Repotting an Alocasia into a Visible Root Planter

If your Alocasia has outgrown its current pot, or you've been curious about watching its roots develop rather than guessing what's happening beneath the surface, repotting into a visible root planter is a genuinely satisfying next step. Signs it might be time include excessive roots visible through the drainage or viewing window, growth that's slowed despite good care, or simply wanting a closer look at how your plant's roots are settling into LECA.

We recently repotted one of our own Alocasias from a Minia into a Simpla — our visible root planter, built around a clear glass vessel so you can watch root growth happen in real time, rather than wondering what's going on beneath the LECA. It's a genuinely useful way to build confidence in the semi-hydro process, and honestly, it's just satisfying to watch.

Here's exactly how we did it, step by step:

1. Ready the planter and microfibre wick. We have a range of sizes available for the Simpla; this one was chosen with room to grow in mind.

2. Fill the glass approximately 1/2 full of rinsed LECA. Hold the wick up as you do this, to ensure it comes above the LECA and isn't buried!

3. Gently place your plant on top, letting the roots spread out naturally.

4. Gently tip more LECA around the plant's roots - this part might get a bit messy!

5. Once the LECA is nearly at the top, it's time to add water with your fertiliser of choice.

6. Fill the water to around 1-2cm above where the LECA sits on top of the bottom reservoir. The wick will draw water up to your plant as long as it is sitting in water at the bottom of the reservoir.

And that's all there is to it! Now it's time to sit back and watch those roots grow, conscious that you can always see when the water gets low. Get your own very own Simpla visible root planter here.