- Factors that determine the watering schedule. There are several devices on the internet that recommends watering your elephant ears once or twice a week.
- The right way to water elephant ears. ...
- Which water type you should use. ...
- Misting Elephant ears. ...
- Overwatered Elephant ears. ...
- Underwatered Elephant ears. ...
- In Conclusion. ...
How often should you water elephant ears?
Keep reading to know the factors that determine how often you should water your elephant ears. There are several devices on the internet that recommends watering your elephant ears once or twice a week. But this is not the right way to approach gardening.
How to take care of elephant ear plant?
Misting is more effective for outdoor elephant ears plants. And do it in the morning in order for the misted water to evaporate throughout the day. You can tell whether your elephant ear plant suffering from overwatering by looking at the leaves. Overwatered elephant ear will have leaves with brown dark spots framed with a yellowish rim.
Why do elephant ears need less water in winter?
While in winter the elephant ears will need less water because it goes dormant. Going dormant means the plant is focusing on resting rather than growth. So, it is not actively growing in winter.
How do you Grow Elephant Ears in Texas?
Elephant ears grow best in a rich, humusy soil that is moist to the point of being wet—this plant is ideal for boggy areas or around water gardens. Keep elephant ear plants consistently moist. They will survive nicely even if covered by as much as 6 inches of standing water.
How often do you need to water elephant ears?
Plan on giving plants at least 2-3 inches of water per week. Fertilizing: Elephant ears are heavy eaters, as well as drinkers.
How do I know if my elephant ears need water?
Watering: Soil should be maintained evenly moist but not saturated. Water when the soil starts to feel a little dry. If your Elephant Ear plant gets too much water, it will let you know by “weeping” or dripping water from the tip of the leaf.
Do elephant ear plants need a lot of water?
Water Considerations Elephant ears are water-loving plants. They need at least moist, organically rich soil, but constantly moist soil is preferable, especially in warm months. You can decrease your watering schedule for the plants in winter, when they don't need as much water as they do other times of the year.Dec 15, 2018
Can you overwater elephant ears?
Too much of a good thing can be a problem, and it is possible to overwater Elephant Ears. Well-draining soil will help shed water and prevent overwatering. Let the soil dry out before watering if you suspect the plant has been overwatered.
What does an overwatered elephant ear look like?
Some symptoms that you are overwatering your Elephant Ear plant include: Wet, brown spots on the leaves. Leaves turn brown and yellow. Watery blisters on leaf surfaces, otherwise called leaf edema.
Do elephant ear plants need full sun?
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.Oct 29, 2021
Do elephant ears do well in pots?
If you decide you don't want to plant your elephant ear plants in the ground, container growing is perfectly acceptable for these plants. Elephant ears do well in containers so long as you provide them with the right sized container, proper soil, and adequate sunlight.
Is elephant ear good indoor plant?
Upright elephant ears (Alocasia) can be brought indoors and grown as houseplants. Keep the plants in bright, indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist, not wet.
How do you care for indoor 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.Jun 6, 2020
Why is my elephant ear plant drooping and turning yellow?
Too much or too little water can cause leaves to turn yellow or brown. One other factor to consider when your elephant ear plant becomes discolored is watering frequency. Both over-watering and under-watering can cause the leaves of any plant to form yellow spots, before the color takes over the whole leaf.Dec 10, 2021
How long does it take elephant ears to grow?
three to eight weeksElephant ears usually sprout three to eight weeks from planting. Sprouting occurs when the weather begins to warm in spring. They will sprout faster in warmer climates than in cooler climates. To speed up the process, you can start them inside and move them outdoors once it warms up.Sep 17, 2021
How do you water an elephant plant?
0:191:46How to water an Elephant Ear plant and keep it from drying out. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it gets a little bit hot and the soil can dry out. So the water every day make sure you not toMoreSo it gets a little bit hot and the soil can dry out. So the water every day make sure you not to get it on the inside of the plant. You. Just want to water the soil around.
How much water do elephant ears need?
Elephant ears need 2-3 inches water every 6 days when grown in pots and if it’s planted in the ground it needs 1-2 inch water per week based on the weather. You don’t need to water elephant ear plants if there is rainfall or your soil is too soggy.
How often to water elephant ears?
Elephant ears plant can be watered regularly on hot days. Mostly they are often poured enough water to make the soil 2-3 inches wet. Some experts believe that you should never make soil completely dry but make it moist all time so the roots always have strength. This way plants can build giant elephant ears like leaves.
How to water elephant ear plant?
