Elephant ear plants can refer to several coinage of tropic plant grown for their enormous triangular - shaped leaves . Elephant ear industrial plant produce from ‘ bulbs ’ or tubers in the priming in affectionate climates . you could also grow elephant ear embed indoors to add dramatic foliage to any undimmed room . The most plebeian specie of elephant spike are plants in the generaAlocasia , Caladium , XanthosomaandColocasia .
Elephant ears are tight - growing repeated plant . In USDA zones 9 through 11 , elephant ears thrive in tropical garden in partial shade or full sunshine . In colder climate , you may grow elephant ear plant in the ground as annuals . Or you’re able to dig up the elephant ear bulbs and stack away them indoors for replanting the following spring . As with most types of tropic plant , elephant ear fly high in pots in indirect sunshine and average room temperature .
look on the elephant pinna mintage , the plants are know by various uncouth names . For illustration , plants in the genusAlocasiaare cry the African masque plant , Kris plant , and Mayan mask upright elephant pinna flora . Many potpourri ofColocasiaplants are called Taro plant .
leave of various elephant ear industrial plant ( alocasia species )
Most elephant ear plant have lush green leaves with pronounced bright white-hot or creamy ashen veins . Some assortment of elephant ears(Colocasia)have violet leaves , giving the tropical plants a dramatic appearing . The giant elephant ear leave on some plant life types have a shiny greenish upper side and reddish - purple underside .
This article is a consummate guide to worry for elephant capitulum indoors and out of doors . In addition to advice on acquire elephant ears , you ’ll get handy crest on resolving many issues affecting the plants ’ growth .
How to Care for Elephant Ear Plant
To care for elephant ear , grow the plants in moist , well - drain soil that is slightly acidic . Elephant ear plantsrequire plenty of humidity and need regular lacrimation to grow fast . use a high nitrogen fertilizer on a regular basis to advance increase . Growing indoors , put the elephant ear plant in collateral sunshine . Outdoors , develop elephant ear in full to partial sun .
Elephant Ear Bulbs
Elephant ear tubers ( Caladium tubers )
Elephant ear plants have tuberous theme that many mass mention to as elephant ear light bulb . Elephant ear plant life are not inhuman hardy . So , if you plant the elephant ear in colder climates , you ’ll need to overwinter the bulbs indoors . When comprehend up elephant ear bulbs , it ’s life-sustaining to avoid damaging the tuber .
To winterize elephant ear plant life bulb after fall , wash them after digging them up . Remove any leaf from the roots . Leave the elephant ear bulbs in a dour , well - ventilated warm position for a week to dry out . wrap up the bulbs in paper and store them in a coolheaded , dry place until it ’s time for planting in saltation .
How to Plant Elephant Ears
plant life elephant ear in the ground in spring after the threat of Robert Lee Frost has passed . It ’s life-sustaining to ensure that your garden ’s soil temperature is at least 65 ° F ( 18 ° coulomb ) to nullify damage the elephant ear bulbs . cut into a hole about 5 ” ( 12 cm ) deep and plant with the elephant ear bulb ’s pointed side facing up . Cover with grease and water regularly .
instead , you’re able to plant elephant ear in potentiometer in early spring before transferring them to a gay spot in your garden . MostAlocasia , Colocasia , XanthosomaandCaladiumvarieties prefer full sun to partial tone . The dasheen plantColocasia esculenta‘Black illusion ’ prefers growing in full shade .
Elephant Ear Care Guide
Elephant ear ( Colocasia ) provide
Let ’s look in more detail at how to grow elephant ear plant to add sensational tropic foliage to your garden landscape or home inside .
Where to Plant Elephant Ear Bulbs
The best office to engraft elephant ear bulbs outdoors in your garden is in a sunny spot with good afternoon tint . In hot , dry climates , elephant ears grow best in filtered sunshine so that jumbo leafy plants do n’t wither in the heating . Make certain that the terra firma for elephant ear plants retains plenty of moisture .
The mammoth elephant ear leave are also prone to catching the wind . So , it would be best to select a location that allow the ornamental leaves protection from strong wind . more often than not , over-embellished elephant ear plant with dark leaves grow best in the shade .
