As the name suggests , the heart - shaped leaves of the Elephant Ear Plant will reminisce you of the elephant ’s auricle . Grown for their decorative time value , the plant can be grow in either – garden or container for an exotic layout . Surprisingly , they are very easy to grow as well and will stand proud in the right environs .
Read on to find out how in this step - by - step guide to elephant ear plant care .
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Índice
Step 1: Choosing the Elephant Ear Plant Types
Throughout the geezerhood , various refinement method have bring forth a variety of elephant ear in different colour , conformation , and sizes . They are not geographical zone limited and gardeners subsist in anyhardiness zonefrom 3 – 11 can enjoy grow them with relaxation . The key is to select the proper type of elephant plant and give care for them as required .
The four primary types of elephant plants you will find at the local nurseries let in :
1. Colocasia
Colocasia is the most common type of elephant ear . It is uncouth in the swampy areas of Asia and pair over 200 species . They are mostly recognized by their expectant , pelt leaves that grow quickly – in the right environment .
However , you may need to be careful when choosing a genus Colocasia mintage as some salmagundi are know to be invading .
2. Alocasia
Often called the African masquerade party plant , this plant of elephant pinna is characterized by its upward pointing leaves . Unlike other elephant ear industrial plant type , the leaves of Alocasia are not edible . Some popular varieties of the Alocasia specie admit :
3. Caladium
4. Xanthosoma
aboriginal to tropical America , the Xanthosoma expect humid and affectionate conditions . Similar to genus Colocasia , some varieties of the Xanthosoma elephant ears also produces edible leaves and rootage .
Xanthosoma has around 75 varieties that are illustrious for their beautiful leave . Some common 1 include :
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Step 2: Selecting the Site
If you are planning to plant the elephant ears in a garden or yard , select a shoes that gets full or part Dominicus . Personally , I am not a big devotee of just placing the elephant pinna anywhere in the garden as their knockout can diminish in the thick of other plants .
Choose a focal point in time for their placement . They generally do well with other plants and you’re able to try farm them alongside other tropical plant variety such as bananas , canna , and variegated tropica .
They also do well in mix containers as indoor centerpieces . Combine them with other flowering plants that prefer the same environs in a declamatory , outsized container for an telling appearance .
The well time to grow elephant ear plant is the spring season – well after the menace of hoarfrost has passed . you could also initiate them indoors a calendar month before the last expect Robert Frost escort .
The office you choose should have deep , constitutional territory . check that to keep a good distance – of around 2 -4 feet between the elephant ear medulla so they can spread out expeditiously .
Dig a large pickle and place the bulb so it is 4 inches deep than the filth telephone circuit . Keep the pointed side of the genus Tuber look up and cover it completely with soil and pee .
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Step 3: Elephant Ear Plant Care
Elephant pinna are in the main easy going works and do n’t involve much attention once the planting appendage is dispatch . A few basic aftercare include :
Agua
One thing that elephant ears can not survive without is – pee . Keep the soil moist at all times for sufficient growth of these plant life . specially during the teetotal season , see to it that the plant are get regular wet .
try out tearing during the morning . This will give the works enough metre to dry out before the evening . Watering early in the day also reduces the occurrence of some vulgar industrial plant diseases as well .
The elephant ear are sensible to tap water and if possible – supply them with a supply of rain for equal growth . If that is not potential , keep a bucket full of spigot water by for a daylight before give to your plant life .
Fertilizante
Elephant ears are heavy feeders andrequire fertilizers throughout their growingstage . set out them off with a light , slow - release fertilizer as before long as raw emergence starts appearing . However , do avoid putting fertilizer on the leaves or the diadem of the plants to debar works injury and burns .
Fertilizers should be lend oneself every 2 – 3 weeks for the dear event .
Poda
Just like any other fast - growing works , elephant spike require frequent dressing to stay neat and tidy . Keep Mary Jane under control by on a regular basis cultivate or using mulch to prevent their seed from germinating .
However , when using a mulch , ensure to keep them away from a plant ’s stem to forestall rot . utilize organic mulch when potential as well .
Winter Care
Lower the weewee intake during the winter months . lend the elephant ear plant indoors during these months as elephant ears are quite susceptible to frost .
If you hold up in a very cold region , it is best to save them for the next spring season .
cautiously withdraw the bulbs and store them in dry peat moss or wood skimming . Keep it in a warm , dry , and dark place . Replant them as the season get warm .
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Step 4: Look out for Pests and Diseases
Elephant ears are vulnerable to a few common problems that can spread if not deal decently . Keep an eye for any change in the industrial plant ’s outgrowth , color , and size of it – and take proactive measure accordingly .
Dasheen Mosaic Virus
It is the most vulgar computer virus that , regrettably – has no cure . So every effort should be made to void its occurrent . The most characteristic signal of this disease is uneven patterns on the leaves along with a arrest in growth .
In showcase an infection does occur , the flora should be removed straightaway .
1. Root Rot
Root rot often occurs due to overhead watering . Avoid giving the plant life piddle from the top and pore only on hold back the soil moist . Using lineament water is also indispensable to prevent root bunk .
Similar to the mosaic , there is no curative for root bunkum – except practice proper sanitization .
2. Aphids
aphid are dirt ball of green , red-faced , smutty , or peach color . They circularize their disease by feeding on the bottom of the elephant ear leaves . A mucilaginous rest on the leaf is ordinarily a revealing sign of the disease .
try out wash the leaves with secure insecticidal soap or spray .
3. Mealybugs
A common plant louse , the mealybug leave a ashen , waxy powder on stems , leg , and leaves . They suck the succus from a flora ’s leaf and stems cause growth stunt .
Washing off the infected flora or rubbing the leaves helps remove the bugs .
4. Root Maggots
The maggots are clean in colour and provender on roots . They cause chocolate-brown hollow in the root and cause the growth to halt . Pesticides are recommended to cure the problem .
5. Spider Mites
The wanderer - comparable pests are red , black , brown , or chickenhearted in color . They excrete the plant juices that cause ashen dots to seem on the leaves . Webbing is also visible on the plant . They are very fast - rise , especially in dry areas . If not detected apropos – the wanderer tinge can cause the whole works to die .
wipe the leafage with a wet washrag helps to take away the mites . A garden hose also does the work quick .
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Step 5: Read our FAQ for the best growth
The last step tocaring for your elephant ear plantis reading our FAQ guide . Here , we have covered some of the canonical question that add up in the thinker of gardeners who are plan the elephant ear for the first time .
1. How long does it take for the Elephant Ears to sprout?
It train around 3 – 8 weeks for the first tip of elephant capitulum to erupt from the soil . This is also dependent on your growing conditions as they stock faster in warmer climates , rather than cold . I also suggest bringing the elephant ear plant indoors for some clip to speed up the process .
2. My Elephant Ears have stopped growing. What could be the reason?
Elephant pinna are perennial . This means that they will come back each summertime , once the conditions becomes suitable for its growth .
3. Can Elephant Ear plant poison my children, pets, and myself?
Although many cultures have eat on some varieties of elephant ear safely , I send word against eating them in large quantities . Especially children and pets should be kept by from these plants as it contain in high spirits amounts of oxalic window pane .
Some symptom of elephant ear plant poisonous substance let in :
touch a poison control marrow immediately if symptom aggravate or high amount of elephant capitulum leaves are consume .
4. Do Elephant Ear flower?
Very uncommon but yes , some gardener have reported blooming of their elephant ear for a few specific varieties . Their main sweetheart , however , lies in its foliage and not for the flowers .
In fact , some gardeners often take out the elephant ear flower as it emerges to maintain the plant ’s attractiveness .
5. My plant is losing leaves! Help!
Do n’t occupy ! It ’s quite raw for the elephant ears to lose their leaves and make room for new growth . Continue give care for them as advised above and slay any descend folio from the garden bed to keep the works ’s surrounding tidy .
