Gardening the Garden

Question:

Need advice on when to bring my container  planted elephant ear bulbs indoors.I live in zone 5 in Indiana. Thanks for any and all advice. Judy in Michigan City,IN

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Response:

Need advice on when to bring my container  planted elephant ear bulbs indoors.I live in zone 5 in Indiana. Thanks for any and all advice. Judy in Michigan City,IN

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     I planted my elephant ears in the ground. And I leave them there year round. They have been doing great for the past 3 years and have multiplied several times.      We got over 3 feet of snow last year and temp’s into the teens. And surprisingly they grew back better than ever this year. R. Summey Zone 7

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As of this morning my elephant ears have had it.I live in Indiana on lake Michigan and wonder what should I do with pots with bulbs left in them.Dig out bulbs or compost them and replace next year.Tried drying bulbs in basement one year and they rotted.Thanks for all and any advice. Dave in IN.

I plant my elephant ears in the ground (zone 6a, Cincinnati) and therefore have to dig them and store them.  They are in the garage drying out right now and I will pack them for storage this weekend.    I treat them just like my cannas – I dig them, knock of most of the dirt, and store them in a cardboard box in the basement around 65F.  They have always survived.  They have multipled to the point where I am giving them away.  I think that you could bring them inside, leaving them in the pot.  I would  cut them back to the soil level and put the pot in a cool, dark place.  Elephant ears are more sensative to the cold than cannas, so I would keep them above 45F. Even thought they are domant, the tissue is still respiring and needs some air circulation.  If you store them in a tightly closed container they will undergo anerobic degeneration and will rot or ferment.  If you have a sunny window and enought room, you could try keeping them alive and move them outside next year. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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 As of this morning my elephant ears have had it.I live in Indiana on lake Michigan and wonder what should I do with pots with bulbs left in them.Dig out bulbs or compost them and replace next year.Tried drying bulbs in basement one year and they rotted.Thanks for all and any advice. Dave in IN.

Response:

Very well said Bryan, but common elephant ears are also pond plants and the more water you give them the better.  They may enjoy sun in the north, but in the south they do not do well UNLESS they are in a pond and protected from afternoon sun.  I have mine in dappled morning sun, but NONE in the afternoon. They are already 4 feet tall and leaves 12 inches long and across.  They are hardy in the ground here in zone 7b-8a Dallas.  Great plants.  Very tropical. Victoria – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m in zone 7 (Maryland)  and purchased  6 elephant ears at the local Wal_Mart.     Planted them in 12 inch pots and put them out in the sun.   Well, after about three weeks, no growth, so I pulled them out of the pot to check…..seems that I planted them upside down.  Back into the pots and left out in the sun for another three weeks.  All six are now coming up fine,  two are in the ground, one is in the house and three are still in pots.      The soil needs to be at least 70 degrees,   keep them moist but not wet, (use mulch),  and use a rich soil,   mine was topsoil and organic material.    Also, planting them right side up helps tremendously,   seems that the blunt side needs to be facing down.   Mine were planted with the tuber top about 1" below the soil.   Hint-   after lots of frustration with bulbs, I make it a point to grow the bulb in a pot, before placing it in the ground.   As a newbie gardener, I’m learning that not all plants grow and that gardening is a little harder than the seed catalogs and home depot circulars make it seem.  Hope this helps. -Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

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Why would you plant them? Just shake a liitle powdered sugar on ‘em and eat ‘em while they’re still warm from the deep fryer. I love those things! — Frank Mularo

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Gotta plant em to eat em!  I love taro myself. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Why would you plant them? Just shake a liitle powdered sugar on ‘em and eat ‘em while they’re still warm from the deep fryer. I love those things!

