How do you plant elephant ear bulbs in pots?
Place 4 inches of soil in the bottom of your container or pot then take you elephant ear tuber, bullseye facing upward, and nestle it on top of the soil. Next, cover the tuber in soil. Making sure that there is at least 4 inches of soil on top of the tuber but no more than 6 inches.
Should elephant ears be in big pots?
Using large pots will allow these plants to develop to their greatest potential and it also means you won't need to repot them for several years. Larger pots also dry out more slowly than smaller pots, and elephant ears need consistently moist soil.
How many elephant ears can you plant together?
[6] Don’t plant more than 1 bulb per pot. Elephant ears need about 6 ft (1.8 m) between them to accommodate for their large spread. Place the pot in an area where it will get full to partial sun. Full to partial sun means from 3-6 hours of sunlight per day or more.
How do you take care of an elephant ear plant?
Elephant ears can handle direct sunlight, but the light shining through the window can cause the plants to burn over time. They do much better in indirect sunlight. Pick a pot that contains well-draining, peat-rich soil. Make sure you use a soil mix meant for containers; you can often find blends designed for houseplants.
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Should you soak elephant ear bulb before planting?
Plant the bulb so that it is covered with 1-2" of soil. Thoroughly soak the area with water once the tubers have been planted. Continue to water regularly throughout the growing season. Fertilize plants once per month if desired with a well-balanced water soluble fertilizer while actively growing.
Can elephant ears survive in pots?
If you decide you don't want to plant your elephant ear plants in the ground, container growing is perfectly acceptable for these plants. Elephant ears do well in containers so long as you provide them with the right sized container, proper soil, and adequate sunlight.
How many elephant ear bulbs do you plant together?
Bulb Planting Depth and Spacing If growing multiple elephant ears, space each bulb 2 to 4 feet apart. Varieties with extremely large leaves require large containers to grow properly. You don't want them to become top-heavy.
How do you winterize elephant ears in pots?
It's a fairly simple process: After your first frost, cut the stems to about 6 inches tall. Put the tubers in a grocery bag, plastic pot or bulb rate and cover with a mix of peat moss and soil. Add water to the container and store it in a cool, dark place to ensure the tuber stays dormant throughout the winter.
Do elephant ears grow better in pots or ground?
Choose a container that's at least 18 inches wide and 16 inches deep for Colocasia varieties, or 36 inches wide for the larger Alocasia varieties. Using large pots will allow these plants to develop to their greatest potential and it also means you won't need to repot them for several years.
How many bulbs are in a elephant ear container?
Don't plant more than 1 bulb per pot. Elephant ears need about 6 ft (1.8 m) between them to accommodate for their large spread.
What month do you plant elephant ear bulbs?
springWhen to Plant: Elephant ears are planted in spring after any danger of frost has passed. The tubers will not grow until the soil is warm, so don't plant them until the soil temperature is at least 65ºF. In northern climates this will be early June.
How long do elephant ears take to grow from bulb?
3-8 weeksHow Long Does It Take Elephant Ears to Grow from Bulbs? It usually takes 3-8 weeks for elephant ears to sprout. It also depends on what your climate is like, warmer climates cause elephant ears to sprout faster than cooler climates.
Do elephant ear bulbs come back every year?
Most elephant's ears are perennials and will come back every summer in the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South. Some are perennials in the lower part of the Middle South. They like the soil to be relatively dry in winter.
Where is the best place to plant elephant ears?
Elephant ears can be planted in full sun to part shade, but it prefers growing in a part shade or dappled sun location. Cultivars with darker leaves need more sun to maintain their color.
Will elephant ears come back after a freeze?
A: Elephant Ear, Alocasia spp., is extremely hardy and I would be surprised to hear it did not return from the cold. We will be better able to determine the full extent of the cold damage once summer is fully upon us. You may cut away and dead tissue now.
Should elephant ears be cut back?
