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Alocasia balloon heart
€12.00
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Heart-shaped leaves that almost look inflated: Alocasia 'Balloon Heart' truly lives up to its name. Compact, dark and highly sculptural, it develops thick foliage with pale contrasting veins that becomes increasingly distinctive with maturity. Supplied in a 6 cm pot, it is an ideal young collector plant to grow on.
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Description
Alocasia 'Balloon Heart' is a compact collector tropical aroid prized for its thick, rounded and unusually sculptural foliage. Its dark green leaves have a broad heart-shaped form with an almost inflated appearance, giving rise to the name “Balloon Heart”.
Supplied in a Ø 6 cm pot, this young Alocasia is ideal for starting a collection, growing in a large tropical terrarium or maintaining under warm humid indoor conditions.
Botanical family
Araceae
Genus
Alocasia
Cultivar
Alocasia 'Balloon Heart'
Horticultural status
'Balloon Heart' is a modern horticultural selection. As its exact parentage is not reliably documented, JungleBox retains the cultivar name Alocasia 'Balloon Heart' without assigning an unsupported hybrid origin.
Pot size
Ø 6 cm
Foliage
The leaves are thick, dark green to very deep green, with a rounded broadly heart-shaped outline.
The leaf blade has a slightly puffed or quilted appearance with paler contrasting veins that enhance its graphic character.
Distinctive leaf shape
The defining feature of 'Balloon Heart' is its unusually rounded, inflated-looking foliage rather than the long arrow-shaped leaves typical of many other Alocasia.
This characteristic generally becomes more pronounced as the plant matures.
Growth habit
Alocasia 'Balloon Heart' has a compact upright growth habit. New leaves emerge from the base and gradually form a dense clump.
It remains relatively restrained compared with many large Alocasia cultivars.
Terrarium compatibility
- Large humid tropical terrarium: Yes
- Bioactive terrarium: Yes
- Paludarium: Yes, emerged terrestrial section
- Small terrarium: Possible while young
- Nano terrarium: Temporary only
- Container cultivation: Excellent
- Submerged cultivation: No
Recommended substrate
Use a 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 while providing plenty of airflow around the roots.
Watering
Keep the substrate lightly moist during active growth, allowing the surface to begin drying before watering again.
Avoid permanently waterlogged substrate and stagnant moisture around the crown.
Humidity
Humidity of approximately 65% to 85% is particularly suitable.
High humidity supports healthy new leaf development, provided adequate airflow is maintained.
Temperature
Ideal growing temperature: approximately 20°C to 27°C.
Avoid prolonged cold conditions and cool draughts.
Light
Alocasia 'Balloon Heart' prefers medium to bright filtered light.
Good lighting encourages compact growth and well-shaped foliage. Avoid harsh direct sunlight.
Growth
Slow to moderate growth.
The juvenile 6 cm pot size makes it possible to watch the foliage gradually develop its characteristic rounded and inflated appearance.
Flowering
Mature plants may produce typical aroid inflorescences consisting of a spathe and spadix.
The main ornamental feature remains its compact and distinctive foliage.
Propagation
Propagation is mainly carried out by separating offsets or small corms produced around the root system.
Maintenance
Remove only old or badly damaged leaves and avoid unnecessary handling of new foliage while it is unfurling.
Take particular care to avoid overwatering young plants.
Fertilisation
Use a balanced low-strength tropical plant or aroid fertiliser during active growth.
Light regular feeding is preferable to concentrated applications.
Why choose Alocasia 'Balloon Heart'?
'Balloon Heart' immediately stands out for its thick, rounded foliage that looks almost inflated. This unusual shape gives it a compact, sculptural appearance unlike the long pointed leaves of many other Alocasia.
Supplied in a 6 cm pot, it is an excellent young collector plant to grow on and watch mature.
JungleBox advice
Provide bright filtered light and a highly aerated substrate. With young Alocasia, steady stable growth is preferable to keeping the substrate constantly wet in an attempt to speed development.
Precaution
Like other Araceae, Alocasia plants contain calcium oxalate crystals. The sap may be irritating and the plant should not be ingested.
Additional information
- Horticultural name: Alocasia 'Balloon Heart'
- Family: Araceae
- Pot size: Ø 6 cm
- Type: Compact collector tropical aroid
- Foliage: Dark green, thick and rounded
- Distinctive feature: Broad heart-shaped, inflated-looking foliage
- Veins: Pale and contrasting
- Growth habit: Compact and upright
- Exposure: Medium to bright filtered light
- Substrate: Highly aerated and free-draining
- Humidity: 65 to 85%
- Temperature: 20 to 27°C
- Growth rate: Slow to moderate
- Large tropical terrarium compatible: Yes
- Bioactive terrarium compatible: Yes
- Paludarium compatible: Yes, emerged section
- Nano terrarium compatible: Temporary while juvenile
- Submerged cultivation: No
Specific References
- MPN
- JBOX-ALOCASIA-BALOON-HEART
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Heart-shaped leaves that almost look inflated: Alocasia 'Balloon Heart' truly lives up to its name. Compact, dark and highly sculptural, it develops thick foliage with pale contrasting veins that becomes increasingly distinctive with maturity. Supplied in a 6 cm pot, it is an ideal young collector plant to grow on.