Borneo, which tells you a lot about what it needs.
Buy this plant $42 In Stock- Light
- Bright Indirect
- Humidity
- 70-80%
- Temperature
- 65-75°F
Light Requirements
Bright Indirect. Put it 3-5 feet from a south or east-facing window, out of direct sun. Direct afternoon sun will scorch the leaves!
Watering
Water when the top 1-2 inches are dry, and use filtered or distilled water. This plant doesn't love tap water chemicals. Heads up for winter: if it drops all its leaves, don't panic! It's going dormant. Cut way back on watering and wait for it to come back in spring.
Humidity
Target humidity: 70-80%. Get a humidifier. Seriously! Pebble trays and misting barely make a dent compared to even a cheap ultrasonic humidifier placed near the plant.
Temperature
Keep it between 65-75°F. Watch out for cold drafts from windows in winter and hot air blowing from vents. Most tropical houseplants start struggling below 55°F, and frost will kill them.
Soil and Potting
Chunky and well-draining: potting soil with lots of perlite and orchid bark. pH around 5.5-6.5. Needs to stay moist without getting dense or waterlogged.
Propagation
You can't propagate this from leaf or stem cuttings, so don't try! During spring repotting, separate rhizome sections that already have their own roots. Or hunt for small firm corms in the soil, peel off the outer skin, and plant them in moist sphagnum moss. Baby shoots appear anywhere from weeks to months later.
Common Problems
Winter dormancy is the big one. The plant drops all its leaves and looks completely dead. It's not! Reduce watering, keep it warm, and wait. It'll come back. Spider mites move in when humidity drops, so keep an eye out. Stunted new leaves usually mean more light, more humidity, or a bigger pot.
Worth Knowing
- The species name 'baginda' comes from an Indonesian word meaning Majesty. It grows in limestone forest understory on Borneo, which is why some growers get better results with a slightly less acidic mix than typical aroids.
- Don't confuse this with Silver Dragon! Same species, different cultivar. Dragon Scale has darker green leaves with dramatic silver-green scaling. Silver Dragon is lighter and more uniformly gray with less contrast. They get mixed up constantly.
- If your Dragon Scale blooms, congratulations! That's rare indoors. The plant needs to be several years old and in near-perfect conditions. Consider it a badge of honor.
Toxicity
Highly toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. This one packs an especially high concentration of oxalate crystals. Ingestion causes throat swelling and mouth ulceration. In pets, it can be serious enough to need a vet visit.