How to Grow Elephant Ears in Pots
Many varieties of elephant ears are desirable for grow in large containers . The good place to develop a potted elephant ears plant life is in bright , indirect sunlight . To grow an elephant ear plant indoors , you ’ll demand warm temperatures , plenty of humidity , and enough space . Remember that elephant ear leaves can grow up to 3 ft . ( 1 m ) long and 2 ft . ( 0.6 m ) wide .
The expert elephant ear houseplant to develop indoors in bay window areAlocasia‘Polly,’Colocasia‘Black Magic , ’ ‘ Cranberry Taro,’Alocasia‘Frydek , ’ and the Elephant Ear ‘ Tiger ’ ( Alocasia zebrina ) .
Elephant ear plant – Alocasia ‘ Polly ’ ( Alocasia amazonica‘Polly ’ )
Related recital : How to give care forAlocasiaplants indoors .
Light Requirements for Growing Elephant Ear Plants
Grow varieties ofAlocasia , Caladium , XanthosomaandColocasiaplants in bright sunlight and fond nuance . When growing potted elephant ears inside , it ’s crucial to protect the leafage from direct sunlight . The vivid sun ’s ray can bleach or colour the stunning cosmetic folio . At a Confederate States of America - look window , protect the elephant ear with a sheer curtain .
Typically , coinage of elephant ear plants can withstand direct sunlight growing outdoors . Elephant ear plants usually need to grow outside in fond shade in raging , wry climates .
imagine your area does n’t have high humidness . In that guinea pig , you will have to provide deal of water if humidness is low and you have hot , intense sunshine .
The Best Soil for Elephant Ears
Grow elephant ears in moist but well drain filth . In the word-painting : Elephant ears Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Elephant ear thrive in grease rich in organic material , drains well , and retain raft of wet . To grow elephant ear in pots , use a potting admixture suitable for arum . Mix 5 parts bark , one part perlite , and one partpeat moss for growing potted plants . The organic matter holds moisture , andperlite ameliorate drain .
When grow in gay backyard , elephant pinna plants need plenty of organic matter in the background . you may work in compost to cater muckle of nutrient and view as in wet .
Although elephant pinna industrial plant prefer moist soil grow in the priming coat or pots , the blubs do n’t like ride in muddy soil . Therefore , well - run out , wanton organic - plentiful soil and plenty of lacrimation should keep your elephant plants felicitous .
How to Water Elephant Ear Plants
Water elephant ear plants on a regular basis to keep the dirt slenderly moist . During natural spring and summertime , you may have to water pot elephant ear plants every day . Always permit soil moisture levels manoeuvre you when to water elephant ear plants . H2O when the top layer of soil is almost dry , give the potting mix a exhaustive watering .
alfresco , ensure theAlocasiaandColocasiaplants grow in soil that ’s always damp . During winter , you may irrigate elephant ears in your garden less frequently .
It ’s unacceptable to overwater elephant ear plants if you only water them when the top part of the land partially dry out . Most specie of elephant ears thrive in crocked condition and are notdrought - patient of plant life . However , you must take care not to overwaterAlocasia and Colocasiaplants .
Some of the largerColocasiavarieties areplants native to swampy surface area . Theythrive in water gardenswith the tuber ascendent submerged endlessly in piss .
related to recital : The ultimate houseplant watering templet .
Temperature Requirements for Elephant Ears
Elephant ear plants thrive in warm temperatures . In the picture : leave of absence of various caladium species
Elephant ear plants are heat - loving tropical flora that do n’t tolerate the frigidness . The ideal temperature range to grow elephant pinna is between 65 ° F and 75 ° F ( 18 ° C – 24 ° C ) . Over winter , you could store elephant ear bulbs in a cool basement that is between 45 ° fluorine and 55 ° F ( 7 ° hundred – 13 ° C ) .
MostColocasia , Alocasia , Caladium , andXanthosomavarieties grow out of doors in USDA zones 9 through 11 . A few types of elephant ears are moth-eaten - brave in zone 7 or 8 . For example , the popularColocasia esculenta‘Blue Hawaii ’ andAlocasia‘Portora ’ grow alfresco in zone 7 .
