Dig a hole and plant the elephant ear the same depth that it was planted previously. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, University of Minnesota: Elephant Ear Care, EasytoGrowBulbs.com: Elephant Ears (Colocasia and Alocasia) Growing Information, Missouri Botanical Garden: Colocasia Esculenta. I’ve found that elephant ears grow best in partial sun or filtered sunlight. Some can handle shade. Try Growing Elephant Ears in Pots Whether you want to grow elephant ears in containers inside or outside, these plants thrive well in these environments. With its unmissable gigantic, heart-shaped leaves that grow to widths of 3 to 5 feet and stems that can exceed 6 feet, Elephant ear (Alocasia metallica), makes a dramatic statement in the landscape. Be sure each section has a corm, which is a small bulb that will grow a new shoot. Mature Elephant Ear plants can grow up to 8 foot tall, similarly this is around the same size of actual African Elephant Ears of 6 feet. Planting: When planting new elephant ears or re-planting for the spring, set corms in the garden when nighttime temperatures are consistently 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. A sheltered, partially shaded spot with organically rich, medium moisture or wet soil provides the best growing conditions for transplanted elephant ears. _. When kept indoors with proper care you can expect your plant to reach a maximum of 6 foot or more in length. If your elephant ear plant is outgrowing its boundaries, or if you just want to spread the wealth, transplant elephant ears safely in spring or early summer. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. For transplanting elephant ears, the best time to do so is in the spring or early summer. How to Take Care of an Elephant Ear Plant. They take well to growing … If the soil is too loose, it won’t hold any water and dry out too quickly. All Rights Reserved. Make sure you pick a large container that gives the roots plenty of space to grow, and pick a spot that … Dig a hole as deep as an elephant ear's root ball and twice as wide. This plant thrives between pH 6-7. Remove the plant from its container and place it in the center of the hole. CARING FOR ELEPHANT EARS IN THE FALL. To help retain moisture, spread an inch of organic material around the base of the elephant ear plant. Planting elephant ears in pots is nice when you need to overwinter them, because you can just drag them indoors or pull them into your greenhouse for the cold season. Named for their large, broad leaves, elephant ears (Colocasia spp.) Elephant Ear Size. The best time for transplanting elephant ears is when new growth appears in spring. Green's work appears in Diva, Whole Life Times, Listverse, Earthtimes, Lamplight, Stupefying Stories and other websites and magazines. The tip on watering is to keep the roots moist - elephant ears are stressed when they dry out. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing. Elephant ears (Colocasia and Alocasia) are tropical plants grown for their stunning, often enormous leaves, which can be lime green, variegated or nearly black.These summer-loving plants grow from a bulb that should be planted in the spring. If late frosts threaten after the plants have been transplanted, cover elephant ears with old sheets or several layers of newspaper overnight. Elephant ears can establish quickly in wide planting holes. Water the elephant ear thoroughly immediately after planting, and keep the soil moist at all time. Planting elephant ear bulbs indoors approximately eight weeks prior to the last frost date is also acceptable. A sheltered, partially shaded spot with organically rich, medium moisture or wet soil … They all have bold foliage and can add a tropical look to any garden. Working 10 to 12 inches from the plant so the roots won't be injured, dig the elephant ear plant and lift it from the soil. Dig a hole and plant the elephant ear the same depth that it was planted previously. If your soil is too acidic, simply add lime or sulfur to balance the pH. Moisten the potting mix with water. Sunlight: The need for sunlight in Elephant Ears varies from full sun to partial shade. Dig a hole as deep as an elephant ear's root ball and twice as wide. Named for their large, broad leaves, elephant ears (Colocasia spp.) University of Missouri Extension: Gardening with tropical bulbs -- Allocasia and Colocasia, University of Illinois Extension Giant Elephant Ears Accent the Garden. Planting Elephant Ears. Regular watering is essential for newly transplanted elephant ears. Elephant ears sprout from tubers in spring and quickly grow into large, spreading clumps. Once established, elephant ears require little attention. If in doubt, says Roger, “check the soil moisture with your finger, and water when the top couple of centimetres feels dry. If