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-Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

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-Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

I put one in this spring and it took a long time to sprout.  I’ve got 3 little leaves now, after several months.  How deep is yours? Baby Schuh, San Antonio Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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-Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

When you planted them, was the soil at least 65-70 degrees?  If it wasn’t, and if they are not hardy in your area, they may have rotted. But, to tell the truth, all my caladiums (which is what an elephant ear is, essentially) are the last of the summer foliage corms to come up. Victoria

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Be patient. I went through the same thing last year.  I even dug them up to make sure I planted them right side up.  If your nights have been really cool, it will take awhile.  Mine didn’t come up till the middle of June last year. Cindy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – -Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

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If you live in an area where caladiums are not hardy you can start them in plastic or paper cartons as early as January or February and you can really get a jump on the season.   Caladiums appreciate a rich moist soil with partial shade.  Some caladiums are suitable for submerging in ponds as well if that be to your liking. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – -Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their

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-Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

They won’t even think about sprouting until the ground warms up.  Mine usually show up about mid-June. Chris Owens

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I thought that the "Elephant ear" was taro root, what poi is made from in Caladium originated from the rain forests of Brazil, Guyana and Trinidad. …… .madgardener – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – -Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy- When you planted them, was the soil at least 65-70 degrees?  If it wasn’t, and if they are not hardy in your area, they may have rotted. But, to tell the truth, all my caladiums (which is what an elephant ear is, essentially) are the last of the summer foliage corms to come up. Victoria

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It depends on the plant.  I planted two in the middle of summer last year. This year only one bloomed, you might have to wait until next year so they are fully mature when it is time for them to bloom, or until you plant is completely adjusted.  julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – -Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

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Hi….Caladiums do prefer rich, moist, WELL DRAINED soil…..the addition of a handful of sand in each pot will achieve that..BTW…the growers of caladiums in Florida..grow them in large fields in FULL SUN…contrary to popular believe..Caldiums do great in full sun…the reason they are commercially grown in full sun is that by doing this the tubers become much larger than when grown in the shade..BUT..their leaf colors are not as dark and vivid as compared to when they are grown in the shade……water them well and they can take full sun….. Mark – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you live in an area where caladiums are not hardy you can start them in plastic or paper cartons as early as January or February and you can really

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Elephant Ear is Taro, but the variety you see ‘commonly grown’ in the garden isn’t the one that poi is made from. That variety is C. illustris.  In my zone it is difficult to keep happy.  Can’t take much direct sun, but in dappled shade will lean towards its light source.  My best luck has been in a pot, so I can spin it regularly.  Likes really rich moist soil.  Not nearly as big as the elephant ear garden plant I’m familiar with. But keeping it in a pot may be affecting the size also. Do you like one finger or two finger poi? Zhan

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Same family.   I should have been more clear, not so simple. sorry, Victoria – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I thought that the "Elephant ear" was taro root, what poi is made from in Caladium originated from the rain forests of Brazil, Guyana and Trinidad. …… .madgardener -Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy- When you planted them, was the soil at least 65-70 degrees?  If it wasn’t, and if they are not hardy in your area, they may have rotted. But, to tell the truth, all my caladiums (which is what an elephant ear is, essentially) are the last of the summer foliage corms to come up. Victoria

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I’m in zone 7 (Maryland)  and purchased  6 elephant ears at the local Wal_Mart.     Planted them in 12 inch pots and put them out in the sun.   Well, after about three weeks, no growth, so I pulled them out of the pot to check…..seems that I planted them upside down.  Back into the pots and left out in the sun for another three weeks.  All six are now coming up fine,  two are in the ground, one is in the house and three are still in pots.      The soil needs to be at least 70 degrees,   keep them moist but not wet, (use mulch),  and use a rich soil,   mine was topsoil and organic material.    Also, planting them right side up helps tremendously,   seems that the blunt side needs to be facing down.   Mine were planted with the tuber top about 1" below the soil.   Hint-   after lots of frustration with bulbs, I make it a point to grow the bulb in a pot, before placing it in the ground.   As a newbie gardener, I’m learning that not all plants grow and that gardening is a little harder than the seed catalogs and home depot circulars make it seem.  Hope this helps. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –Can anyone tell me how long it takes for elephant ears to show their snouts? Mine have been in the ground at least 6 weeks and nothing has come up yet. Thanks, Randy-

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