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Container Gardening

Elephant Ear plant

13 years ago

Just a quick question about these plants as they grow like weeds around our house.

How well do they do in containers? I spent the day yesterday chopping up a bunch behind our fence line to keep the skeeters down. I dug up 2 little plants that were starting to come out of the ground. Roots and big tuber on the bottom came up and I potted in some 8"pots for now.

Are they kind of like bananas? one big tuber and and just send out pups?

We have a few big ones with flowers around our fence. Since they grow so fast here I would like to have a bunch to add to my "jungle" on our rooftop.

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Comments (5)

monet_g
13 years ago
That's the only way I grow them here in Michigan - in pots. I keep mine moist, in semi-shade and fertilize regularly. They seem to do well and yes, they send out offsets which can either be removed to start a new plant, or leave them with the mother plant.
filix
13 years ago
Yes they do well in containers.

{{gwi:4565}}
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It's not a swallowtail but a sphinx moth caterpillar....Pergesa acteus, to be exact. My advice would be to put it back where you found it, but others may provide ideas about how to provide care and feeding, and a proper pupal environment.
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Plants react quickly to extremes (temperatures, chemical pollutants in soil or water, etc.), but react very slowly to conditions that are less extreme, such as inadequate light and improper watering. You didn't say how close to the window it is, but it should be just beyond the reach of the direct rays of the sun. You may have it just a bit too far away. The pot appears to be a bit larger than necessary. That makes inadvertent overwatering more likely. Allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry before adding just enough water so that it reaches that level of dryness again in about a week. Given the volume of soil, fertilizing is probably not necessary. Make the appropriate adjustments, but don't expect to see immediate results, rather a gradual decline in the dying back of older leaves
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Looks like older leaves dying off. No biggie. However, these plants don't typically carry a lot of leaves per stem to begin with ... particularly when grown indoors. They like it hot and bright. Avoid direct, hot afternoon sun.
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You can post photos! You have to wait a minute for it to fully load to the comment. I had same issue before thinking it was just me. It will be light color like it’s loading and when it’s done It will be normal color! Hope that makes sense!
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jojosplants
13 years ago
Wow!
That's an amazing plant!!

What size container would work for 1. I got a bulb at walmart recently. I'm going to put it near the kids pool to help shade a little.

I tried one a few years ago in the ground and it didnt make it. From what ive read here, it was most likely lack of water.

Thanks,
JoJo
filix
13 years ago
This one here is on its third year. Every year I bring the roots down the cellar. This year will be the fourth year. It's in the 5.1.1. And they do love water. goodluck! filix.
justinhk
Original Author
13 years ago
sweet lord!! that is big plant!! Do you feed that thing steroids?
I guess my question is answered, thank you

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