Elephant ear plants have high humidity needs growing indoors and outside. Potted elephant ear houseplants need above-average air moisture levels indoors. You can increase humidity for elephant ear plants by sitting the plant pot on a pebble tray with water in it. Or you can boost room humidity with a humidifier. You can mist elephant ear leaves between watering to increase moisture levels.
However, the lush tropical foliage benefits better from air humidity rather than leaf misting. If you live in zones 9 through 12, humidity is rarely an issue growing elephant ears in the ground. If you live in a dry climate, you will need to water the thirsty plant frequently—possibly even every day—to prevent it from drying out. Elephant ear plants are heavy feeders. All species of Alocasia, Caladium, Xanthosoma, and Colocasia benefit from extra nutrients.
To encourage healthy foliage growth, fertilize elephant ear plants with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. A houseplant fertilizer with an NPK ratio of should be suitable.
Fertilize elephant ear houseplants every two weeks during spring and summer. Yellow leaves could mean that the elephant ears plant needs more micronutrients. The elephant ear plant benefits from pruning to remove dead or dying leaves. Use sterile tools to cut the yellowing leaves off at the base of the plant. Alocasia and Colocasia plants continuously produce new leaves.
As new ones appear, you can snip off the older leaves to encourage healthy growth. If you grow elephant ear plants as annuals in colder climates, they will die back in late fall. Remove all the stalks from the plant, dig up the elephant ear bulbs, and dry them in a dark, warm place to winterize them. You can then store them during winter in a cool location. Most indoor elephant ear plants benefit from annual repotting.
It is always best to grow potted elephant ear plants in larger-than-usual pots. The large elephant ear bulbs need plenty of room to grow. Also, due to the enormous leaves, a large container helps keep the plant stable.
When repotting the mammoth elephant ears plant, take care to remove the bulb gently from the pot. Shake off excess dirt and check the root for signs of decay or disease. Choose a large pot, one or two sizes larger than the previous one. Water thoroughly and place the pot in a sunny location. Elephant ear propagation is by root division. Elephant ear plant bulbs multiply by producing baby bulbs. To grow more elephant ear plants, carefully dig up the rhizome roots.
Look for the small baby tubers attached to the main bulb and cut them off using a sterile sharp knife. Plant the smaller baby elephant ear plant bulbs in a pot to get established. Use a light, porous potting mix to plant the small bulbs. Always plant the tuber with the pointed end facing up.
Keep the soil consistently moist. The tuberous root can also spread in the ground where smaller plants—called stolons—start growing. Common pests affecting Alocasia and Colocasia plants include aphids , spider mites , and mealybugs.
Get rid of bugs from elephant ears by mixing 2 tsp. Liberally spray the neem oil solution on the large heart-shaped leaves and allow them to dry. Use neem oil once a week to get rid of any plant pests. Pest infestations can cause the edges of elephant ear plant leaves to turn brown.
Taro plants and African mask plants can be affected by fungal diseases such as root rot and leaf spot.
The best way to prevent fungal infections is to get watering and humidity levels right. For example, fungal leaf spot is the result of too much humidity. The giant leaves develop reddish-purple or light brown spots. To avoid fungal foliage issues, always water the ground, not the leaves. Some have veins and margins of deep purple, some have variegated green patterns, some have bright pink centers, and some are plain black.
When grown outside, elephant ear plants flower by putting out a small, scentless green sheath with a cob of yellow flowers. If you are saving this plant for indoors, it will rarely flower unless you have a truly fantastic amount of sunlight in your house. The colocasia esculenta is also called taro or dasheen and is grown around the world for its edible tubers.
However, if you decide to eat your colocasia, remember that it has to be correctly prepared or it will irritate your stomach, and the sap can irritate your skin.
Houseplant Alocasia Portadora elephant ear. There are 70 different species and some can provide the same characteristics of color, size, and shape as its cousin. The elephant ear plant will do well in full sun if you get the right species.
Inside, it will not grow as big because of a relative lack of sunlight. But if you grow this plant outside in partial shade, it will thrive and grow to its full potential height. Because of its tropical origins, the elephant ear tubers will need to be taken inside every winter or brought inside where temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees if you live outside of USDA zones In one of those zones, you can safely leave your colocasia plants outside all year.
Both species will go through a dormant phase where all foliage will turn yellow and die. In colder climates, dig up the tubers or rhizomes and bring indoors. Store them in soil at degrees for weeks. Wake them up indoors by watering them in a small pot, and transfer to your garden in partial shade. Watch out! They proliferate very rapidly. The main difference colocasia needs is water. You need to stop fertilizing your plants throughout the winter months; this gives your plant time to rest and slip into a semi-dormant stage.
This is also when you should decrease watering and start to allow your soil to dry out. Whether you want to grow elephant ears in containers inside or outside, these plants thrive well in these environments. Make sure you pick a large container that gives the roots plenty of space to grow, and pick a spot that provides the plant with enough sunlight for optimal growth. If you decide to grow elephant ears in containers, be sure to give enough water and fertilizer so that your plants can thrive.
Are Elephant Ear Plants Poisonous? When to Plant Elephant Ear Bulbs. I have the same question my bulbs are small I want to grow inside pots indoors in ca. Lots of questions about indoor pots with bulbs… do I plant still in spring? The bulbs are very small. I also have question about Lilly bulbs the pink ones for cut flowers and tulips…….
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Pick the Right Container Gardeners and landscapers love elephant ears because of their massive sizes, but that also means you need to match the size with large sized containers.
Colocasia species typically need pots that are at least 18 inches wide and 16 inches deep. Alocasia cultivars need pots that are at least 36 inches wide. If you want to use a smaller pot so that you can gradually size up, pick a container that is at least two inches larger than the pot at the garden nursery. If possible, pick a container that is made of a non-porous material. Plastic, fiberglass, or glazed clay are ideal choices because they encourage moisture retention.
The container must have drainage holes at the bottom to let the water run out. Find the Perfect Spot for Your Variety Finding the perfect spot for your elephant ears will depend on the variety that you grow.
Once you have the container filled with soil, you can add compost, which adds more nutrients needed for healthy, vigorous growth while also encouraging more drainage. Add a slow-release fertilizer at the start of the season because elephant ears are heavy feeders.
If you start with an established plant, fill your container halfway with soil, place your plant into the container, and fill the pot along the side of the plant. You want to make sure you bury the plant at the same soil line as in the nursery pot. If you start with a plant, plant so the root end is pointed down. The top of the bulb should be about four inches deep into the soil.
Caring for Elephant Ears in Containers Despite being heavy feeders, elephant ears are considered a relatively easy plant to grow and care for in containers.
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