the soil is moist but not wet, water the plants again. Tip: If you want to speed up the process, plant your bulbs in a pot inside a few weeks before early spring. Combine elephant ears with other tropical-looking plants like cannas, bananas, variegated tapioca, caladiums, and coleus for a summer jungle garden. It is one of the things we love about them. Elephant ears are heavy feeders. Elephant ears will not survive freezing temperatures and are winter hardy only in zones 9-11. If the soil pH is not in that range you can add various additives to bring the pH to that level. Feed Me! I suppose you probably clicked on this blog post to find out how to grow elephant ears, so let me tell you about the cultural conditions that they like. Elephant ear is a topical, moisture-loving plant that thrives in warm, humid weather. As the plant grows, it will require a larger planter. Water: Throughout the growing season, water and mist frequently. (The bigger the bulb the deeper it goes.) In colder areas, you can either treat elephant ears as annuals and discard them at the end of the growing season, or you can store the tubers indoors and replant them next year. M.H. Growing Elephant Ears Indoors. How To Overwinter Elephant Ears The Easiest Way . If growing in pots use a rich, organic potting soil and plant them at the same depth. Working 10 to 12 inches from the plant so the roots won't be injured, dig the elephant ear plant and lift it from the soil. If late frosts threaten after the plants have been transplanted, cover elephant ears with old sheets or several layers of newspaper overnight. Select a location in full sun or part sun with a good, rich, moist, organic soil. You can transplant your elephant ears or the other plants to solve this issue or fertilize and water with more frequency to see if that helps. Elephant ears are not frost tolerant and should be dug up in zones lower than United States Department of Agriculture zone 8. Frequent applications of fertilizer keeps them healthy and happy. 20-20-20 is fine. Elephant ears will grow in a container for a while but does much better in the ground. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension: Colocasia Spp. Landscape uses for elephant ears. Elephant ear plants are pleasing to the eye, however, even if they don’t grow to be enormous. Space the elephant ears 3–6 ft (0.91–1.83 m) apart. Use a rich soil between 5.5 and 7.0 pH. Elephant ears grow best with regular fertilization. Either way, they all love water, sunshine, and fertilizer. Growing Spot. If you are worried about elephant's ears going rogue in your yard, choose clumpers instead of runners, or grow runners in pots. Plant elephant ear bulbs outside after all danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures remain above 70 degrees. If the soil is usually wet at this time of year, wait until spring. Most prefer full sun and well-drained soil, as well as plenty of water and fertilizer. Pour a 2- to 3-inch depth of peat-based potting mix over the rhizomes. For planting near things that are or will be larger than this plant, allow about 3 or 4 feet. Spread a 4-inch layer of garden compost or aged manure over the growing spot and mix it 12 inches deep into the soil with a garden fork. Feed the newly-transplanted elephant ear plant an all-purpose granular fertilizer, applied according to the directions. _Colocasia esculenta,_ which is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, is a commonly grown variety of elephant ears. Use Caution to Avoid Damage Use caution when digging up elephant ears. Colocasia esculenta, which is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, is a commonly grown variety of elephant ears. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. In USDA zone 7 and colder zones, plant elephant ear tubers after the final local average frost date in spring. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Missouri Botanical Garden: Colocasia Esculenta. Test the soil moisture level by pushing your fingers into it. Wait until there’s no chance of frost occurring overnight so the plant won’t get damaged. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Consider these plants as teenage boys, they are growing and eating machines. Improve the soil for elephant ears by mixing in organic matter before transplanting. Potting soil for elephant ear plants needs to be well aerated. It’s no secret that elephant ear plants can get huge. In areas of the United States that experience frosts, elephant ears must be transplanted after the final local average frost date. If you live in a cold winter climate, dig the elephant ears after the first light frost of the season, put them in a cardboard box filled with damp peat moss, and store them in a cool, dry place until spring.
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