Growing elephant ears indoors does not necessitate a large investment funds of meter or energy , but it does need a significant amount of blank space . Several species apportion the common name " elephant ears , " all of which have very large , marrow - shaped leaves that dominate their arise space .
Although all elephant ear varieties can be grown as indoor leafage plants , some types are well suited to indoor environments than others .
Warning
One factor that you must regard before produce elephant ear as houseplants is their perniciousness . They take oxalate that can stimulate serious sickness or destruction if consumed , so they pose a serious hazard to darling and children .
Elephant Ear Varieties
There are three chief types of elephant ear plants : eatable taro , jumbo taro and malanga plants . All grow from tubers and divvy up a similar show , but there are differences in size and leaf shape that differentiate one from another .
Edible Taro or Caladium Plants
comestible taro or caladium ( Colocasia esculenta ) grows serious in USDA plant hardiness zones 8a to 11b , where it can reach a matured height of 3 to 6 feet with a 3- to 6 - foot banquet .
It is typically develop out of doors due to its sizing and spreading substance abuse , but cultivars such as Black Magic ( Colocasia esculenta’Black Magic ' ) and Rhubarb ( Colocasia esculenta’Rhubarb ' ) make extremely ornamental houseplant because of their bluff , colourful foliation .
Giant Taro or Alocasia Plants
Sometimes cry giant taro or elephant ear plants , elephant ear ( Alocasiaspp . , zone 10a to 12b ) can contact a matured height of 2 to 9 feet , but they typically have a more upright growth habit than comestible taro plant .
The nanus cultivar Low Rider ( Alocasia’Low Rider ' ) makes a space - witting choice for indoor maturation because of its small size , while Yucatan Princess ( Alocasia’Yucatan Princess ' ) is a sheer and middle - grab selection because of its dark-green - Negroid farewell .
Tannia or Xanthosoma Plants
Tannia ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium ) is another miscellanea of elephant ear plant life that is at times grown as an cosmetic plant . It mature outdoors in USDA plant life hardiness zones 8 to 10 but will also raise well indoors , if given mass of distance , warmth and Light Within .
Tannia leave partake a similar appearing to those of the giant taro root and edible taro , but they have a somewhat more pointer - same shape . As indoor plants , they typically develop to just 2 to 4 feet in summit .
Growing Elephant Ears Indoors
Growing elephant ear plant indoors is simple to do because they are low maintenance . However , they must be grown under the right condition to keep them healthy and disease - free .
- Sunlight Exposure :* * Different elephant ear plants need different igniter levels . Edible taro needs full Dominicus to partial shade , while giant taro will permit full shade or partial sun picture . Tannia will tolerate a reach of sunlight levels from full sun to recondite shade .
Indoors , position these plants near an eastern or western window . Tannia and jumbo taro will also tolerate being put near a northward - facing windowpane where sun is dim .
Tip
Direct sun near a south - facing windowpane can be too acute , so choose a south - facing windowpane with some clean afternoon shade .
- Pots and Soil :* * Elephant ear plants typically call for a heavy , large container to underpin the system of weights of their very large foliage . select a tidy sum that is no more than an in or two larger than the be sens , because territory in an oversized can can give too much water , which increases the chance of root rot .
Use a large throne made of plastic or Henry Clay with drainage muddle at the bottom . Standard potting soil enrich with peat moss or perlite is the best grease for elephant ears , although soilless pot mix can also be used .
- Humidity Levels :* * Elephant ear grow best when humidness grade delay above 50 % , but they will stick out dispirited levels without suffer any serious harm . However , high humidity levels will decrease the odds of spider mite infestations .
mark your potted elephant ear plant on a shallow tray filled with wet pebbles to lift humidity around the leave-taking . Misting the foliage regularly will also serve kick upstairs humidity .
Caring for Elephant Ears Indoors
Indoor elephant pinna plants need less maintenance than other type of tropical plants , but they still need some regular attending to keep them looking good .
Watering Requirements
Elephant ear need moist land during the mature season , but they should be earmark to dry out slenderly between waterings to keep their roots healthy . * * Provide a cryptical boozing of water system whenever the grime feels teetotal on the surface , * * watering until the excess drain from the bottom of the pot .
In wintertime , rent the soil dry out out in the top in or so between waterings . Resume normal lachrymation in bounce once temperature warm .
Fertilizer Needs
Elephant ear works grow class round , although outgrowth decelerate significantly during the winter months when the flora put down a province of dormancy . Fertilize only during the combat-ready produce season from spring until just after midsummer , with a dilute solution to forestall solution burn .
Use balanced liquid fertilizer such as 15 - 15 - 15 thin to half or one - one-quarter of its recommended intensity . give the fertilizer to tannia plants every month , or feed every two month , if you are growing a jumbo taro .
Stop feeding once temperature dip below 60 ° F in autumn , and summarize feeding in spring .
Pruning and Repotting
Elephant ear plants often develop chocolate-brown or damaged leaves that should be removed to straighten the plant ’s appearance . nip off the damaged leaf as airless to the soil as possible using sharp pruning shear that have been wiped down with rubbing alcoholic drink . get into natural rubber gloves when prune these plant , and wash your hands and shear afterward .
Repot elephant ears every few years , once they fill up their former pot with new leaves . habituate rich , well - drain soil and a gage with drainage holes that is an inch or two large than the older pot . Repot them in fountain .
Troubleshooting Elephant Ear Plants
Serious job are rare if you mature elephant ear under the right growing precondition and with the right care . Overwatering and hard , direct sun are two vernacular culprits of problems such as damaged or discolored foliage , because both factor can emphasize the industrial plant .
If your elephant ear flora develops discolor or damage foliation , lop it off . Allow your plant to dry out out between waterings and provide it with bright , indirect luminosity rather than strong sunshine .
