How To Grow Elephant Ears Indoors

November 25, 2024 Post a Comment

How to grow elephant ears indoors

Upright elephant ears (Alocasia) may be brought indoors and grown as houseplants. Keep the plants in bright, indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist, not wet.

Can I bring elephant ears indoors for winter?

Option 1: Bring Them Indoors Elephant ears can be moved indoors and grown as a houseplant during the winter months. To give it the best growing conditions place it in a bright, south-facing window. They also need warm temperatures in the 70s and plenty of water. Also, elephant ears require humid growing conditions.

Do elephant ears grow better in pots or ground?

I recommend growing elephant ears in large pots, where they can reach their full growth potential. Smaller pots equal smaller growth, which is fine if you're growing a more compact variety or you only have a small patio or balcony. But if you want a lot of va-va-voom, opt for a big pot and a big variety.

How much light does an elephant ear plant need indoors?

Elephant ears need bright sunlight when grown indoors, but nothing too harsh. If you notice the leaves are looking bleached or singed, move it to a dimmer spot or add a sheer curtain. Outdoors they do well in partial shade.

Can elephant ears stay 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.

What do you do with elephant ears in the winter?

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. Keep your Elephant Ears moist but not wet.

How do you store elephant ear bulbs over the winter?

When the temperature gets cool enough, depending on your variety of elephant ears, it will drop its leaves and go into dormancy. Trim the stems back to two to four inches above the soil line. Then, cover with a couple of inches of shredded leaves or mulch to protect the tuber (or corm) from the coldest temperatures.

Should I cut back my elephant ears for winter?

Regular pruning will help to keep this large leaf plant in shape. The leaves will naturally droop as they age. Drooping leaves can be cut off with a sharp blade. Yellowing or brown leaves can be cut off at the stem.

Do elephant ear plants 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.

What happens if you touch an elephant ear plant?

Elephant Ears are poisonous to children. Touching the stems or leaves can cause skin irritation and possibly a rash and itching. Eating the leaves, stems, or sap can cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat and lead to swelling.

How often do you water elephant ears?

Water your Elephant Ear per week, especially during the growing season. Above-average humidity is ideal for your Elephant Ear plant. Elephant Ear prefers temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.

When should I repot my indoor elephant ears?

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.

What kills elephant ears?

Liquid glyphosate formulations have been effective on elephant ear above the water line, but ineffective on plants in the water. They are broad spectrum, systemic herbicides. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action.

How often should I water my indoor elephant ear plant?

Water recently planted Elephant Ears daily for the first two weeks, monitor the soil daily for the first year, and water when the soil starts to dry out. Established Elephant Ears only need to be watered when the soil's surface is dry to the touch.

Do elephant ear plants need big pots?

Elephant ears have a secret rule regarding container or pot size, the smaller the pot, the smaller the plant. We recommend using a container no less than 10 to 12 inches in order to grow a plant approximately 36 to 60 inches (of course, this depends on the variety of elephant ear you purchase).

Can you grow elephant ears in just water?

Can I Grow Elephant Ears in Water? Many varieties grow in swamps and marshes so can propagate in water. After the last frost you can plant elephant ears in water by sinking the pots to the rim in a pond.

Do elephant ear bulbs multiply?

Dividing elephant ear plants is an easy way to propagate your plant, and multiply your elephant ear plants. Elephant ear plants spread out and grow by putting out runners from the parent plant. These runners will then come to the surface and start growing as pup/offshoots of the parent plant.

Do you have to dig up elephant ear bulbs every year?

Treat your summer flowering bulbs as an annual and purchase and replant new bulbs every year or dig your bulbs up this fall and replant them next spring.

How do you keep elephant ears upright?

Elephant ears may droop because there is a problem. Try adjusting the amount of light or water or applying a fertilizer. Another reason for drooping is that the large leaves become too heavy. Staking can help support the plants and prevent drooping.

How cold can elephant ears tolerate?

Elephant ears are great for adding a tropical feel to your garden. They may be planted in large containers. Elephant ear foliage adds drama to large flower arrangements. Plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees.