plants that look like elephant ears but are not

Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. An under-watered elephant ear's leaves will droop and brown, not turn yellow. Caladiums... 'Imperial Taro' Elephant Ear produces unusual, black-purple leaves patterned with bright-green veins. Be careful not to cut into or damage the bulb itself. Nitrogen helps the plant produce chlorophyll, which gives the leaves that gorgeous green color. Let the stems of your plants die back naturally with the frost. Absolutely! Cutting them can lead to rot. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Enjoyed question and answer section. When the plant begins growing above the ground, water it every day in the morning, and apply slow-release fertilizer once per week. I water it twice daily, giving about a gallon each time. Zinnia, Zesty Mix Try again! This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. You want to make sure your elephant ears are planted in moist soil with good drainage, because they originate in tropical climates. 'Imperial Taro' Elephant Ear produces unusual, black-purple leaves patterned with bright-green veins. A lot of brown or yellow leaves are a sign the plant is either not getting the right amount of sunlight or isn't getting enough water. Thrives in areas with cold freezing winters and hot summers. Thank you! They often feature dark, shield-shaped foliage that may be accentuated by white veins running throughout the leaves. This article has been viewed 1,345,530 times. If it takes longer than 4 hours to empty, you have poor drainage. ", hot (Kansas). Dig up and replant some of your elephant ear plants to spread them out. There’s a better option out there! They like to get around 3-6 hours of sun exposure per day. ", "Easily understood, but also packed with useful info! Put the tubers in a grocery bag, plastic pot or bulb rate and cover with a mix of peat moss and soil. Dig a hole that is around 1-2 inches deep, place the bulb with the flat side down, and cover it completely with soil. I have it indoors and it's doing ok. unlocking this staff-researched answer. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Once there is no more chance of frost in your area, plant your tubers in the ground as you normally would. The best time to cut the leaves is early to mid fall. If all else fails but you still love the look of elephant ears, transfer them to pots. Elephant ears radiate heat to help keep these large animals cool, but sometimes the African heat is too much. To grow elephant ear plants, plant the bulbs in the spring, during April or May, in an area that receives indirect sunlight and has moist soil with good drainage. Cover your plants with chopped-up leaves and lawn grass. The sunnier the spot, the more you'll have to water the plant to prevent the soil from drying out. Step by step instructions on how to plant your wildflower seeds. Most, however, are not harmful to your plants. So Asian elephants do not need wrinkled skin to trap moisture or large ears to fan their bodies. Larger bulbs will need slightly deeper holes. Why should you let your elephant ear bulbs dry out before storing them? Thank you, "Success in growing in a pot is letting it hang or be a climber. If poisoning occurs, go to the hospital immediately. If all else fails but you still love the look of elephant ears, transfer them to pots. Step by step instructions on how to plant your spring-planted flower bulbs when they arrive. Check the bulbs every so often. If you notice that one is rotting, throw it away so it doesn’t spread to the others. The two African species look very different from each other. Keep children and animals away from the plants. Approved. I hope to get really large ears to use for concrete bird baths! As long as you store them between 45° and 55° F (7°-13° C), you won't have to worry about them sprouting while they're in storage. ", "I am well satisfied with the information I got from this. Happy Gardening! After your first frost, cut the stems to about 6 inches tall. And yes, you can grown elephant ear plants as indoor houseplants. Transfer the started plant outside when night temperatures are over 50 degrees. "It's good to know the right temperatures to plant elephant ears. Try again! Many gardeners like to deadhead, or remove the faded flowers, to keep their plants looking in tip-top shape. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. They range from South to East Africa. in the Dallas area, and my elephant ears thrive here every year, so in answer to the incorrectly answered question, Can you grow elephant ears in clay soil--Yes, you can. It's a fairly simple process: In these Hardiness Zones, your Elephant Ears can stay in the ground but should be covered to protect them throughout the winter months. I've been growing these for years and gave a few bulbs to my neighbor. ", clay soil is bad, and that shade can benefit the plant. ", was or how to take care of it. Wear gloves when you’re trimming the leaves if you have sensitive skin. Elephant ears are a tropical plant, so they need warm weather to sprout. Uncover the plants after the last spring frost. Do I have to dig them up every winter, or can I leave the tuber in the ground? If they get less than that, the leaves will start to turn yellow as the chloroplasts die off. Not exactly! This stresses the plant. What can cause the elephant ear plant to droop or lay down? I will probably have to change locations when it gets brutally, "This is a clear, easy-to-follow article packed with information. Excellent in a containers, this plant is a great choice for lending a dark backdrop to your favorite bright blooms. Dig up and replant some of your elephant ear plants to spread them out. . Top notes are Cloves, Cumin and Mandarin Orange; middle notes are Cardamom, Caraway, Licorice, Mango, Ylang-Ylang, Heliotrope and Gardenia; base notes are Vanilla, Amber and Patchouli. I am growing them in pots and they are, "I wasn't sure if I needed to plant the complete tuber underground. Pots are perfect as they can be brought indoors for the winter and then brought back outside for the summer. This article has been viewed 1,345,530 times. 'Thailand Giant' is the largest variety of Elephant Ear, creating a giant, light-green canopy of gently-ribbed leaves in the summer garden. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you don't plant them far enough apart, the elephant ears will steal sunlight and water from each other. If there are any remnants of leaves on the bulbs, they’re poisonous. The bulbs will push upwards as they grow so it's important to leave enough space that they won't break through the soil. ", while to see a shoot appear. Learn about varieties which help to replenish nutrients to your soil. Elephant ears don't need a ton of sunlight—they thrive with about 3-6 hours of sun exposure per day. Less water, less mowing, and no pesticides. While removing old flowers makes the plant look better, it's not necessary. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. Layers of tropical greens have white and pink highlights and deep purple shading. Click on another answer to find the right one... Not exactly! Recreate tropical conditions in your garden by keeping the soil moist and not letting it dry out. Help the birds, bees, butterflies & hummingbirds by planting wildflowers. Did not know you can grow indoors, thank, "Gave me a good basic understanding of how to grow elephant ears. Elephant ears are a partial sun plant. Move your plants to containers. Never let the plant dry out between watering. ", southern-facing beds this spring. If a plant isn’t getting enough sun, you’ll notice the leaves turning yellow. Elephant ear bulbs are susceptible to both fungal and bacterial infections while in storage. For tips on maintaining you elephant ear plants by trimming the leaves and transplanting them, read on! 'Black Magic' creates a striking look in partial shade, with purple-black leaves that appear velvety from a distance. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. There’s a better option out there! This helps if you’re planting other plants, flowers, or bushes in your garden so you know where everything is growing and don’t accidentally overcrowd them. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. They have the thin-but-rounded edges common to large leaves, so you're in no danger of accidentally slicing your hand open. Elephant's ears are stunning houseplants. Especially comfortable, since I chose a 36", "This article helped me with winter storage and growing in the winter. Choose another answer! It can be a house plant in the winter and summer with some time spent outside in warm weather, helping to prolong its life. How long can they live in a pot in the house? It is important to know when to divide elephant ears, as the parent can become injured and pups may not perform well if divided and planted at the wrong time. 'Black Magic' creates a striking look in partial shade, with purple-black leaves that ap... Our Tropicalismo Shade Collection will transform your garden with rich, textural, foliage. I read everything you had about them. Plants . The Asian elephant is smaller than the African elephant. You can discard the leaves or keep them to wrap the bulbs in for storage. Curcuma grows and blooms just fine if it's not deadheaded. I put in a large planter and was wondering about care. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,345,530 times. Thanks. Click on another answer to find the right one... {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/80\/Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-8.jpg\/aid19529-v4-728px-Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":308,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":487,"licensing":"