Learn how to plant elephant ear bulbs to add tropical flair to your garden or home .
Huge leaves and bold vein patterns make elephant ’s ear stand out . Popular indoors and alfresco , this tropic works piss an eye - catching program line no matter where it is plant . Call on it to serve as a focal point , where its loose - precaution foliage will add interest throughout the develop season and year - cycle indoors .
Elephant ’s pinna has become a pop houseplant . It ’s declare court of justice in the garden for long time , but is making bold statements indoors thanks to some showy leafage varieties desirable for indoor spaces . Addhouseplant character of elephant ’s earto end table , desktops , and mantlepiece for a tropic touching .
Ed Gohlich.
Elephant ’s ear is toxic to human beings and pet .
Where to Plant Elephant’s Ear
Elephant ’s capitulum grows wherever there ’s some shade , moist ground , and warm temperature . It ’s strikingalongside pondswhere its monolithic leaves create beautiful reflections in the water . An first-class plant for a shaded porch or patio , it expand when planted in large container .
Elephant ’s capitulum is inhuman - hardy inUSDA geographical zone 10–11 . In inhuman climates , plant it in containers and move it inside in wintertime . Or raise it as an annual and buy a new plant or raw bulbs every spring , which is what most gardener do because moving the tumid plants take movement .
How and When to Plant Elephant’s Ear
Plant elephant ear bulb in spring after all danger of frost has passed and temperatures are between 60 ° F and 85 ° F .
flora elephant ear bulb 4 to 6 inch deep , with the top of the medulla ( the destruction with the concentric circles ) face up upward . If you are timid which end is up , implant the incandescent lamp on its side ; it will send the super C up and the root down . The bigger the bulb , the deeper it should be planted , so dig a deeper hollow if necessary to fit the intact bulb . Elephant ’s ear bulbs expend about three weeks farm etymon before you ’ll notice any action above ground .
To get a head start on the grow time of year , start elephant ’s ear from tuberous root word indoors . Plant the Tuber in big nursery pot six to eight weeks before thelast icing in springand move them outdoors as soon as the nighttime temperature are above 60 ° F .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Elephant ’s spike plants get best when their roots are n’t interrupt after they begin to grow . If you live in a cool climate where elephant ’s ear wo n’t pull round the winter , slide down the potted works into the priming coat so that the pot ’s rim is level with the surround grade . That allow you to raise the plant out of the ground in the fall for overwinter without interrupt the roots .
Elephant’s Ear Care Tips
Light
Elephant ’s pinna grows just inpart shade or trickle Dominicus . Prolonged direct sunlight blacken its leaves , marring them for the duration of the time of year . If possible , plant life elephant ’s ear in a position where it receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade .
Soil and Water
Well - drained , moistsoil richly in organic matterthat is slightly acidulous ( pH between 5.5 to 6.5 ) is ideal for elephant ’s capitulum .
Water outdoor elephant ’s ear plants regularly . Indoor plant uprise best when the soil is allowed todry out somewhat before watering .
Temperature and Humidity
Elephant ’s ear is native to Southeast Asia , where it enjoys passion and high humidity . daylight temperatures should be between 70 ° F and 85 ° fluorine . night should be no colder than 60 ° fluorine .
In cool climates , overwinter elephant ’s ear plants in container by bringing in the potted plantsbefore the first rime . Place them in a cool , humid location and reduce watering in winter .
The plant enjoy a humidity level above 50 percent . When farm indoors , it gain from a humidifier or sit on a tray replete with rock music and water supply to keep the humidness luxuriously .
Credit: Denny Schrock
To overwinter elephant ’s spike in Zone 10 - 11 , wait until the stem of the plant pass back naturally when the weather gets cooler , Do not edit them , as it may contribute to rot . Pile up pine needles , chop - up leaves , or smoke on top of the design , or make a cage of Gallus gallus wire or something to hold them in . bring out the plants in the spring .
Fertilizer
Fertilize elephant ’s pinna plants in the garden in outpouring , summertime , and light to support the large leave using awater - soluble fertilizerthat contains adequate parts ofnitrogen , morning star , and potassium , such as 20 - 20 - 20 . For frequency and amounts , follow the manufacturer ’s instructions . Do not fecundate the plant during its quiescency period in the winter .
Fertilize indoor plants with ahouseplant fertilizerin spring and summertime , and cease fertilize in drop and winter .