Should you cut back elephant ears? You should cut back elephant ears if you live in a colder region and want to store the tubers over winter, to then plant out again the following spring. If you know how to overwinter dahlias, then it is the same process for elephant ears.
When should I repot my elephant ear?
Repotting your Elephant Ear Plant Spring is the best time of year for repotting, your plant is just coming out of dormancy and is just about to start putting out lots of new growth. Repot using a standard house plant potting mix, add extra organic materials if you think you need to increase drainage.
Where is the best place to plant elephant ears?
Elephant ears can be planted in full sun to part shade, but it prefers growing in a part shade or dappled sun location. Cultivars with darker leaves need more sun to maintain their color.
Can you leave elephant ears in the ground over winter?
In colder parts of the world, elephant ear varieties will die in the winter if left outside. Before the first frost of the year, move elephant ears to pots or move pots containing the plants indoors, ideally in a cool, humid area; 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit is an ideal temperature.
Do elephant ears need sun or shade?
Sun or Shade: Elephant ears will grow in sun or shade. If you put them in a hot, sunny location, make sure they get a little shade during the middle of the day. Zone: Elephant ears are tropical plants. In zones 9-11 they can be grown outdoors year-round.
What are elephant ears?
Tips for Growing Elephant Ears in Containers. Elephant ears ( Colocasia and Alocasia) are tropical plants grown for their stunning, often enormous leaves, which can be lime green, variegated or nearly black.
Do elephant ears need compost?
This will help retain moisture in the soil. Adding compost to a commercial potting mix will further enhance its moisture-retaining abilities while also boosting nutrition. Elephant ears are heavy feeders.
Can alocasia be grown in pots?
They take well to growing in pots, provided you follow a few guidelines. Alocasia produce very large leaves that are held upright, nearly vertical. Alocasia grow more upright than Colocasia, with very large leaves that can stand nearly vertical. It can transition to a houseplant and remain in green growth all year.
How to grow elephant ears?
Pick a pot that contains well-draining, peat-rich soil. Make sure you use a soil mix meant for containers; you can often find blends designed for houseplants. Create Humidity. Elephant ears need high humidity levels for proper growth. There are a few ways to increase the humidity around your houseplants.
Why do gardeners like elephant ears?
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. The size container you need to buy for your plant will depend on the variety you grow.
Why add slow release fertilizer to elephant ears?
Add a slow-release fertilizer at the start of the season because elephant ears are heavy feeders. By the time they make it through the compost’s nutrients, the fertilizer should start to release the vitamins needed.
How to overwinter elephant ears?
The first option is to cut off most of the older leaves and bring it inside as a houseplant before the temperatures dip below 60℉ consistently.
What is the best material for elephant ears?
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. Elephant ears do like moist soil, but they don’t like standing water. Find the Perfect Spot for Your Variety.
How much sun do elephant ears need?
Most elephant ear plants prefer to grow in full sunlight, which means they need six to eight hours of sun each day. Before you pick the location for your elephant ears, make sure you read the requirements for the plant.
What are elephant ears?
Elephant ears are a tropical plant that goes best in warmer weather, and they’re known for producing large leaves that can be several feet wide. The leaves can be dark green, lime green, variegated, purple, or anything in between. If you don’t have a large garden, you can still learn how to grow elephant ears in containers.
ELEPHANT EAR PLANT
Elephant ears are grown best in warm weather conditions. These tropical plants produce lime green, blue, black, or purple leaves. They have a really bold texture with eye-catching, attractive, and dramatic foliage. Elephant ears also produce flowers but these flowers are not the reason why people grow them.
PLANTING ELEPHANT EAR BULBS IN POTS
You have to get the bulbs of elephant ear plants, they are also commonly known as corms. But there’s a difference between corm and bulbs. Compressed leaves form bulbs whereas corms are made up of stems. Whichever you choose, they are used to grow elephant ears. Follow the detailed steps given below to grow this plant in pots or containers.
CHOOSING THE POT FOR ELEPHANT EARS
These plants have massive sizes, so growing them in containers will require proper care, and pots or containers should also be chosen very carefully.