Firstly check for the soil by using your finger or wooden stick for 2 inch then take out you would possibly know if it’s wet or dry. Wooden sticks would be wet if the soil is wet or if you use fingers you may feel the wetness in soil or dryness.
Do elephant ears take a lot of water?
Yes, Elephant ears take a lot more water than normal indoor and outdoor growing plants. They have giant heart shaped leaves that need heavy watering. These plants are water loving and you may need to give them water more in summers when the sun is at the top and the climate has become too hot outside.
Should I mist my elephant ear plant?
Elephant ear plant can be misted to clean its leaves and also to get rid of spider mites and other pests. On Very Hot days it needs misting but I would suggest giving it by the soil and not by misting the leaves. I know that misting would cool down and make the foliage moist.
Final thoughts
Watering any plant is important but elephant ears like large leafy plants need more. So I hope you now know that they need a lot of water to grow healthy and fast. All the best for future gardening. Thank you.
How often should I water elephant ears?
How often should I water my elephant ear plant? (Pot fully submerged.) Containers will need to be watered daily during the summer. Plan on giving plants at least 2-3 inches of water per week.
How should I take care of elephant ears indoors?
Similarly, how do you take care of an elephant ear plant indoors? Upright elephant ears (Alocasia) can be brought indoors and grown as houseplants. Keep the plants in bright, indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist, not wet. To see a video about digging, splitting and storing elephant ear bulbs click HERE.
Why are my elephant ears yellow?
Yellow spots on your elephant ear plant can indicate a problem with watering, says Ingstrom. Very large yellow spots at the edges of the leaves indicate lack of water , but smaller yellow spots closer to the roots of the plants indicate too much water .
Do elephant ears need water?
You can decrease your watering schedule for the plants in winter, when they don't need as much water as they do other times of the year.
How often should you water an elephant's ear plant?
Elephant's ear plants are a little different from most houseplants in that they do like thorough watering. Where the advice with most houseplants is that if you allow them to a go a little too dry that's better than watering too frequently, this just doesn't apply.
What else should I know about caring for elephant's ear plants?
The main thing to remember is that alocasias, like other tropical plants, dislike sudden and extreme temperature fluctuations. Kristin recommends keeping these plants at a temperature range 'between 65˚F-85˚F.'
How to tell if the plant needs watered
Elephant Ears like consistently damp soil, so the plant needs water if the soil is slightly moist. If the soil is dry, then the plant definitely needs water. Other signs your Elephant Ears need water include leaves wilting or drooping.
How Often To Water Elephant Ears
Daily watering for newly planted Elephant Ears can help the plant acclimate to its new home. Pay attention to rainfall and humidity levels, which can impact how often the plant will need water. Elephant Ear plants like damp soil, and for new plants that have not yet developed a robust root system, this typically requires regular watering.
Best Time To Water Elephant Ears
A plant showing signs of dehydration should be watered right away. Typically, during the summer, water Elephant Ears in the morning. Give the plant time to soak up water before the day heats up since high temperatures and lots of bright light will dry out the soil.
How to plant elephant ears in the spring?
Plant elephant ears during spring in a location that receives partial shade throughout the day. Apply a 3-inch layer of organic compost to the planting site and use a garden tiller to incorporate into the soil before planting. Space elephant ear tubers 2 to 3 feet apart.
How to protect elephant ears from frost?
Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over the soil surrounding elephant ears during fall, just before the first frost of the season, to protect the plants from cold damage. Remove the mulch during early spring before active growth resumes. Water elephant ears once every five days during the first three months of growth to help them become established.
Where do elephant ears grow?
Elephant ears, also known as taro or by their scientific name, Colocasia esculenta, grow natively in swamps and wetlands in tropical areas of Asia. In the United States, gardeners often treat elephant ears as annuals by overwintering the tubers indoors.
How to store a sage plant?
Store them in peat moss at a temperature of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit until spring. Replant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Allow the tubers to remain in the ground in zones 8 through 11 and new growth will appear in spring. Prune away faded and damaged leaves during midsummer.
Do elephant ears need winter?
Hardy in zones 8 through 11, the plants prefer warm or tropical climates and cannot tolerate cold winters. Growers value elephant ears for their striking, heart-shaped leaves that resemble the ears of elephants.
Why do elephant plants need more water?
Elephant plant will consume more water during the growing season ( spring and summer). Because in such a season the plant is actively growing . Therefore it consumes more water in order to produce more energy to support the new growth.
How to tell if an elephant ear is overwatered?
