Why are the leaves on my Alocasia turning brown and yellow at the edges?

What's likely going on

From the photos, the plant looks like an Alocasia (elephant ear type). The leaves show:

• Brown, crispy patches and edges on older leaves
• One leaf turning yellow from the base
• Very fresh-looking potting mix and spilled soil, suggesting a recent repot

What can cause this:

1. Sunburn / heat stress – Alocasias like bright light but not harsh midday sun. Brown, dry patches on the leaf surface and edges often happen when they get more direct sun than they were used to.
2. Watering stress after repotting – A big pot with fresh soil can stay wet for a long time. If it’s kept too wet, roots struggle; if it dries hard between waterings, the edges crisp. Both can make older leaves yellow and die back.
3. Normal old-leaf shed plus shock – Alocasias regularly drop older leaves. After a move or repot, they often sacrifice one or two while new ones adjust.

What to do

1. Adjust the light
   Move the plant to bright, indirect light: a spot with filtered sun or only gentle morning sun.

2. Check the pot and drainage
   Make sure there are drainage holes. If water pools at the bottom, tilt the pot slightly and let excess drain off.

3. Water correctly
   Feel the top 2–3 cm of soil. Water only when this layer is dry, then water thoroughly until it drains out. Don’t let it sit in a saucer of water.

4. Skip heavy feeding for now
   If you recently fertilized, stop for 4–6 weeks. Extra fertilizer in fresh soil can burn roots.

5. Trim damaged parts
   You can cut off completely brown leaves at the base. For leaves with just brown tips/edges, trim the brown parts off with clean scissors for looks; the damage won’t heal but won’t spread if the cause is fixed.

How to prevent it

• Keep Alocasia in bright, filtered light rather than strong afternoon sun.
• Use a well‑draining mix (potting soil with added perlite or coco chips) in a pot only a bit bigger than the root ball.
• Maintain steady moisture—never bone dry for long, never waterlogged.
• Introduce outdoor conditions slowly: a week or two in shade before more light.

When to worry

• New leaves come out small, deformed, or immediately yellow.
• Stems or the base feel soft and mushy, or the soil smells rotten (sign of root rot).
• Yellowing spreads quickly to several leaves at once.

If that happens, unpot gently, trim any black, mushy roots, repot into fresh, airy soil, and keep in a shaded, warm spot while it recovers. Alocasias are tough and usually bounce back once conditions are right.