Elephant ears belong to a range of tropical plants and flourish in warm climates. Subsequently, the large leaves have the possibility of growing several feet wide. These specific leaves can be purple, dark green, lime green, variegated, or anywhere in between. You do not need to have a big garden since you can easily learn how to grow elephant ears in containers.
As these plants are large, you need to ensure that you plant and grow them in the correct manner within the containers. Also, because of the large leaves, these plants require a lot of nutrients. Inadequate sunlight can Additionally, the plants’ untimely death may occur due to insufficient sunlight.
Let us take a look at how to grow elephant ears in containers as it might be less complicated than you would expect.
How to Grow Elephant Ears in Containers
If you have decided that you do not want to plant your elephant ear plants in the ground, container growing is perfectly acceptable for these plants. For maximum growth, Elephant ears do well in containers provided the right size container, adequate soil, and proper sunlight.
Let us identify what needs to be done to ensure that they grow in a healthy way.
1. Pick the Right Container
Because elephant ears grow to such massive proportions, gardeners and landscapers adore them. That, however, means getting large-sized containers to match the size. The size of the container you need to get for your plant is based on which variety you decide to grow.
- Colocasia species usually require pots no smaller than 18 inches in width and 16 inches in height.
- Alocasia cultivars require pots no smaller than 36 inches in width.
- If you will be wanting to gradually work your way up to a larger pot, then you should choose one that is at least two inches larger than the pot housing the plant from the garden nursery.
Providing your plants with large pots allow generous room for their roots to expand and develop. They will also not need to be re-potted anytime soon. Additionally, larger pots have the advantage of slower drying out, which means less frequent watering is required. Keep in mind, elephant ear plants thrive in almost constantly moist soil to maximize growth.
- Choose a container made from non-porous materials if possible. The best options are plastic, fiberglass, or glazed clay since they help in keeping moisture.
- The container must include the drainage holes on the bottom for water to runoff. Elephant ears may prefer the soil to be moist, but standing water is not tolerated.
2. Find the Perfect Spot for Your Variety
Most elephant ear plants thrive in full sun, meaning 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. So, finding an appropriate location for your elephant ears will depend on the variety that you grow.
Some varieties do better in partial shade, and some even survive under shade with two hours of sunlight. So, make sure to check the specifications for the plant before choosing the location.
3. Fill the Container with Soil
While it is common practice to use garden soil to fill up containers, don’t. Compacted soil will introduce bacteria and pests into sterile plants with which bother the rest of your garden.
Start with a commercial potting soil designed for containers. A good potting soil contains vermiculite or perlite for proper drainage.
- For additional nutrients required for healthy growth and drainage, add compost after filling the container with soil.
- Because elephant ears are heavy feeders, use slow-release fertilizer at the start of the season. When they finish absorbing the nutrients in the compost, the fertilizer is expected to release the required vitamins.
Plant Your Elephant Ear Plants
You can choose to begin your plants with a planting a seedling or a bul, either option is entirely acceptable. There is no right way to grow elephant ear plants, it’s entirely up to personal inclination.
- If you go with a pre-grown plant, add soil to the container until it is halfway full. Put the plant in the pot and fill it with soil along the sides. It is important to place the plant at the same level of soil as you have in the nursery pot.
- In the case of a starting bulb, ensure the bulb is planted with the root portion facing down. The top part of the bulb needs to be approximately four inches below the topsoil.
Caring for Elephant Ears in Containers
Despite being heavy feeders, elephant ears are considered a relatively easy plant to grow and care for in containers. Here is what you need to know.
1. Water Often
After looking at the plants, one can tell they need watering as they have a sharp increase in water demand when it comes to moisture. This statement holds especially true for those who grow elephant ears in pots. In this case the water will drain faster and therefore must be checked frequently, especially the potting soil.
- Usually during summers, you need to water daily due to high temperatures as they further enhance evaporation.
- Make sure to provide the plants with a minimum of 2-3 inches of water every week.
2. Fertilize Often
Because the upper parts of the elephant ears briskly increase in size, they indeed require high levels of feeding. It would be best to feed the plants you grow every few weeks with balanced fertilizer to ensure delivery of optimum nutritional requirements. Otherwise, there would be a risk of minimal root ball development.
3. Overwinter Your Elephant Ears
Though everyone may grow elephant ears, not everyone can maintain them as a grow outside perennial plant. This is possible only for those who stay in USDA zones 8 to 11, depending on the cultivar grades selected.
For individuals living in region seven and above (where winters are severe), note that there are two possibilities for overwintering your elephant ears.
- An easy option is to prune away the bulk of old leaves, then bring the plant inside as a house plant before it gets consistently below 60℉ outside.
- You do have the option of allowing the foliage to die back actively and digging up the bulb after the first frost. You can then store that in a dry, cool place until replanting in spring.
While the first option seems easier, going this route requires the use of cutting off any fertilization as well as water to the plant during the semi-dormant phase, which makes things a little stifling for the elephant ear
How to Grow Elephant Ears Indoors
You can choose to grow elephant ears indoors all year round if you prefer, but make sure your plants have a large container.
Here’s some general advice for growing elephant ears in containers.
1. Pick the Right Spot
Select a location within your house that gets bright, but not direct, sunlight. Elephant ears may tolerate direct sunlight, but windows can scorch them over time. They thrive in indirect lighting.
2. Fill Your Container
Choose a container that has a mixture of peat soil and well-draining soil. Ensure that you buy potting soil intended for containers since there are blends tailored specifically for houseplants.
3. Create Humidity
For adequate growth, elephant ears require high levels of humidity. There are many different ways to raise humidity levels around your plants.
- Use a humidifier to directly raise the humidity levels around your house plants.
- Fill a bowl with water and sprinkle some pebbles on top. This bowl can be placed among various house plants that require higher humidity levels.
- Put rocks or pebbles on the saucer or tray that sits underneath your pot, then set your container on top of the stones.
4. Keep The Temperature Right
The temperature should be maintained in a range of 65-75℉ since elephant ears prefer to stay in warm environments. Therefore, do not position the plants close to a window or door that could expose the plants to cold draughts.
5. Fertilize Often
For variety of houseplants including the elephant ear, apply a diluted 20-10-12 fertilizer biweekly. Consistent fertilizing is essential for your houseplants so this will assist in caring for your elephant ear houseplant.
Do not apply fertilizer from winter months onwards as this allows the plant to rest and transition into a semi-dormant phase. At this time, it is also advised to reduce watering and allow the soil to dry
Try Growing Elephant Ears in Pots
Growing elephant ears indoors or outdoors can be done in containers. Ensure that the container you select has sufficient space to accommodate the roots and that the plant is positioned in sunlight for optimal growth.