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Alocasia “Buddha’s Hand”

Alocasia cucullata, commonly known as Buddha’s Hand, is a medium-sized foliage plant with glossy, green heart-shaped leaves, which feature prominent veins, and can grow up to 30cm long.

Latin name
Alocasia cuculatta

Pronunciation
(“al-oh-KAY-zee-ah kuck-yoo-LAH-ta”)

Common name
Buddha’s Hand

Origin
South-east Asia 

The Alocasia Cucullata is found in the shady humid undergrowth of forests, rainforests and along riverbanks in many parts of Asia, such as India, China, Burma and Sri Lanka. Often known as the ‘Buddha’s hand’ this plant is often found in Buddhist temples in Thailand and Laos.

The leaves are sometimes used externally in traditional medicine to treat symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis and to treat abscesses and even viper bites.

Did you know?

Alocasia “Buddha’s Hand” is named for its distinctive, deeply lobed leaves that resemble the graceful fingers of a Buddha’s hand.

Toxic to both pets and humans if ingested. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause intense mouth irritation, swelling, drooling and difficulty swallowing.

caring for your plant

Light

Medium-low – medium-high. Avoid direct sunlight.

Watering

Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Mist the foliage with tepid water to reduce the risk of spider mites and dry leaf tips and margins.

Pruning

The plant cannot be pruned, but older and dying leaves should be cut back to the base with a sharp knife.

Feeding

A dilute solution of fertilizer can be added to the water every time you water the plant.

pest & diseases

Mealybugs and other sap-feeding pests can be wiped off with a damp cloth. Spider mites may appear in dry air; mist regularly and remove webbing. Irregular watering can cause Xanthomonas, showing as black spots with yellow edges.

Our plants are grown in Ecoponic, an alternative to soil. Officially known as a vulkaponic substrate, it replaces traditional compost with a clean, mineral-based medium that helps protect peatlands.

According to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, “A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.” As well as storing carbon, the natural wetlands where peat is found are critical to the survival of plants and wildlife. Ecoponic also improves plant health and uses water more efficiently.

Find out more about Ecoponic here.

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Did you know?

Research from the University of Exeter found that offices with plants can increase productivity by up to 15% while also improving concentration and job satisfaction.