If you want your works to survive until next year , you necessitate to make out how to store elephant ear in the wintertime . Because these lovely plants are from tropic area , they are not cold dauntless and ca n’t handle dusty winter or frost . How you take care of your elephant ears in the wintertime will reckon on what zone you live in ( see USDA plant hardiness map below ) .
Elephant ear plants , also known as dalo or genus Colocasia , are known for their vast , heart - form leaves that can mature up to 5 feet tall in a unmarried season . These tropic - looking plants are eye - catching gain to summer garden and outdoor living space . However , elephant ears are not inhuman hardy and command some special caution when the weather turn over cool in lodge to winter them successfully .
If you have elephant spike growing in pots the safe intelligence is they can be overwintered right in their container . This makes caring for them easier compare to elephant ears planted in garden layer . Here are some tips on how to winter elephant pinna plants growing in pots
Move Pots to Frost-Free Area
The first step is to bring potted elephant ears into a Robert Frost - free field before temperatures flatten below 40 degrees Fahrenheit A garage , shed , or basement are full option . You require to protect the elephant ears from freezing temperature that could damage or kill them
Ideally , train to move potted elephant pinna indoors about 1 - 2 weeks before the first have a bun in the oven fall Robert Frost in your domain . see local rime date if you are n’t sure when this will go on . It ’s unspoiled to work them in early rather than risking damage from an unexpected cold snap .
Avoid Exposing Pots to Rain
Another key to winter elephant ear in containers is keeping the soil on the dry side . ward off placing the pots where they will get arduous rain or irrigation . Wet dirt during cold sleeping can direct to rotting of the tubers .
Place potted elephant ears under an overhang or porch orbit to keep excess moisture forth . Or move them into a covered blank space like a garage or cold frame where they will stay ironical over winter .
you could also cluster pot together and incubate with a tarpaulin , blanket , or layer of chaff to shield them from pelting and keep on warmth . Just check that not to seal off them in plastic which could trap wet .
Stop Fertilizing
Discontinue fertilize elephant ear plants once you move them for winter storage . Fertilizer can spur growth that the plant wo n’t be able to nurture once it goes sleeping .
Give potted elephant ears a final dose of fertilizer when you first contribute them indoors or into the overwintering field . Then cut off fertilizing for the season . The food already stack away in the genus Tuber will suffer the plant through wintertime .
Reduce Watering
Elephant auricle need much less urine during their winter quiescence . Only water when the soil is partly juiceless 2 - 3 in below the surface . The finish is to keep grunge moist but never soggy or waterlogged .
Check great deal occasionally by sticking your finger into the territory . If it feels dry down low , add just enough water to moisten . Aim to keep dirt slightly moist but not cockeyed . Reduce tearing relative frequency and amount equate to summer care .
If the elephant ear tubers shrivel or get soft , that is a planetary house they have dry out too much . Give them some extra water to rehydrate if needed .
Stop Removing Foliage
Once cold conditions come , allow the elephant ear ’s leafage to by nature die back and go dormant . Do n’t cut off or remove the dead farewell and stems . These can aid isolate the Tuber over winter .
shave off foliage too early in tumble could compromise the industrial plant ’s overwintering process . go out any yellowed or browned leaf in post to serve protect the dormant tubers .
Check Tubers Occasionally
Every calendar month or so , gently remove the potting mix around one elephant ear tuber to peek at it . Check that the tuber appear fat / firm and healthy , not shrink .
Push the land back in place over the tuber . This periodic inspection lets you take hold of any issues like rot early before it spread . Monitoring tuber health ensures your elephant ears will be vigorous when they re - emerge in spring .
Keep Temperatures Cool
Elephant ear require cool temperatures during their quiescence period of time . But head off letting them immobilise . idealistic overwinter temps are between 50 - 60 ° farad .
Move potted elephant ears to an unwarmed garage , basement , or similar area . Temperatures dipping in brief into the 40s wo n’t harm them . Just prevent drawn-out freezing .
render bright , indirect sparkle through dormancy is also good but not decisive . focalise more on keeping temporary worker nerveless but above freezing .
Repot in Spring
If tubers have expanded and are crowd their stool , it ’s practiced to repot elephant ears in early spring before growth resumes . Carefully dispatch each genus Tuber and replant in a large container with bracing potting commixture amend with fertiliser .
Repotting into a roomier pot earmark foliage and tuber to achieve their full possible size through the fall develop season . Just make certain tubers are dormant when repot to invalidate harm alive growth .
Resume Normal Care
Once give arrives and danger of frost has passed , begin lachrymation and fertilizing potted elephant capitulum normally . Move them back out of doors to their summertime growing pip .
New green shoot will emerge from the genus Tuber as they wake from quiescency . Leaves will unfurl and plants will return to vigorous maturation as ground warms . Enjoy their bold tropic allure once again !
Move deal to a frost - free spot before cold temp get
Keep pots dry and shield from heavy rain / irrigation
Reduce watering frequency / amount during quiescency
Allow foliage to cash in one’s chips back naturally
Store at 50 - 60 ° F ; prevent tubers from freeze
Repot tuber in former spring if they have outgrow containers
Rotting tubers – This is make by overwatering and/or poorly drained grease . meliorate drainage and only weewee when partly dry . withdraw soft , rotting sections of Tuber . Dust with sulphur powder to help dry out out .
Shriveled , dry out tubers – final result of tubers not getting enough piddle during dormancy . Soak pots thoroughly to rehydrate if Tuber start shriveling . Increase water more or less in wintertime .
No novel growth in spring – Tubers may have died over wintertime if they froze or rotted from excess moisture . Discard any soft / mushy Tuber and replant healthy single in invigorated potting mix . Fertilize to make regrowth .
Elephant Ears in Zones 1-6
How To Overwinter Your Elephant Ear Plants ( Colocasia esculenta )
FAQ
How do you keep potted elephant ear over the winter ?
Do I have to fag up my elephant ears for wintertime ?
Can elephant ears live in pots ?
Do elephant ear industrial plant go dormant indoors ?
How to farm elephant ears in pile ?
Using a high - lineament soil mix is important for growing elephant auricle in pots . you’re able to either buy a pre - made soil mix or make your own . A good soil mixture for elephant ears should contain a variety of peat moss , compost , vermiculite , perlite , and organic matter . This will provide the industrial plant with the necessary nutrients and moisture retention . 2 .
How do you overwinter elephant ears ?
grok up bulbs , remove , and computer storage . At the remainder of the season , simply cut off the foliage , dig up your tubers and countenance them dry out for a few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . Then , wrap them in paper or place them in peat moss , and store them over the wintertime for planting the following yr . This is our preferable method of winter elephant ears .
Do elephant ear flora overwinter ?
The overwintering of a potted Elephant Ear works extends the develop time of year and promotes yr - round increase . The works will continue to produce new roots and beef up its subsist leaves and stems , albeit at a slower charge per unit when the conditions is cool . However , if you keep it fond and well - light , it will continue to grow .
How to save elephant ear incandescent lamp ?
for keep the medulla undamaged , it is a well theme to start prod about a foot ( 31 centimeter . ) away from the base of the plant and gently plagiarize the plant and bulb . The next step for saving elephant spike is to clean the elephant ear bulbs . They can be gently rinsed , but do not scrub them . It is okay if some shit is still on the light bulb .
