What do elephant ear plants need?

What do elephant ear plants need?

Plant elephant ear bulbs outside after all danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures remain above 70 degrees. Elephant Ears are tropical plants and cannot tolerate any frost. They only emerge when the soil is warm. Select a location in full sun or part sun with a good, rich, moist, organic soil.

What nutrients do elephant ear plants need?

Space plants well apart—2 feet for smaller cultivars, 4 feet for larger varieties. Once they sprout, elephant ears require little tending, other than regular feeding with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Make sure they stay well-watered during dry spells.

Do elephant ear plants need support?

Elephant ears may droop because there is a problem. Try adjusting the amount of light or water or applying a fertilizer. Another reason for drooping is that the large leaves become too heavy. Staking can help support the plants and prevent drooping.

How do you care for elephant ear plants?

Growing Elephant Ears In Your Garden

1. Keep weeds under control during the growing season.
2. Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures.
3. Keep elephant ear plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells.
4. After new growth appears, a light fertilizer may be applied.

Will elephant ears grow in shade?

SUN OR SHADE: Elephant ears can be planted in sun or shade. If you put them in a hot, sunny location, make sure they get a little shade during the middle of the day. ZONE: Elephant ears are tropical plants.

Can elephant ears grow in shade?

Are elephant ears OK in full sun?

Elephant ears are tropical plants and the hotter and more humid the weather, the faster they grow. There are two types of elephant ears: alocasias and colocasias. Colocasias display their leaves with tip of the heart pointing down. They prefer full sun and consistent moisture.

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.

What’s the best fertilizer for elephant ears?

All elephant ear varieties are considered heavy-feeders, requiring rich, fertile, slightly acidic soil. Fertilize your plants once a month with a slow-release, water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer. Alternately, Burpee recommends top dressing with organic compost.

Can elephant ears get full sun?

Do elephant ears like to be root bound?

Colocasia is a swamp plant that develops a hardy root system under the water. For this reason, elephant ears make great landscape plants in, around, or near water features in the garden. Alocasias plants like to be root-bound in small pots, so don’t rush to put them into larger pots.