Can You Grow Elephant Ears Indoors

Can you grow elephant ears 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.

Can you grow elephant ears indoors during winter?

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.

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 you keep elephant ears in pots?

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.

Should I cut off yellow elephant ear leaves?

Pruning Elephant Ears Drooping leaves can be cut off with a sharp blade. Yellowing or brown leaves can be cut off at the stem. Disinfect the blade with each cut to prevent the spread of disease. This will give the plant more energy to put towards new growing leaves.

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.

Do indoor elephant ears bloom?

Although elephant ears are grown primarily as foliage plants, they can bloom – but flowers are not common in the Midwest. The inflorescences are the typical aroid type with a white to yellow or light green spathe surrounding the spadix.

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.

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.

Do indoor elephant ears go dormant?

Dormancy. It's not unusual for elephant ears to die back during the winter months. If the leaves start turning brown and falling off, it's probably not dead—it's just getting ready for its winter slumber. Cut off all the foliage and stop watering until you see new shoots appear in spring.

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.

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.

What to do with potted 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.

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 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.

Do elephant ear plants like to be misted?

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 coffee grounds?

Elephant ears thrive in soil rich in organic matter, but too much coffee can add too much caffeine to the ground and suppress the growth of elephant ear plants. It can also kill beneficial microbes in the soil that help the plant stay healthy and thriving.

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.

Is Epsom salt good for elephant ears?

Epsom salt helps ferns and plants similar to ferns, such as elephant ear, have rich, dark foliage. Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and spray ferns and elephant ears to achieve the look.

Why do elephant ears turn yellow?

Cold temperatures will turn most tropical plants yellow, including elephant ears. If you keep your plant indoors, then keeping it next to an air conditioner or vent blowing out cold air could also contribute to its discoloration. Some colocasia will turn outright brown when exposed to the cold for too long.