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Keep elephant ear plants consistently moist. They can even survive nicely in 6 inches of standing water, although it is best to water the plant when the soil is wet and not soggy and never allow the soil to dry out thoroughly.
How do you take care of an elephant ear plant indoors?
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 often do you 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.
Do elephant ear plants do well 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.
Do elephant ear plants need full sun?
Elephant ears are tropical plants and the hotter and more humid the weather, the faster they grow. Colocasias display their leaves with tip of the heart pointing down. They prefer full sun and consistent moisture.
Should I mist my elephant ear plant?
This tropical house plant can be somewhat fussy, preferring the high humidity of a greenhouse to an average home. However, a room humidifier and frequent misting of the leaves will give it the moist air it craves. Regular misting also helps to keep away red spider mites that are attracted to dry conditions.
Why do elephant ears weep?
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.
Can you overwater elephant ears?
Crown, leaf spot, and stem or root rot: These diseases are caused by overwatering and usually appear as dark brown or black spots on the leaves surrounded by a yellowish rim. To prevent this, avoid over-watering, keep the leaves dry, and provide it with good air circulation.
Should I cut off brown leaves?
Should you cut off dying leaves? Yes. Remove brown and dying leaves from your house plants as soon as possible, but only if they’re more than 50 percent damaged. Cutting off these leaves allows the remaining healthy foliage to receive more nutrients and improves the plant’s appearance.
How fast do elephant ears grow?
In healthy conditions, expect this elephant ear to reach full maturity from a crom in about 14 to 20 weeks.
Do elephant ears bloom?
Although elephant ears are grown primarily as foliage plants, they can bloom – but flowers are not common in the Midwest. The inflorescences are the typical aroid type with a white to yellow or light green spathe surrounding the spadix.
How often should I water my indoor elephant ear plant?
Indoor elephant ear plants must be watered once daily during the warm summer months as they will drink a lot of water during that period. The soil should be kept moist and not allowed to dry out. The key to ensuring your elephant ears are getting enough water is to keep the soil moist without saturating it.
Do 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.
Why is my elephant ears dying?
When an elephant ear plant is getting too much sun, the leaves may turn brown, and it will look like it is dying. If your elephant ear plant isn’t getting enough sun, its leaves will turn yellow. Elephant ear plants with darker leaves are pickier and will show signs of distress if they are getting too much sun.
Why are my elephant ears leaves turning yellow?
The most common cause of yellowing leaves in elephant ear plants is a watering issue. You see, it’s possible that the leaves could start yellowing due to not receiving enough water. The yellowing could be a sign that the elephant ear plants are struggling and that you need to water them more.
Are elephant ear plants easy to care for?
Growing elephant ear plants is easy. Most of these plants prefer rich, moist soil and can be grown in full sun, but they generally prefer partial shade. If growing in pots use a rich, organic potting soil and plant them at the same depth.
What kind of soil do elephant ears need?
If using potting soil, choose one that’s rich in organic material and mixed with peat and perlite to create an artificial wetland or bog that will hold moisture. If you’re mixing your own soil, use well drained, crumbly loam with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Avoid rocky soils, which can deform the corms.
How do I know if my elephant ear plant is dying?
Below are two common signs seen in dying elephant ear leaves that indicate your plant may need your immediate attention. Indication of dying elephant ear leaves: yellowing leaves. Indication of dying elephant ear leaves: browning leaves. Too much direct sunlight can cause leaf death. Lack of light can kill leaves.
