For a sincerely tropic issue in your garden , try the elephant spike , Colocasia esculenta , also know as eddo and dasheen . They sprout from potato - like tubers , with large , heart - determine leaf on retentive stalks that can make thump 4 feet high or more . They love wet , even arise in stand water , but call for drier conditions during wintertime dormancy . Some varieties seem to be brave in the tender parts of the Pacific Northwest , USDA zone 8 , but it is best to winter them inside . As you might expect from the species name , esculenta , the genus Tuber are eatable , but only when thoroughly cooked .

Step 1

constitute your elephant auricle , either as tuber or a potted specimen , in an domain that is as lovesome as possible , perhaps shelter from air current by a fence or wall , and that has some shade . The plants will develop in full sun but will demand wet soil to expand their tumid leaves . They will take full nicety , but the more colorful varieties will stay green .

Step 2

Dig peat moss , steer manure , compost or other organic topic into the soil to increase its moisture - hold capacity . Using a shovel , meld it in to a deepness of at least 1 foot .

Step 3

Plant your tuber or potted plant in your chosen area after the soil has warmed up , in May or early June . A tuber should be plant with the pointed terminal down , with 2 to 3 inches of soil over the top . A industrial plant should be set in so that the soil layer in the pot is the same as the soil level of the garden bed . Push the land around your tuber or plant life so that there are no strain pocket remaining and piss well .

Step 4

Apply Pisces photographic emulsion or other gamy - N liquid fertilizer once a calendar month beginning several weeks after planting , mixing it according to the directions on the package . H2O the plant ofttimes , keeping the soil moist to wet .

Step 5

dig up the flora up in fall , before the first frost , in general before the end of October . Cut half the leaves off and pot it into a container enceinte enough to hold most of the roots . maturate it indoors as a houseplant in a gay room , water normally , or hold it in a nerveless , shady , frost - liberal surface area with very small water . When the elephant pinna is inactive , too much water will cause the stems to rot .

Tip

search out some of the new sort of elephant ear is well worth the endeavour . Colocasia " Black Magic " has smutty bow and velvety , non-white - veined leafage , while C. " Fontanesii " has regal root and shiny ruddy leaves . you may also find dwarf smorgasbord .

Warning

Never eat any part of the elephant ear flora raw . The tissues curb an acrid compound , Ca oxalate , that can cause combustion and bump of the tongue , rim and pharynx .

Things Needed

References

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