Should elephant ears be cut back in winter?
The soil can dry out completely during the dormant period, but natural rainfall will likely keep the soil moist. Cut back dead foliage and stalks as they die 2 to 4 inches from the soil line. Elephant ear foliage dies back throughout the year, but winter is a good time to tidy plants.
How do you winterize potted elephant ears?
It’s a fairly simple process:
- After your first frost, cut the stems to about 6 inches tall.
- 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.
Can you leave elephant ears outside in winter?
If you would like, elephant ear plants can be brought into the house and treated as a houseplant for the winter. In the spring, once all danger of frost has passed, you can put your elephant ear plants back outside.
Can you plant elephant ears in containers?
Elephant ears do well in containers so long as you provide them with the right sized container, proper soil, and adequate sunlight. The size container you need to buy for your plant will depend on the variety you grow. Giving your plants large pots give their roots plenty of space to grow and thrive.
Do elephant ears need to 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.
Will my elephant ears come back?
Are elephant ear plants perennials? Most are perennials in Zone 9 and warmer, where they will come back each summer. If gardening in cooler zones, you can treat them as annuals or dig up the tubers before the first frost and keep them in a cool, dry place over winter.
Can I overwinter elephant ears in pots?
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.
Do all Alocasias go dormant indoors?
Most plants go through some form of dormancy – it’s just that Alocasias can take it to extremes. Some plants take their break in the heat of summer, but most – including Alocasias – become dormant in response to cold temperatures and lower light.
How do you take care of potted elephant ears?
Elephant ears like to stay consistently moist, but not soggy. Be especially careful with watering if you use a pot without drainage holes. Always test the soil with your finger first. Humidity is also important to elephant ears, so it’s a good idea to set the pot in a saucer of water elevated by pebbles.
How cold is too cold for elephant ears?
Elephant ears are great for adding a tropical feel to your garden. They may be planted in large containers. Elephant ear foliage adds drama to large flower arrangements. Plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees.
Do elephant ear plants go dormant in the winter?
Many elephant ear species go dormant during the winter in warmer regions or simply die off when the cold months start rolling in. Overwintering elephant ears in pots and soil is possible indoors with a bit of know-how.
How do you fertilize elephant ears?
Fertilize the elephant ear plant every month in the spring, summer and early fall using a 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the fertilizer label. Watch for yellow leaves on the elephant plant.
Where is the best place to plant elephant ears?
Elephant’s ear is a tuberous perennial plant that hails from the tropics. Native to swamps and other moist growing sites, elephant’s ear are ideal planted in large aquatic containers or grown along ponds and streams.
Where do elephant ears grow best?
The Elephant Ear Plant is native to parts of Asia. As a perennial, it grows best in USDA zones 8 to 11 (warmer climate regions stretching from Florida to Texas), but can be grown as an annual in other areas by digging up the bulb to replant the following year.
How do you Grow Elephant Ears in pots?
Growing Strong. Grow elephant’s ear in standard potting soil. At planting, set the base of the stalks level with the soil. Leave 1 inch between the soil and the top of the pot for easy watering. Place the container in a full-sun or a partly shaded area.