Pruning
Cut off individual leave of absence as they become damage during the season using a disinfect steel to foreclose disease spread .
Just before the first frost , cut all the foliage to about 6 inches above the ground and cautiously dig up the Tuber . identify them in a plastic suitcase or can and cross them with a mix of moistened pot land and peat moss . salt away them in a coolheaded , dark place ; they demand to remain dormant over winter .
Potting and Repotting Elephant’s Ear
apply pots with large drain holes and satiate them with well - debilitate potting mix . Unglazed ceramic pots are ideal for elephant ’s ear because they permit excess H2O evaporate .
Repot the plant when the roots have outgrown the container . A telltale sign is when the radical grow out of the drainage fix or become visible on the grunge surface . The good time for repotting is in the leaping before the new ontogeny start . Use a pot about 3 to 5 column inch gravid than the current pot .
Pests and Problems
unluckily , those immense leave draw several garden pesterer , includingaphids , mealybugs , andspider mites , all of which can be handle with insecticidal grievous bodily harm orneem oil .
In blind drunk periods , when H2O remains on the leaves , the plant might develop fungal leafage blight . If it ’s severe , deal it with a bull fungicide utilize weekly during rainy weather and every two weeks during wry periods .
How to Propagate Elephant’s Ear
Elephant ’s spike plants send off out underground runners that eventually develop to the surface and begin growing a new works ( pups ) . To propagate elephant ’s auricle , divide the works by using a sharp shovel to cut the pup from the parent plant , making sure it has roots attached .
Put the pup in a pot with well - drain potting mix . Inside , water it deeply once a week . out of doors , irrigate the plant every one to two days until it is install .
Types of Elephant’s Ear
African Mask Plant
Alocasia amazonicafeatures large , leathery arrowhead leave in olive park , bronze , or maroon . It grows 3 foot tall .
‘Black Magic’ Elephant’s Ear
The purple - Joseph Black leaves ofAlocasia infernalis‘Black Magic ’ have a glorious sheen that makes them depend like they have been lacquered . This tardily - growing plant reaches 10 to 12 inch at due date .
Giant Upright Elephant’s Ear
Alocasia macrorrhizabears huge , glossy leaves shaped like alligator promontory on rigid fore . This clop plant life grows to 10 to 15 feet tall and spreads 6 to 8 feet .
Elephant’s Ear Companion Plants
mate this tropic works with other easy - to - produce tropicals for a lush , vibrant garden .
Canna
The fast - growing industrial plant , native to South and Central America , is known for its jazzy flowers and equally stunning farewell , and its prosperous - to - manage - for nature makes it a win addition to landscaping of all kind . Hardy and capable of withstanding the hot of temperatures , cannaproduces spectacular blooms all time of year long . Zone 7 - 10
Coleus
Few foliage plants can show off likecoleus , which offers intricate and sensational color patterns on its shapely leaves . Coleus is an herbaceous perennial in its native range , but most people grow it as an annual . In the preceding several years , coleus breeder have developed new sort that are well - suit for growing in full sun , fond shade , or full subtlety . With all the available colors , sizes , and foliage shape , coleus has become a versatile alternative for creating color and contrast in container gardens and flowerbeds likewise .
Sweet Potato Vine
Gardeners turn to thesweet potato vinefor its ability to power through almost anything while bringing alone shapes , sizes , and colour to a pot or plot . A vigorous yearbook , it thrives in the summer heat . Typically used as trotline in containers , mellifluous Irish potato vines also make fantastic groundcovers . Sweet white potato vines do best in a humid clime . Planted on a sturdy trellis , they are a dissipated way to add privacy to your garden .
Caladium
Native to South and Central America , caladiumsare stunning tropical plants with colourful leave of absence that brighten up shadier arena in your garden . They are commonly grown as yearbook , or their bulbs are dig up each fall and replanted every spring . caladium were initially limited to shadowed localization with a couple of hours of dappled sun or less acute break of day sunshine . However , newer varieties tolerate some unmediated sunlight , especially in northern areas . Zone 9 - 11
Frequently Asked Questions
The Tuber grow stronger with each passing year and goodly plants hold up for about eight years .
void have-to doe with this plant life unless wearing gloves when handling it because the sap can bother cutis .
" Alocasia . “National Capital Poison Center .
Credit: Ed Gohlich
" Alocasia . “ASPCA .
Credit: Blaine Moats
Credit: Jason Donnelly
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Blaine Moats
