Native to the tropical island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, the Silver Dragon is recognized by its light to silvery-green, heart-shaped leaves with dark-green ribbed venation that resemble dragon scales. The Silver Dragon remains compact, even into maturity, usually reaching around 2 feet tall and wide, but its silvery-sage leaves can reach an impressive 8 inches long by 6 inches wide. Alocasias are quickly gaining popularity amongst collectors and plant lovers alike for their striking foliage.
The Silver Dragon prefers medium to bright levels of light. A west or east-facing window where the Silver Dragon’s leaves are safely shielded from the direct rays of the sun will usually offer enough sunlight for the Silver Dragon to thrive. The Silver Dragon should not be exposed to harsh, direct sunlight, as its sensitive leaves will burn.
The Silver Dragon prefers slightly damp soil, which can be achieved with watering once weekly during the summer and once every other week during the winter months. We’d suggest only watering when the top layer of soil (2-3 inches) has started to dry out, being careful not to overly saturate your Silver Dragon, as overwatering can result in root issues (or potential death). Too little moisture in its soil and you could start to see brown, crispy leaf tips on your Silver Dragon.
The Silver Dragon thrives at temperatures between 60⁰F and 80⁰F. It is attuned to higher levels of humidity than most plants, with 60-80% being optimal. You may want to supplement with extra moisture by placing your plant near a humidifier, including a pebble tray filled with water underneath your plant (not touching the roots or bottom of the soil), potting your plant in a planter with a reservoir, or keeping your plant in a terrarium. Misting the leaves can be effective, when done daily, but be sure to wipe excess water from your plant’s leaves. Over an extended period, misting with too much water can result in water build up on the leaves that results in leaf loss.
Always ensure your Silver Dragon is healthy and happy before attempting to fertilize your plant. Fertilizing your Silver Dragon is important during the spring and summer months. Soil in the jungles of Indonesia, where the Silver Dragon hails from, is rich with limestone and calcium, so any fertilizer containing substrates of these nutrients would be best to help your Silver Dragon thrive. Use a premium, nutrient-rich fertilizer and dilute it about half the amount suggested by the bag or box no more than once a month during growing season. When the weather starts to cool, ease the Silver Dragon off the fertilizer and eventually stop completely.
