Alocasia cuprea
Alocasia cuprea K.Koch · Red Secret Alocasia
Typical UK price
£13
Limited data
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 0
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- 21 Jun 2026
- On record
- 3
Cutting/cormEstimate
7cm3 sold
12cmEstimate
MatureEstimate
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
for a 7cm pot
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Recent UK sales
For sale in the UK
UK shops
| Shop | Stock | Checked | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grow Tropicals tissue culture plantlet | In stock | 2 Nov 2026 | £146 |
By month
| Month | Median | Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | £7 | 1 |
| May 2026 | £15 | 2 |
Before you buy
- Inspect the undersides of the bullate leaves closely for spider mites, as the deep texture provides ideal hiding places for pests.
- Check the firmness of the central corm at the soil level; any softness or foul smell indicates advanced rot.
- Ensure the newest leaf has emerged cleanly and fully unfurled, as low humidity often causes leaves to get stuck or tear during emergence.
- Look for a healthy root system visible through the drainage holes, ensuring roots are firm and pale rather than dark and mushy.
About Alocasia cuprea
Alocasia cuprea, often known as 'Red Secret', is an aroid native to the humid lowland rainforests of Borneo. This species grows terrestrially in warm, shaded conditions on moist, humus-rich soil, forming a compact, self-heading plant from a corm-like base with fibrous roots. Its leaves are thick and strongly bullate, with a metallic deep green upper surface contrasting with maroon undersides. Petioles emerge directly from the base, reflecting its strictly terrestrial growth habit.
Native range
Borneo
Classification
- Genus
- Alocasia
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Wild
- Growth habit
- Terrestrial, self-heading
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- SagittateArrowhead-shaped leaves, with pointed lobes at the base pointing downwards., ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base., bullate
- Leaf length
- 20-30 cm
- Leaf width
- 15-20 cm
- Petiole colour
- Dark bronze-maroon
- Venation
- Prominent, sunken primary veins
- Texture
- Thick, strongly bullate and metallic
- Variegation
- None
- Growth habit
- Compact, self-heading, strictly terrestrialA plant that grows directly in the ground, rooting in soil rather than climbing trees or rocks., no climbing stem
Alocasia cuprea care
- Substrate
- A coarse, free-draining aroid mix containing orchid bark, perlite, and a generous portion of coco coir replicates its natural humus-rich forest floor environment. Ensure the mix retains some moisture without remaining waterlogged around the corm.
- Watering
- Water thoroughly when the top third of the soil feels dry, but avoid letting the root ball dry out entirely. These terrestrial growers prefer even moisture but are highly susceptible to root rot if left sitting in water.
- Humidity
- Maintain high humidity between 60-80% to prevent crispy leaf margins and support healthy new growth. Standard household humidity often leads to deformed leaves or stalled growth.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every two weeks during the active growing season. Reduce feeding significantly in winter when the plant naturally slows down or enters dormancy.
- Repotting
- Repot every 12-18 months when roots begin to circle the pot, moving up only one pot size. Avoid planting the corm too deeply to prevent rot at the base of the petioles.
Common problems
Spider mite infestations
Cause: Dry indoor air weakening the plant and creating ideal breeding conditions on the highly textured leaves.
Fix: Increase ambient humidity and wipe the bullate leaves regularly with a damp cloth or horticultural soap.
Rhizome or root rot
Cause: Overwatering, poor drainage, or a substrate that holds water for too long.
Fix: Unpot the plant, remove any soft brown roots or mushy corm tissue, and repot in a fresh, highly aerated mix.
Winter dormancy or leaf drop
Cause: A drop in ambient temperature and light levels triggering the plant's natural resting phase.
Fix: Reduce watering and stop fertilising until new growth resumes in spring; do not discard the corm if it loses all its leaves.
Gear for this plant
- Flowers of Sulphur, 99.99% PurityDusted onto a fresh corm or rhizome cut to guard against rot before repotting.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Digital Hygrometer & ThermometerLCD humidity and temperature gauge for checking a grow spot against a plant's target range.
How to propagate Alocasia cuprea
- Methods
- Corm division, Separating offsets. Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Rewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
- Time to establish
- 4-8 months
- True from cuttings
- Yes. Cuttings keep the cultivar's character.
- Notes
- Carefully separate small offsets or cormels that develop around the main base during repotting. Sprout these cormels in a shallow layer of damp sphagnum moss or perlite within a high-humidity propagation box until roots and the first leaves establish.