Boxing Day, "Unboxing" Alocasia

Growing up stateside, I never thought of Boxing Day until I joined the workforce. At that point, Boxing Day (always December 26) became quite welcome, as it often meant an extra day off at holiday time. I did not know that in the UK, Boxing Day was originally earmarked for thanking those in service roles, perhaps especially those roles which necessitated work on Christmas Day itself. Gratitude was communicated by way of a “box” of bounty that the workers could enjoy with their own families on the day that followed Christmas.

In several countries, the 26^th has become a shopping day when items that remain on the shelves can sometimes be bought at bargain prices. But I did not associate the holiday with shopping. Once I had jobs that permitted me to stay home from work on Boxing Day, I assumed the day was to be used for boxing up those gifts that were not the perfect fit and needed to be returned to the stores.

Regardless, “boxing” is on my mind. Thinking of the name of this day has me marveling at how far we have come when it comes to boxing, packaging. Now, delicate glassware, perishable foods, and all sorts of items get shipped far and wide and without issue. And we gardeners and houseplant lovers know that plants travel. Sometimes this seems like only a small feat. But the more delicate plants amaze me when they emerge from their boxes without so much as a crushed stem or browned leaf-tip.

Alocasia is not delicate, but it is a bit unwieldy. Even the dwarf Alocasia amazonica Bambino has leaves that are long and crushable. And although its stems are fairly strong, their own length might cause me to worry about breakage. But I have received Alocasia varieties by mail, and those who have packaged them really knew what they were doing. After removing tape from the outer box, folding back box tops, and carefully taking out interior packaging materials… voila… mask-like, arrowhead-shaped, elephant ear-style foliage emerged in perfect condition. 

I have experienced the same good fortune with all sorts of plants, not just Alocasia. Can you imagine the succulent and trailing stems of Portulaca emerging from packaging intact, and sometimes in bloom? Can you imagine some of the cascading Peperomias traveling without breakage? Alocasia seems to be a strong and ideal traveler compared to these other plants, but they all make their trips with seeming ease. Packaging, or boxing, has come a long way.

Now, I bring up Alocasia because sources on plant trends indicate that it will be in demand in 2023. Specifically, Alocasia Black Velvet, with silvery-veined velvety foliage, is sparking interest. But I am also fond of Alocasia amazonica Polly, with its eye-catching foliage and fairly large stature, and Alocasia amazonica Bambino, more suitable in size for my indoor displays. (The latter grows to only about a foot tall, causing it to fall in line with other plants I have on tables and shelves.)

These Alocasia varieties appreciate partial shade. And those of us who have low-light areas in our homes appreciate the ability of these plants to do well in this level of light, where other plants might fail. As long as they know that this plant does not want to dry out and does, indeed, do best with fairly regular feeding, indoor gardeners are off and running when an Alocasia is unboxed. This unusual plant will thrive and garner interest when placed near plants which are more familiar.

Well, gone is the time when I thought Boxing Day was for re-packaging returns. Like my Aussie friends or my neighbors to the north in Canada who know this holiday better than I do, I might use this day to look for a bargain at the shops. I definitely will get my act together to give my newspaper deliverer a gift of thanks for completing his route, even on Christmas Day. And I suspect I may find myself unboxing a plant or two that I ordered sometime prior to Christmas. Plants like Alocasia—most plants, in fact—travel beautifully when boxed up by the right team. Their leaves get nestled into protective packaging; heat packs are sometimes added, and “blister pack” cases, sometimes employed; and good “peanut” packaging and/or paper bags provide extra cushioning. With these measures taken, the plants sail along to their destinations, ready to look great when they are unboxed.

Whether boxing or unboxing, be sure to enjoy your Boxing Day. And if you have ordered a plant recently and are wondering about the condition in which it will arrive, fear not. We’ve come a long way. And plants can travel a long way too, ready to help us greet the new year.