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
A: Miracle-Gro Tropical Potting Mix can be used on an elephant ear plant outdoors if the plant is in a container.
Fertilize once a month with a balanced fertilizer (something like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20).
Elephant Ear (Alocasia) Common Symptoms
Brown leaves: Brown leaves on the Elephants Ear could be caused by two problems: Overwatering or the cold. Check your watering approach and ensure that the soil is moist and not soggy. Also, check that the plant is placed in an area where it is warm enough, 15°C or more.
If you're happy with peat then go for peat based houseplant mix with added perlite and orchid bark. If you want to go peat free then a coco coir/perlite/worm castings mix, some people add sphagnum moss.
Elephant ears prefer moist, rich, fertile soil. Mix in plenty of organic matter such as chopped leaves, peat, or composted manure. They prefer loamy soil but can tolerate other types. Colocasia do well in wet soils during the growing season and can grow on the margin of ponds.
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.
Many types of elephant ears can be grown in partial shade, but the darker colored varieties are best grown in full sun. All need rich, moist soil and nearly all are perfect at the edge of a pond.
Overwatering Signs
If you notice yellowing leaves, wilting, “crying” water, or a foul smell, your Elephant Ears may be overwatered.
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.
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.
Elephant Ears must be fertilized once every 2-4 weeks during the growing seasons, in the spring and summer. This is especially true if you want your plant to grow large. Use a 20-10-20 NPK fertilizer, though a 20-20-20 variant is also perfectly acceptable. Do not feed the plant in winter or fall.
Herbicides with the following active ingredients have been successful in treating elephant ears (E = excellent control, G = good): triclopyr (G), glyphosate(not rated), imazapyr (E), and imazamox (E). In mechanical removal, all care must be taken to keep the plant intact, as remaining fragments will readily germinate.
Pruning Yellow Leaves for Plant Health
Timing is crucial when it comes to pruning your Elephant Ear Philodendron. Snip off yellow leaves as soon as you spot them to redirect the plant's energy towards healthier growth. The best time for this is during the active growth phase, typically in spring and summer.
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.
💡 Ideal Temperature Ranges. Zebra Elephant Ears are not just another pretty leaf in the pot; they demand specific temperatures to strut their stuff in the form of blooms. Keep the thermostat steady between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C) to hit that sweet spot.
🐘 When and Where Should I Trim My Elephant Ear Philodendron? Prune your Elephant Ear Philodendron in spring for vibrant, healthy foliage 🌿—it's all in the timing! Prune in spring/summer for active growth; avoid winter. Remove dead/damaged leaves to prevent disease, never over 20% at once.
As these plants develop slowly it is best to plant them in a temporary container, and then transfer the plant late spring. Place 4 inches of soil in the bottom of your container or pot then take you elephant ear tuber, bullseye facing upward, and nestle it on top of the soil.
Wilting and yellowing leaves signal watering issues; curled leaves mean dehydration. Avoid direct sunlight, provide bright indirect light, and manage temperature for plant health. Combat pests and diseases with insecticidal soap, neem oil, and good airflow.
Which plants do not like coffee grounds? Some plants do not benefit from adding coffee grounds to their soil. Plants like lilacs and lavender prefer alkaline soil, so the slight acidity may harm them. The caffeine in coffee grounds can also harm some herbs and geraniums.
Mix 1/8 cup Epsom salt per one gallon of water and pour around the elephant ear plant. If the elephant ear plant is grown in a container, apply the Epsom salt and water along the edges of the planter.
How to water the Elephant Ear. Water your plant about once a week to keep soil evenly moist but never soggy. Mist between waterings to provide humidity.