Keep weeds under control during the growing season. The mammoth leaves can be more than 3 feet long on plants that can grow higher than 6 feet tall. The elephant ear plant is a heavy feeder, so it's important to keep the soil rich in nutrients. Elephant Ear Size. A large specimen may grow up to 3 feet, but most are smaller. However, you can extend the growing season to produce larger plants, by starting them early. Alocasia leaves point upward or grow horizontally, and colocasia leaves point downward. If you plant them outdoors in most parts of the United States, you’ll need to dig them up each fall because they won’t survive the cold. Use a rich soil between 5.5 and 7.0 pH. The elephant ear plant is a houseplant with giant pointed leaves that look like elephant ears. They grow just fine and make a large plant even if you plant the corms outside. After that, do not water for over a week to give the roots time to dry up. I live in Zone 7, Central Virginia, and have an elephant ear with two flowers. The main difference to know about Caladium varieties is that this is a smaller species. Elephant ear plants can generally be planted outside in Zone 9 or higher. It is enough to have one container with Black Elephant Ear plant to achieve a tropical effect in your home. It is better to avoid the tips and the stems and water the roots since they provide moisture to the whole plant. Even the stems deliver impressive colors. 9 meters). You can propagate elephant ears by seed, runner or by transplanting. If you grow it the right way, the leaves of the elephant plant can be a tasty ingredient. They do not often do well over winter, as these plants originate from a tropical area. Often grown for their dramatic foliage reminiscent of elephant ears, Colocasia and Alocasia are terrific tender perennials that provide a strong ornamental interest and quickly give a touch of the tropics in gardens or containers. If you live in the warmer areas of the state, grow the elephant ear … It would be best to feed your plants every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer to provide necessary nutrients. Elephant's ears offer some of the boldest foliage you could ever want in a garden. Elephant ear plants grow from a swollen stem similar to a bulb but known as a corm. Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Splendid Elephant Ears. Flowers. Zone 7 is at the upper extreme of where they will survive outdoors, and that is … - Knowledgebase Question. Light Requirements. Failure to do so could result in stunted growth. 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. Because of the plant’s ties to the tropics, watering will be especially important in order to keep its big leaves looking healthy. A. zebrina and A. macrorrhiza both have a taller and more slender stature, although they don't often grow taller than 75cm / 30in. Plants also produce offsets that can be broken off and planted elsewhere. I haven't had the plant a year yet. South Africa is where the elephant bush comes from. Besides the traditional emerald green stems and leaves, elephant ear has species with distinctly different coloring, such as stems that … Elephant ears like to grow in soil that is consistently moist. Do Elephant's Ear Bloom? The Elephant Ear plant itself can grow up to 8 feet tall (2.4 meters) in a tropical climate but 2-3 feet (. This plant may be nice to look at, but it can be toxic to your dog. Cut dead plant foliage to the ground during the winter or throughout the year as necessary, if your area does not have a killing frost. Huge, heart-shaped leaves come in black, purple, emerald green, chartreuse, yellow, or a mix of colors. ; Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. Adequate humidity is a must for the elephant ear plant. Basic Plant Information. Also, alocasia leaves attach to the stem at the leaf notch, while colocasia stems attach below the leaf notch. A big, bold, textural and architectural foliage plant, Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant' (Giant Elephant Ear) is a tuberous, frost-tender perennial boasting huge, heart-shaped, blue-green leaves, up to 4-6 ft. long (120-180 cm) and 3-5 ft. wide (90-150 cm). Fertilize Often ; Elephant ears grow rapidly, so you might have guessed that they require plenty of fertilization. The flowers appeared 10 days after taking it outside (about May 1) to a sunny location. You appear to be watering too often. Although flowers appear once in a while on a well looked after Alocasia, they are quite insignificant. Elephant ears bring to mind lush, tropical forests, adding drama to both gardens and containers. Elephant Ears are 100% heavy feeders hence a 20-20-20 NPK ration fertilizer is highly preferred. Powder Springs, GA. “Ideally, temperatures need to be above 15°C year round, and plants will benefit from a misting with water to increase humidity around the foliage,” says Roger. More often than not, it is recommended that these plants are kept outside because of just how fast they can grow. Conclusion. Water the plant often to maintain the moist soil. These plants are perennials and hardy in USDA zones eight to 11. They are borne atop sturdy, succulent leaf stalks. Elephant ear has big leaves shaped like hearts or arrows and decorative veining; leaves may look marbled, speckled, or splotched. They should be fertilized once a week or as advised on the fertilizer package [source: Lars]. The Elephant Ear (Colocasia) is a tropical plant that grows up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and sprouts large, arrow-shaped leaves that resemble the ears on an elephant. Click to see full answer. Start six to eight weeks before your last frost date. This is a massive outdoor plant with a bunch of thick leaves and a spongy area for the stalk. Fertilizer. Alocasia, known colloquially as elephant’s ear, is grown as a houseplant in many parts of the United States. In fact, elephant ears are an important food source in warm climates around the world. A. amazonica will normally grow up to 45cm / 18in in both height and spreads when grown indoors. The plants grow 4 to 8 feet in height and do well in Texas. CAUTION: All roots and leaves of edible elephant ears must be cooked before eating, because they contain calcium oxylate. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating. My Elephant Ears seem to have what I call flowers - 6-8" long cylindrical (3/4" diameter) white stalks with what appears to be stamens protruding out of the top. They are herbaceous perennials in warm climates. In other regions, however, it will only grow 2 to three 3 feet. Like most tropical plants, they thrive in warm temperatures and high humidity and crave plenty of water. This succulent is a popular treat among elephants. How do you propagate elephant ears? Humidity. Elephant ears do not grow in cool soil which is a bit of an issue in colder climates since we have such a short summer. Keeping this in view, how do you save a dying elephant ear plant? Elephant Ear Plants can assume a lofty height of up to 8 feet or 2.4 meters if you plant them in a Tropical region. The elephant bush does best in areas within hardiness zones 10 and 11. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when tropical plants in temperate places became the hot (pun intended) design trend, plant breeders selected, developed, and released elephant ears with varying leaf colors and sizes. These plants respond well to liquid fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. Black Elephant Ears Plant can be grown in containers or outdoors. Elephant ear corms grow over time, with the original corm doubling or tripling in size. Growing Elephant Ears In Your Garden. Wait until frost has passed in the spring and then replant. Fertilizer. Elephant ears' species name, esculentia, is the same term that gives us the word "esculent," meaning edible. Plant bulbs about 2 to 4 inches under the soil. How Big do Elephant Ear Plants Grow? Always allow the top 2″- 3″ of the soil of an Alocasia Plant to dry out before watering, and try to keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Caladium is the type of elephant ears you most often find in garden nurseries. Sunlight and water: Elephant ears do best in bright, indirect sunlight, but can also grow in homes that receive a medium amount of light. I brought the entire plant inside to winter as a "houseplant." The most recognized forms have heart- or arrow-shaped leaves (often oversized) with decorative veining, inspiring the common name elephant ears. According to Better Homes and Gardens gardening expert, Roger Fox, elephant ears (Alocasia species) need adequate warmth and humidity to grow indoors as they’re native to tropical areas. Taro, Eddoe and Malanga. However, this plant requires warm climate so many people in Northern hemisphere choose to grow … Avoid fertilization in winters and allow them to relax. How to Grow Amazon Elephant's Ear . Over-watering, wet leaves, and soggy soil makes an Alocasia plant susceptible to a variety of serious fungal infections. They are non-native tropical plants that will thrive outdoors only in the warmest parts of the country. Feed the elephant ear with all-purpose liquid fer tilizer, once in 2 months. Since they are indoor plants requiring a rich supply of nutrients consider supplying Elephant Ears with a slow release or a water soluble fertilizer at least once in a month. Almost all elephant ear plants grow up to 72″ inches (183 cm) tall, or even taller, so they need a lot of water at all times. Growing these plants is easy; they like filtered sun or shade and rich, moist soil—and they grow rapidly. When kept indoors with proper care you can expect your plant to reach a maximum of 6 foot or more in length. If your dog eats any part of the elephant ear plant, the first symptom you will see is also the deadliest; … In tropical conditions, where Elephant Ear plants thrive, the leaves which are heart-shaped, can reach up to 5 feet long (1.5 meters) and 3 feet wide (. Elephant ear plants are native to tropical Asia and derived their name from their huge, 2-foot-wide, 3-foot-long, heart-shaped leaves. Elephant ear plants (Alocasia spp.) No plant satisfies the craving for a taste of the tropics like elephant ears. Space out the elephant ear bulbs in the dry mix and then store the box in a cool, dry area for the winter. Elephant ears grow from tubers. The elephant ears may grow as evergreens through the winter, especially in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and warmer, or during warmer-than-normal winters. For indoor growing, plant the tuber in a large pot (14- to 20-inches), and get an extra large one if … To grow these stunning plants, plant the bulbs in the early spring with the right soil conditions. They take well to growing in pots, provided you follow a … 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. 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