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Alocasia cuprea "red secret"
€9.90
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Foliage that looks almost forged from metal: Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret' blends copper, bronze, deep red and dark green across glossy, strongly ribbed leaves. Compact and sculptural, it creates an immediate focal point in any tropical plant collection.
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Description
Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret' is a spectacular collector tropical aroid with an almost metallic appearance. Its thick glossy leaves combine dark green, bronze, copper and reddish tones with deeply impressed veins that give the foliage a highly sculptural texture.
Relatively compact for an Alocasia, it is an excellent choice for warm humid cultivation in tropical greenhouses, large terrariums or bright indoor collector displays.
Botanical family
Araceae
Genus
Alocasia
Species
Alocasia cuprea (K.Koch & C.D.Bouché) K.Koch
Horticultural name
Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret'
Horticultural status
'Red Secret' is a widely used horticultural trade name for forms of Alocasia cuprea displaying strong coppery and reddish foliage. It is not considered a formally recognised botanical cultivar.
Origin
Alocasia cuprea is native to Borneo, particularly Sabah, where it naturally occurs in humid tropical forest environments.
Foliage
The leaves are thick, glossy and strongly veined. Their surface may display metallic green, bronze, copper and dark red tones depending on age, light and growing conditions.
Young foliage is often more strongly flushed red before developing darker coppery tones as it matures.
Leaf underside
The underside generally retains dark red to purplish coloration, adding further contrast to the foliage.
Texture
Deeply impressed veins create a strongly sculpted surface that gives the leaves an almost metallic or armoured appearance.
Growth habit
Alocasia cuprea has a compact upright habit. Leaves are carried on sturdy petioles and emerge successively from a short tuberous stem.
Mature specimens may reach approximately 50–80 cm in height under favourable conditions while remaining relatively compact for the genus.
Terrarium compatibility
- Large humid tropical terrarium: Yes
- Bioactive terrarium: Yes
- Paludarium: Yes, emerged terrestrial section
- Container cultivation: Excellent
- Tropical greenhouse: Excellent
- Nano terrarium: Not suitable long term
- Submerged cultivation: No
Recommended substrate
Use a light, highly aerated and free-draining aroid mix containing coco chips, fine bark, perlite, sphagnum moss and light organic material.
The growing medium should retain light moisture without remaining permanently saturated.
Watering
Keep the substrate lightly moist during active growth while allowing the surface to begin drying between waterings.
Avoid stagnant water around the roots and crown.
Humidity
Humidity of approximately 65% to 85% is particularly suitable.
Consistent humidity promotes healthy foliage, but good airflow remains essential.
Temperature
Ideal growing temperature: approximately 20°C to 28°C.
Avoid prolonged temperatures below 16–18°C and cold draughts.
Light
Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret' prefers medium to bright filtered light.
Good lighting helps maintain compact growth and enhances its coppery metallic tones. Avoid harsh direct sunlight.
Growth
Moderate growth. New leaves emerge successively from the base under warm, bright and humid conditions.
Flowering
Mature plants may produce typical aroid inflorescences consisting of a spathe and spadix.
Its main ornamental feature remains the extraordinary metallic foliage.
Propagation
Propagation is mainly carried out by separating offsets or small corms produced around the root system.
Maintenance
Remove only old or heavily damaged leaves and avoid unnecessary handling of new foliage while it is unfurling.
Pay particular attention to overwatering, to which Alocasia can be sensitive.
Fertilisation
Use a balanced low-strength tropical plant or aroid fertiliser during active growth.
Light regular feeding is preferable to highly concentrated applications.
Why choose Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret'?
Few plants look this metallic: glossy foliage blends copper, bronze, dark green and deep red over a strongly ribbed surface that almost appears sculpted.
Its relatively compact habit makes it possible to enjoy this dramatic foliage without requiring the space needed by larger Alocasia species.
JungleBox advice
Provide bright filtered light and avoid excessive watering. Warm humid conditions combined with a highly aerated substrate will help maintain compact, glossy and strongly coloured foliage.
Precaution
Like other Araceae, Alocasia cuprea contains calcium oxalate crystals. The sap may be irritating and the plant should not be ingested.
Additional information
- Botanical name: Alocasia cuprea
- Horticultural name: 'Red Secret'
- Family: Araceae
- Origin: Borneo, particularly Sabah
- Type: Compact collector tropical aroid
- Foliage: Dark green, bronze, copper to reddish
- Texture: Thick, glossy and strongly ribbed
- Leaf underside: Dark red to purple
- Growth habit: Compact and upright
- Exposure: Medium to bright filtered light
- Substrate: Highly aerated and free-draining
- Humidity: 65 to 85%
- Temperature: 20 to 28°C
- Growth rate: Moderate
- Large tropical terrarium compatible: Yes
- Bioactive terrarium compatible: Yes
- Paludarium compatible: Yes, emerged section
- Nano terrarium compatible: Not suitable long term
- Submerged cultivation: No
Specific References
- MPN
- JBOX-ALOCASIA-CUPREA-RED-SECRET
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Foliage that looks almost forged from metal: Alocasia cuprea 'Red Secret' blends copper, bronze, deep red and dark green across glossy, strongly ribbed leaves. Compact and sculptural, it creates an immediate focal point in any tropical plant collection.