Overwatered Elephant ears. You can tell whether your elephant ear plant suffering from overwatering by looking at the leaves. Overwatered elephant ear will have leaves with brown dark spots framed with a yellowish rim. In such a case your plant is suffering from root rot. You need to check the plant’s roots.
What happens if an elephant ear is underwatered?
Elephant ear that is underwatered will have wilting and bending leaves. Also will drop leaves. In such a case water your plant deeply until the water drains through the drainage holes.
Can you water elephant ears without holes?
How to water Elephant ears planted in a pot without drainage holes. Growing elephant ear in a pot without drainage holes is not the right nor the recommended approach. However, many people choose to do so for different reasons. If you found yourself in a such position. The most critical factor that either will make your plant survive ...
Do elephant ears like soggy soil?
Elephant ears love moist but not soggy soil. And by you following such a rule you provide it with what it loves in terms of watering. Now you know how to water your plant. But there are more important factors that will determine the watering success. Even more important than how often you should water your plant.
Do elephant ears like sunlight?
Elephant ears thrive best in an environment that gets bright but indirect sunlight. The brightness can differ from one place to another. More the brighter the place the more water elephant ears will consume, And vice versa.
Do elephant ears need water?
Elephant ears that are living in an indoor environment will need less water when compared with the ones located outdoor. Because the evaporation rate in the indoor environments is way less than in the outdoor environment, especially in summer.
How do elephant ears grow?
Alocasis and Xanthosoma species of elephant ear grow from hard corm-like roots that can't be divided. These plants are sometimes propagated by collecting and planting seeds from the flowers, though this is time-consuming and difficult.
What zones do elephant ears live in?
Temperature and Humidity. Elephant ears are tropical plants that do best in circumstances that mimic their native habitat. They will be evergreen in USDA zones 10 to 11, but will likely die back to the ground in zones 8 to 9 to return in the spring.
What is an elephant ear?
Elephant ears are tropical perennial plants grown for the appeal of the large leaves rather than for their flowers. Elephant ear is the common name is used for several species in three plant genera— Colocasia, Alocasis, and Xanthosoma. The most commonly grown plant Colocasia esculenta, also known as taro. Whatever the species, elephant ears are ...
How big are elephant ears?
While these leaves can reach 3 feet long and 2 feet wide in the tropics, in colder climates they will remain smaller (but still impressive).
Can elephant ears be planted indoors?
In warm zones (8 and above) the root can be left in the ground as a perennial, while in colder zones the plants are either treated as annuals, discarded at the end of the season, or dug up and stored indoors for planting the following spring. In any landscape, elephant ears provide an infusion of tropical atmosphere.
Can you plant elephant ears in a pot?
Potting and Repotting Elephant Ears. Elephant ears are sometimes grown in large containers as patio plants, but it is important to use a potting mix with a lot of organic matter that holds moisture.
Is an elephant's ear edible?
Elephant ears' species name, esculentia, is the same term that gives us the word "esculent," meaning edible. In fact, elephant ears are an important food source in warm climates around the world. The roots (known as taro root) and the leaves are both edible. However, the leaves need to be cooked before they are consumed.
What Do Elephant Ear Plants Look Like?
Elephant ear plants have enormous, heart-shaped (or elephant ear-shaped) leaves that can reach up to three feet long and two feet wide when growing wild in the tropics. They can come in rich green, variegated, or purple colors.
How Much Sun Does an Elephant Ear plant Need?
Indoor elephant ear plants thrive with lots of indirect sunlight. You should place your pot in an area of the home with bright windows that will cast a lot of indirect light on the plant. Avoid too much direct sunlight, as too much harsh sun can bleach or discolor the leaves.
What Temperature Works Best?
Since this plant is home to the tropics, it does best in warm environments. The best temperature for this plant is between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does an Elephant Ear Plant Enjoy Humidity?
Elephant ear plants are native to tropical areas, so they enjoy humid environments. Consider placing this plant in a bathroom with a shower since that becomes a routinely humid room in a home. You can also add pebbles to the soil for this plant since that creates more humidity when the water evaporates.
How Often Do You Water Elephant Ear Plants?
Elephant ear plants require lots of water and don’t mind living in moist soil. You may need to water the plant daily during the growing season and ensure that the soil does not dry out entirely during the warmer summer months. However, you won’t need to water the plant as much during the winter months.
What Size Does an Alocasia Macrorrhiza Grow to Typically?
With proper care inside your home, you can expect this plant to get to 6 feet or more in height.
Can You use Mulch on this Plant?
Placing mulch or other organic matter around the top of the planter can help keep the potting soil moist and help regulate the soil temperature. This prevents the plant from drying out too much or getting too cold.
