Light. Most elephant ears will thrive in full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day) or part sun (two to six hours of direct sunlight). You can veer towards planting in light shade with a couple of hours of direct sunlight if you live in a very hot or dry climate.
Elephant Ears perform best in sun or part shade. While most can be grown in partial shade, the darker-colored varieties are best grown in full sun. Provide a sheltered location to protect the decorative leaves from strong winds.
Can elephant ears grow in full sun? Full sun is not ideal for most—they grow best in bright but indirect sunlight. Too much sunlight can burn the leaves, while too little sunlight can cause yellowing. There are certain varieties that can tolerate full sun.
Elephant ears like moist to wet soil and will grow in several inches of standing water. Depending on the size of your container and your growing medium, it may need lots of water daily. Certainly being too wet is preferable to too dry. Older leaves die off naturally and can be removed.
Growing Elephant Ears in pots -- easier to care for I've chosen pots over direct planting because I can control their needs more easily, move them if necessary and it's far easier to bring them indoors in winter. They're not the easiest plants to grow, thriving in a warm, humid environment in full sun or partial shade.
You can use a 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the fertilizer label. Can I use Miracle Grow on elephant ears? You can also use all-purpose Miracle Grow to feed Elephant Ears plants.
Overwatering Signs
If you notice yellowing leaves, wilting, “crying” water, or a foul smell, your Elephant Ears may be overwatered. Adjust your watering routine accordingly.
Elephant ear corms grow over time, with the original corm doubling or tripling in size. Plants also produce offsets that can be broken off and planted elsewhere.
Good choices for a coffee ground treatment are moisture-loving plants like hibiscus, elephant ear, forget-me-not, iris, lily of the valley, marigold, and meadowsweet.
Sun: Elephant ears prefer partial shade to full shade. They can tolerate some direct sunlight in the morning or late afternoon, but direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day can scorch their leaves. Soil: Elephant ears prefer rich, moist soil that is well-drained.
Whether grown as a houseplant or a garden plant, elephant ears require a moderate amount of care. Here are the main care requirements for growing elephant ears: Select an outdoor planting location with partial shade or dappled sun. Indoors, place the plant in a spot with bright, indirect light.
Cutting off dead leaves won't hurt your indoor plants! It will encourage and stimulate new growth, like this elephant ear portodora.
Elephant ears drink up humidity. Though the foliage dies back after a freeze, the tender perennials will come back every summer in the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South. Some varieties are perennial in the lower part of the Middle South (Zone 7b).
How often to water your Elephant Ear. Elephant Ear needs 0.8 cups of water every 9 days when it doesn't get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5.0" pot. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Identifying Signs of Overwatering in Elephant Ear Plants
Well, there are a few telltale signs to watch out for. Yellowing or browning leaves, wilting, and a strong, musty odor emanating from the soil are indicators that your elephant ear plant might have had too much to drink.
Where to Plant Elephant's Ear. Elephant's ear grows wherever there's some shade, moist soil, and warm temperatures. It's striking alongside ponds where its massive leaves create beautiful reflections in the water. An excellent plant for a shaded porch or patio, it thrives when planted in large containers.
Home Care. Wipe out the mouth with a cold, wet cloth. Wash off any plant sap on the skin. Rinse out the eyes.
Tips on growing…
Tropical elephant ears thrive on sunlight. They do want more water in direct sunlight as opposed to shady areas where they don't tend to dry out as fast. Consider these plants as teenage boys, they are growing and eating machines. Frequent applications of fertilizer keeps them healthy and happy.
Elephant ear plants prefer warm temperatures between 18-29°C. They also need high humidity, so it's a good idea to mist the leaves once or twice a week. You can also place a humidifier near the plant to increase the humidity or keep them in a naturally humid place like a bright kitchen or bathroom.
When ferns are yellow and dull-looking, they don't look great. 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.
Sun or Shade: Elephant ears will grow in sun or shade. If you grow them in a hot, sunny location, be sure they get a little shade during the middle of the day. Zone: Elephant ears are tropical plants. In zones 9-11 they can be grown outdoors year-round.
Elephant ears combine well with caladiums. Chinese hibiscus and mandevillea, but they also provide wonderful textural contrast with more typical temperate bedding plants, ferns, or ornamental grasses. Pair dark-leaved varieties with any white, yellow, or orange-flowering plant for vivid contrast.