\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Most prefer full sun and well-drained soil, as well as plenty of water and fertilizer. Trimming dead or weaker elephant ear plant sections encourage fresh growth, and germination will be fast. Place them in a cool, humid location and reduce watering in winter. Add aged manure or compost to the soil before planting. This stresses the plant. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. During the winter, however, you can reduce the water and let them dry out completely. They also need rich soil, and you can use a potting mix blended with compost. Indoor plants grow best when soil is allowed to dry out slightly before watering. Put a bowl of water and pebbles near your plants, typically in between several house plants that all need humidity. The bottom may also have some root hairs leftover from the previous season. This plant can reach about 5 or 6 feet (or more) in height, and the wide-spreading stems and new plants will create an overall width of 8 feet or more. This method is helpful during dormancy (winter) as instead of feeding dead veins and leaves; your elephant ear plant can grow in spring and summer. If you don't plant them far enough apart, the elephant ears will steal sunlight and water from each other. You can cut all of the new growth tubers away from the main plant mass or leave some attached if you want the parent plant to grow larger more quickly. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. She has more than 25 years of experience in horticulture. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. This website was very helpful in introducing me to the plant! Cutting them can result in rot. When it comes to reviving an elephant ear plant that has been overfed, the first step is to remove the excess fertilizers. Divide the plant by using a sharp shovel to cut the pup from the parent plant, making sure it has roots attached. When the nighttime temperatures are above 50F (10C), find a spot in your garden that gets partial shade and has good drainage. This article received 30 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The bulb needs a moist soil in order to grow properly. I water it twice daily, giving about a gallon each time. How to Plant, Care For, and Harvest Ginger at Home, How to Plant, Grow, & Harvest Your Own Garlic at Home, How to Easily Grow Chillies at Home from Seeds. Be aware that Colocasia esculenta coco yam or wild taro is listed as an invasive species (opens in new tab) in some areas including California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Before you place your corm in the hole, mix in some Osmocote into the soil at the bottom of the hole. Elephant ear tubers have a potato-like texture, making them easy to slice through with a sharp knife. Once you plant the bulbs, your elephant ears will take the first three weeks to grow roots. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. A lack of water can cause yellowing leaves, and leaf drop. This will help avoid overcrowding. The soil needs to have reached a temperature of 65F (18C). Freezing temperatures can kill the elephant ears. For example, because the soil evaporates excessively during this season, you can water your elephant ear plant twice a week. Note: Make sure the top soil soil is completely dry before you water again. This elephant ear plant grows best in partial sun to keep the color of leaves vibrant. Because early and mid-summer are where most of the growing takes place. Before planting an Elephant Ear bulb, you should prepare the soil for it. Zones 9-11. Some of them would do well in full sunlight exposure and some would be great in partially shaded sunlight. I was given a tuber and I planted it a few weeks ago. And it has a growth rate of 3 to 5 feet per year. It takes a, "Currently it is mid-winter in our northern Utah area, zone 4 - 5. Variation: You can replant your tubers outdoors immediately if you live in a location with temperatures above 40F (4C) year-round. However, if you place an elephant ear plant that requires direct sunlight in a partially shaded area, it wont grow properly. Using a raised bed or installing a drainage system in your garden can help avoid overwatering. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. If you live in a tropical, warm climate, you may not need to dig up your plant. Huge leaves and bold vein patterns make elephant's ear easy to spot. Elephant ears need a constant supply of water. Soil and Water The elephant ear grows either from a specialized bulb called a corm or from an underground stem, or rhizome, depending on the type. This tropical plant is eye-catching in a garden. You'll be able to re-plant your elephant ear bulbs every year! For best results, keep the tubers in a room with a temperatures from 50 to 60F (10 to 16C). Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 145,358 times. Slowly submerge the plant into the pond and let bubbles escape. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. So make use of sterilized blades to trim them off your plant to allow new growth to take place. Elephant ear bulbs can be planted into the ground in spring to early summer when risk of frost has passed. Look for a fertilizer thats high in nitrogen. If all else fails but you still love the look of elephant ears, transfer them to pots. - Grows 2-5ft tall and wide This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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