POT SIZE
It is recommended to start the growing process in large containers. This is very beneficial in the long run because you don’t need to change the pot at later stages. Larger pots also take a longer time to dry out completely which makes it easier to manage the water needs of plants.
POT COMPOSITION
Another important factor while choosing the container for elephant ears is the material by which it is made. Elephant ears love moist soil, so choose a pot that is made up of plastic, fiberglass, or any nonporous material. This keeps the moisture retained in the container.
CHOOSING THE BEST LOCATION FOR ELEPHANT EAR
The selection of the right spot depends upon the variety of plants you are growing. Some plants need full sunlight while others prefer partial sunlight. Full sunlight means 6 hours of direct sunlight per day whereas partial means 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight.
PREPARE THE SOIL FOR THE ELEPHANT EAR PLANT
It is time to fill your pots with soil that suits best for your elephant ears. Avoid using regular garden soil. Your soil should be having good drainage but it also should be able to hold the moisture.
How To Care For Your Elephant Plant?
Elephant plants are heavy feeders and drinkers but they are very low maintenance plants. They are very suitable for container gardening. Here are some tips and instructions which you have to follow for growing them in pots or containers.
How To Treat Sick Elephant Ears?
Copper fungicides work best against fungal diseases. When your plants are 4 weeks old you can spray on the affected plants to fight against diseases. You can apply this fungus side weekly in rainy weather.
Why do elephant ears need water?
When you plant elephant ears in the container then you should increase the frequency of water for these plants because they need a lot of water. This plant has larger leaves that’s why they need a lot of moisture.
What color are elephant ears?
The leaves of this plant are found in different and beautiful colors such as lime green, dark green, and purple . If you don’t have a large growing area then you can elephant ears in pots or containers .
Why do elephant plants have dark spots?
If you see the dark patterns or ring spots on the leaves of this plant it means your plant has become the victim of the dasheen mosaic virus.
What happens if you use a container with no drainage holes?
If you use a container that has no drainage holes then the potting soil gets waterlogged which will result in root rot.
How to increase the nutrients in the soil?
For increasing the nutrients in the soil you can also apply a slow-release fertilizer at the start of the growing season. The elephant ear is a heavy feeder plant. That’s why you should add organic material so your soil gets all the basic requirements.
When to move elephant ears?
When temperatures warm up in spring, move the plants outdoors. Your collection of elephant ears has now effortlessly expanded and can be planted in the ground or kept in containers.
How do elephant ears spread?
Elephant ears can become huge plants with gigantic leaves. Many spread through underground runners, or stolons, and send up baby plants along the way. These babies can be separated from the parent plant and installed elsewhere. Dividing elephant ears requires sterile, sharp instruments to prevent transferring disease and causing injury. ...
How to separate elephant ears?
Dividing elephant ears is easy! Once you have selected your pups, it is time to remove them. Use a sharp knife or your shovel and bisect the section away from the parent. Tubers cut cleanly with a texture like a potato . Rhizomes are separated from the main mass. Ensure each new plantlet has a good root system already in place and the rhizome, or tuber, has no blemish or rotten area.
Why do elephant ears divide?
Elephant ear division is useful to prevent overcrowding, produce more plants in a different location and enhance plant health. It is important to know when to divide elephant ears, as the parent can become injured and pups may not perform well if divided and planted at the wrong time.
What is an elephant ear?
Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Printer Friendly Version. Image by ananaline. The name elephant ears is normally used most often to describe two different genera, Alocasia and Colocasia. The name is simply a nod to the giant foliage these plants produce. Most rise from rhizomes, which are fairly easy to divide.
Can elephant ears be frost tolerant?
Elephant ears are not frost tolerant and should be dug up in zones lower than United States Department of Agriculture zone 8. You can pot them up and bring the container indoors or remove the rhizomes and store them in peat moss, packing peanuts, or paper bags in a cool, dark place.
