The plants are found in theColocasia,Alocasia, andXanthosomagenus, among others.
They are grown as houseplants or outdoors in a warm climate.
Gardeners in cooler climates often move them outdoors during the summer.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
All elephant ear plants are toxic to humans and pets.
Varieties with darker leaves need more sun to maintain their color.
Elephant ears as houseplants should be placed in a bright spot with indirect light.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Direct sun will burn the leaves.
To achieve proper soil conditions, you may have to work compost into the ground as preparation before planting.
This plant is ideal for boggy areas, marshes, swampland, or water gardens.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Water
As a wetland plant, elephant ears need a lot of water.
This makes it agood plant for wet areaswhere gardeners usually have trouble finding suitable plants.
Never allow the soil to dry out thoroughly.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Especially when grown in containers, they will need water daily or several times per day.
They won’t survive frost.
Below USDA Zone 9, they are grown as annuals or overwintered indoors.
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This plant thrives in high humidity, which makes it unsuitable for hot, arid climates.
To increase indoor humidity around elephant ear houseplants, mist them regularly or use a humidifier.
Fertilizer
Like many large-leaved tropical plants, elephant ears are heavy feeders.
Apply a water-soluble,high-nitrogen fertilizerevery two to three weeks during the spring and summer.
Types of Elephant Ears
There are numerous varieties of elephant ear plants.
If you are growing elephant ears outdoors year-round in USDA Zone 10a or below (i.e.
where frost occurs), cutting the plant back in the fall prepares it for winter survival.
Make clean, straight cuts, taking care not to rip or tear the foliage.
Pruning Tip
Looking for the best pruners to use on your elephant ear?
We tested over 25top-rated prunersin our Lab to check that your houseplant stays happy and healthy.
Propagating Elephant Ears
The common way to propagate elephant ears is to divide the tubers.
double-check the containers have ample drainage holes.
Elephant ears like moist soil but at the same time good drainage.
Repotting becomes necessary when the tubers outgrow the pot.
Dividing the plant and repotting individual tubers in pots with fresh growing medium helps to rejuvenate the plant.
They are overwintered the same way as canna bulbs and dahlia tubers.
Airing it out will discourage rot.
Wrap each tuber separately in paper and place them in a cardboard box.
Check on them periodically to verify they are not rotting.
Once the soil has warmed to 70F,replant the tubers in the spring.
To prevent these, apply a horticultural soap to the leaves.
Fungal Leaf Blight
The most common elephant ear plant disease is fungal leaf blight.
The tell-tale lesions may ooze fluid and turn purple or yellowish.
You may find fuzzy growth on the leaves.
Remove infected collapsed leaves promptly before the fungus spreads to the entire plant.
Pythium Rot
Pythium rot is often the result of soil remaining saturated for several days or weeks.
It may appear as yellowing in spots or distinct patches on the leaves or stem.
If you pull the root structure out of the ground, the root will appear dark and greasy.
A plant with this kind of root rot is not salvageable, and you should pull it out entirely.
If your plant was grown in a container, discard all the infected soil and sterilize the pot.
Spider Mites
Inspect the plant regularly for spider mites and take appropriate action immediately.
Spider mites tend to be worse for indoor plants than for plants grown outdoors.
The damage looks like tiny yellow or brown spots on the leaves.
An infestation can lead to leaf drop and stunted growth.
Another sign of spider mites is webbing found on the plant.
To treat a heavy infestation, applyinsecticidal soaporhorticultural oil.
However, since they’re water lovers, fungal infections are their biggest threat.
Alternatively, the plant may be going dormant for the season.
Cut back the yellow leaves and wait for them to return next spring.
Large leaves also droop if they become too heavy.
Use stakes to support the plants.
Move your plant to a more suitable spot, water it more, or give it more fertilizer.
Consider moving your plant to a shadier spot and watering it more frequently.
Is This the Right Plant for You?
An elephant ear plant is a good choice if… Keep the soil consistently moist and mist the plant to provide humidity.
The corms (tubers or roots) are prepared similarly to potatoesthey must be peeled and cooked before eating.
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