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.
How do you take care of an elephant’s ear indoors?
CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
- Environment: A large space and large container for your Elephant Ear plant are ideal.
- Sunlight: Put near bright sun (south or west window), but not in direct sunlight.
- Ideal temperatures: 60-80 degrees.
- Humidity is important: Place plant on a saucer with pebbles and water to create a humid ambiance.
Do elephant ears last all year indoors?
Because of its tropical origins, the elephant ear tubers will need to be taken inside every winter or brought inside where temperatures are consistently above 60 degrees if you live outside of USDA zones 8-11. In one of those zones, you can safely leave your colocasia plants outside all year.
How big do elephant ears get indoors?
The common name, elephant ear, is fitting. This species is a giant in the plant kingdom, especially when they are used as houseplants. Their leaves alone can grow to 3 feet wide, with the plant itself growing 2-3 feet wide and 2-6 feet tall.
Can elephant ears be grown indoors? – Related Questions
Do elephant ears do well 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.
How often do you water elephant ears indoors?
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 does an elephant ear houseplant look like?
Elephant ears have very large heart-shaped leaves borne on 2 to 3 foot (61-91 cm.) petiole or leaf stalks. Colors of the foliage may be anywhere from purplish black, green, or green/white variegated. These impressive ornamental specimens grow outside in sheltered location in USDA zones 8 through 11.
Can you keep elephant ears inside during the 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 indoor elephant ears need full sun?
Can elephant ears grow in full sun? Full sun is not ideal for most—they grow best in bright but indirect sunlight. Too much sunlight can burn the leaves, while too little sunlight can cause yellowing.
Why is my indoor elephant ear plant dying?
The most likely causes are that they aren’t receiving the right amount of water or sunlight. But a lack of nutrients or space or growing them in the wrong climate could also be the problem.
How long do elephant ear plants last?
Special Note: Begonia tubers gradually get better each year for about 8 years, and then die. Replace with newly purchased tubers. Lift: Before hard frost as the leaves decline (typically October). Special Note: Storage works well for 2-3 years, after that corms will begin to decline and you will need to buy new corms.
How much light do indoor elephant ears need?
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.
Do elephant ears need misting?
How to water the Elephant Ear. Water your plant about once a week to keep soil evenly moist but never soggy. Mist between waterings to provide humidity.
Do elephant ears like to be misted?
Due to their natural, tropical habitat, elephant ear plants love humid conditions. Mist them regularly and keep them away from central heaters or air conditioners.
Do elephant ears need deep pots?
Choose a container that’s at least 18 inches wide and 16 inches deep for Colocasia varieties, or 36 inches wide for the larger Alocasia varieties. Using large pots will allow these plants to develop to their greatest potential and it also means you won’t need to repot them for several years.
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.
What to do with potted elephant ears in the winter?
Potted Plants
Potted elephant ears plants survive winter well when left in the dirt inside their containers. Move the pots to a frost-free spot where they aren’t exposed to rain so the soil in the pot remains dry during dormancy.