Alocasia Polly vs Alocasia Frydek
Frydek is the slightly more forgiving one - velvet leaves, rated medium where Polly is hard. Both go dormant and drop everything if cold or dry.
Alocasia Frydek is rated medium to care for, Alocasia Polly hard. If this is an early houseplant or the spot is hard to get right, start with the Alocasia Frydek. Alocasia Polly rates 5/5 for humidity - needs a humidifier, a terrarium or a steamy bathroom. Alocasia Frydek rates 4/5, so group plants or run a humidifier in winter.
What they share: both are toxic to cats and dogs, both want bright indirect light, both take moderate watering and both stay medium.
Choose
Alocasia Polly if…
- ✓it will live in a bathroom, kitchen or a humidified room
- ✓you are happy to fuss a little for the better-looking leaves
- ✓the look is what you are after: Dramatic arrow-shaped dark leaves with white veins.
Choose
Alocasia Frydek if…
- ✓your home runs dry in winter and you will not add a humidifier
- ✓you want the lower-risk plant of the two
- ✓air-purifying credentials are a tiebreaker for you
Alocasia Polly vs Alocasia Frydek: side by side
| Attribute |
Alocasia Polly
|
Alocasia Frydek
|
|---|---|---|
| Plant type | Foliage | Foliage |
| Difficulty | hard | medium |
| Light | ●●●●○ 4/5 Bright indirect light |
●●●●○ 4/5 Bright indirect light |
| Water | ●●●○○ 3/5 Moderate |
●●●○○ 3/5 Moderate |
| Humidity | ●●●●● 5/5 High |
●●●●○ 4/5 Above average |
| Pet safe | Toxic to cats and dogs | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Mature size | Medium 30-90 cm (1-3 ft) |
Medium 30-90 cm (1-3 ft) |
| Growth rate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Air purifying | No | Yes |
| Native to | Southeast Asia | Philippines |
Key differences between Alocasia Polly and Alocasia Frydek
Alocasia Frydek is the easier plant
Alocasia Frydek is rated medium to care for, Alocasia Polly hard. If this is an early houseplant or the spot is hard to get right, start with the Alocasia Frydek.
Alocasia Polly needs damper air
Alocasia Polly rates 5/5 for humidity - needs a humidifier, a terrarium or a steamy bathroom. Alocasia Frydek rates 4/5, so group plants or run a humidifier in winter.
Alocasia Frydek is the air-purifying one
Alocasia Frydek appears on the common indoor air-purifying lists; Alocasia Polly does not. In a normal room the effect of either is modest, so treat it as a tiebreaker rather than a reason to buy.
They come from different habitats
Alocasia Polly originates in Southeast Asia; Alocasia Frydek in Philippines. Matching the original habitat is the quickest way to guess what each one wants indoors.
How to tell Alocasia Polly and Alocasia Frydek apart
Frydek has velvet, matte-green leaves with bright white veins and is the softer-looking of the two; Polly's are glossy, stiff and more sharply lobed. Frydek is marginally more forgiving, but both go dormant and drop everything if they get cold or dry.
Care at a glance
Alocasia Polly
African Mask Plant, Elephant Ear
Dramatic arrow-shaped dark leaves with white veins.
Care in one line: Bright indirect light, keep moist, very high humidity.
Full Alocasia Polly care guide →
Alocasia Frydek
Green Velvet Alocasia
An elegant Alocasia with dark velvety green leaves and striking white veins. A showstopper that is more forgiving than other Alocasias.
Care in one line: Bright indirect light, keep soil lightly moist, high humidity preferred.
Full Alocasia Frydek care guide →Alocasia Polly vs Alocasia Frydek: common questions
What is the difference between Alocasia Polly and Alocasia Frydek? +
Frydek has velvet, matte-green leaves with bright white veins and is the softer-looking of the two; Polly's are glossy, stiff and more sharply lobed. Frydek is marginally more forgiving, but both go dormant and drop everything if they get cold or dry. On care, alocasia Frydek is rated medium to care for, Alocasia Polly hard. If this is an early houseplant or the spot is hard to get right, start with the Alocasia Frydek.
Which is easier to care for, Alocasia Polly or Alocasia Frydek? +
Alocasia Frydek. It is rated medium while Alocasia Polly is hard, and it is more forgiving about light and watering mistakes.
Is Alocasia Polly or Alocasia Frydek safe for cats and dogs? +
Neither. Alocasia Polly is toxic to cats and dogs and Alocasia Frydek is toxic to cats and dogs. Both need a spot pets cannot reach.
Which needs less light, Alocasia Polly or Alocasia Frydek? +
They are the same. Both score 4/5 for light, meaning beside a bright window, no midday sun on the leaves.
Which needs more water, Alocasia Polly or Alocasia Frydek? +
Neither - both score 3/5. For each one, water when the top 2-3 cm is dry, roughly weekly.
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