However, these tropical plantswhich include colocasias, alocasias, and xanthosomasneed special care to survive winter temperatures.
To keepelephant earsalive until spring, decide how you’ll protect your plants.
Which method is best depends on your growing zone.
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Here’s how to prepare your elephant ear plants for winter.
How to Overwinter Outdoors
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Dig up the tubers after a light frost and once the foliage has naturally died back.
Avoid waiting until after a hard freeze, when the root system may have been damaged by the cold.
Dig up the plants by carefully lifting a shovel or garden fork beneath each tuber.
Cut back all but four to six inches of any remaining foliage.
Don’t worry about removing excess soil clinging to the tubers.
Do not wash the tubers with water.
Place the elephant ear tubers in a cardboard box with a couple of ventilation holes.
Cover them with dry peat moss, coconut coir, or potting soil.
Label the box and put it in a cool, dark place.
Check the tubers periodically throughout the winter.
If they appear shriveled, spritz them with a little water.
Toss out any rotten tubers you find.
Overwintering Tips
It’s not necessary to cut back elephant ear plants.
A light frost will kill the foliage.
After that, you might mulch plants that will remain in-ground or dig up tubers to store indoors.
Like many other tropicals, elephant ear plants begin to suffer at temperatures below 50F.
A light frost (a few hours at 32F) can cause their foliage to die back.
Tropical Plants to Overwinter.PennState Extension.
How do I over-winter elephant’s ear?Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Elephant Ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma).Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension.