Elephant Ear Care — Getting Humidity Right
Elephant ear plants have high humidness needs produce indoors and alfresco . Potted elephant ear houseplants postulate above - average air moisture even out indoors . you could increase humidity for elephant pinna plants by sitting the flora pot on a pebble tray with water in it . Or you could boost room humidness with a humidifier .
you could mist elephant ear leafage between watering to increase wet level . However , the lush tropical foliage benefits considerably from breeze humidity rather than leaf mist over .
If you live in zones 9 through 12 , humidness is rarely an result mature elephant ears in the ground . If you endure in a dry climate , you will need to irrigate the athirst flora frequently — perchance even every day — to foreclose it from dry out .
How to Fertilize Elephant Ears
Elephant ear plants are impenetrable feeders . All species ofAlocasia , Caladium , Xanthosoma , and Colocasiabenefit from extra nutrient . To encourage healthy foliage ontogeny , fecundate elephant ear plants with a nitrogen - rich plant food . Ahouseplant fertilizerwith an NPK ratio of 20 - 10 - 20 should be suitable .
Fertilize elephant ear houseplants every two hebdomad during spring and summertime . Stop ‘ feeding ’ the plant at the end of August .
Yellow leave could mean that the elephant ears plant life needs more micronutrients . Or you couldsprinkle Epsom salts around the plant ’s baseevery four weeks to improve the color of farewell .
Pruning Elephant Ear Plants
The elephant ear plant benefits from clip to absent dead or die leave-taking . Use unimaginative tools to cut the yellowing will off at the stem of the plant . AlocasiaandColocasiaplants continuously raise new leaves . As raw ace appear , you may trim off the older leaves to encourage sizable growth .
If you grow elephant ear plant life as annuals in cold climates , they will croak back in former fall . Remove all the stalks from the plant , dig up the elephant ear bulbs , and dry them in a gloomy , warm topographic point to winterize them . you may then hive away them during winter in a coolheaded location .
Repotting Elephant Ear Plants
Most indoor elephant ear plants profit from annual repotting . It is always better to grow potted elephant ear plant life in bombastic - than - common pots . The large elephant ear bulbs want plenty of room to grow . Also , due to the enormous leaves , a orotund container helps keep the industrial plant stable .
When repot the gigantic elephant ears plant , take tutelage to remove the bulb gently from the grass . Shake off excess dirt and chequer the ascendent for sign of decay or disease . Choose a large pot , one or two size larger than the old one . works elephant ears bulb about 3 ” to 5 ” in the soil with part of the rhizome root seeable at the soil product line . Water thoroughly and place the mess in a cheery fix .
How to Propagate Elephant Ears
Elephant ear propagation is by stem division . Elephant ear plant electric-light bulb multiply by producing babe bulbs . To produce more elephant auricle plant , carefully grok up the rootstalk root . Look for the small baby tubers attached to the independent bulb and cut them off using a sterile crisp tongue .
Plant the smaller baby elephant ear set bulb in a bay window to get established . Use a swooning , holey potting mix to found the low medulla . Always establish the genus Tuber with the pointed ending facing up . Keep the dirt consistently moist . When the ground temperature is at least 60 ° F ( 15 ° ampere-second ) , and young growth appears above the soil , you’re able to plant the elephant ear bulbs outside in the ground .
The tuberous root can also circularise in the earth where little plants — called stolon — start up produce .
Pests Affecting Elephant Ear Plants
usual pestsaffectingAlocasiaandColocasiaplants includeaphids , spider tinge , andmealybugs . Get rid of bugs from elephant ears by mix in 2 tsp . neem oil , 1 tsp . liquid dish easy lay , and 1 quart ( 1 litre ) of pee in a spray bottleful . Liberallyspray the neem oil solutionon the large heart - shape leaves and provide them to dry . utilise neem oil once a week to get disembarrass of any plant pest .
Pest infestation can cause the boundary of elephant pinna works leaves to reverse brownish . But it ’s estimable to note that brown farewell on elephant ear plants can also indicate a nutrient deficiency , deficiency of pee , or produce in cold conditions .
Diseases Affecting Elephant Ear Plants
Taro plants and African masquerade plant can be affected by fungal diseases such as root word decomposition and leafage spotlight . The secure way to forbid fungous infection is to get watering and humidness grade right .
For representative , fungal leaf bit is the result of too much humidity . The whale leaves develop reddish - purple or lightheaded brownish fleck . To avoid fungous foliation issues , always irrigate the ground , not the leaves . Also , secure that there ’s enough air circulation around the large folio to permit moisture to evaporate .
Although some elephant ear plants turn in H2O , many metal money do n’t like stand up in soggy soil . Excessive soil dampness make the elephant ear bulbs to waste and crumble . This can result in flaccid or mushy base and roots .
The best way to prevent elephant capitulum plant from disease is to use dependable irrigation practice . Only irrigate the ground enough to keep it moist and ensure plenty of breathing and air circulation .
Are Elephant Ear Plants Toxic?
harmonise to theUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison , the leave of Elephant ear plants ( Colocasia , Alocasia , andXanthosoma)are edible but they must be misrepresent first . The leaves hold atomic number 20 oxalate crystals that cause dangerous skin irritation and they must be cooked first .
Some species of elephant ears that are also called taro and belong to theColocasiagenus are edible and their tuber are work for ingestion . However taro root roots must be cooked before consumption .
According to theASPCA , Elephant ears that belong to to theCaladiumgenus are poisonous to dogs , cats , and horses and can causeoral irritation due to their indissoluble calcium oxalates .
If you are incertain about the type of elephant spike industrial plant – it ’s skilful to avoid have it .
Why Do Elephant Ears Turn Yellow?
Too much sunshine , growing in the shade , or overwatering can cause elephant capitulum plant leave to turn yellow . You should polish off the yellowing leaves by rationalise them off at the base of the stem . You should address the underlying job to prevent more leaves from turn yellow .
It ’s also good to take down that yellow elephant ear leaves occur as leaf by nature die . So , if you only have oneAlocasiaorColocasialeaf turn yellow , you plausibly have nothing to worry about .
Why Do Elephant Ears “Cry”?
Elephant ear plants seem to cry when droplets of pee come out at the large arrow - shaped leaves ’ tips . This plant ’s weeping effect is due to too much water . As long as there are no other signs of overwatering , you should n’t worry too much . Just hold up off watering for a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to block up water dripping from the leaf .
Types of Elephant Ear
Elephant ear flora are famous for their immense tropical leaves . Plants commonly called elephant pinna are from four tropical flora species — Alocasia , Colocasia , Caladium , and Xanthosoma . Here are a few stunning varieties of elephant auricle plants you may grow to add a tropic atmosphere to your yard or an indoor place setting .
African Mask Plant ( Alocasia x amazonica)—This popular evergreen perennial elephant spike has dark-skinned green triangular leave with strike creamy - ashen pointed vein . Grow theAfrican mask plantas an ornamental houseplant or outside in zones 10 through 12 . TheAlocasia‘Polly ’ is thecompact smorgasbord of theAlocasia amazonica .
Elephant ear Alocasia x amazonica
Mammoth Elephant Ears ( Alocasia macrorrhiza)—The elephantine elephant ears works has tremendous gullible leave of absence that grow between 3 and 6 ft . ( 1 – 2 grand ) tenacious and up to 4 ft . ( 1.2 m ) wide .
Elephant capitulum Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘ Lutea ’
Alocasia zebrina — Thisunusual houseplanthas orotund arrowhead leaves and stalks that have zebra - corresponding markings . develop the heart - catching elephant earAlocasia zebrinain pots near a cheery window but protect from direct light .
Elephant ear Alocasia zebrina
Colocasia esculenta ‘ Illustris ’ ( Colocasia esculenta‘Illustris’)—A stunning elephant ear plant with purplish leaves and lime green veins . alfresco , this impressive elephant auricle plant life grows up to 5 ft ( 1.5 m ) tall and 4 ft . ( 1.2 m ) wide-cut .
Elephant ear Colocasia esculenta illustris
Taro ‘ Blue Hawaii ’ ( Colocasia esculenta‘Blue Hawaii’)—This gargantuan elephant ear works has large green leaves with purple - crimson vein and stalks . The elephant earColocasia‘Blue Hawaii ’ is one of the few elephant ear that is inhuman hardy in zone 7 through 11 .
Elephant ear Colocasia esculenta ‘ Blue Hawaii ’
Discover many other beautifultypes of elephant ears .
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