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Placement · Alocasia

Where to Put Your Alocasia

A warm, humid bathroom or kitchen — alocasias hate dry air and cold rooms. A bright bedroom works if you run a humidifier.

Best window
East-facing (ideal); south-facing with sheer curtain
Distance from window
2–4 feet from an east window
Target light
300–800 fc (medium to bright indirect)
Room temperature
65–80°F (18–27°C), humidity 60%+

What to avoid

Direct sun (causes silver-and-green varieties to fade and burn), cold rooms under 60°F (triggers dormancy), low humidity (causes crispy edges)

Most common placement mistake

Placing in a dim winter room. Alocasia go dormant below 60°F and may drop all their leaves — owners often think the plant died when it is just resting.

How to measure light at home

A foot-candle (fc) is a unit of light intensity. You can measure it with a free smartphone app like Light Meter or with a $20 digital light meter. As reference points:

  • 50\u2013100 fc: A bright corner away from any window — most low-light tolerant plants only
  • 100\u2013400 fc: A few feet from a north or east window — medium light
  • 400\u20131000 fc: Right next to a bright east window or 3\u20136 feet from a south window — bright indirect
  • 1000+ fc: Directly in a south or west window — full sun, only suitable for succulents and high-light tropicals

For full Alocasia care — watering schedule, fertilizing, pests, and propagation — see the Alocasia care guide. Or check out how big Alocasia gets.