LOVE elephant ears!! I grow them in pottery on my patios - they take very well to pot culture. They must be well-watered, though, to really thrive. Part-shade is perfect.

IMO it's too late to order the bulbs. Either find the bulbs locally or buy the potted growing plants, which is what I suggest at this point. It takes a minimum of a good 4-6 weeks for the bulbs to root and start putting out top growth, sometimes longer. I start mine indoors in March. They will really take off once they hit warm soil, but still I think it's too late already to go the bulb route.

Thanks a lot, I'm glad to know and won't waste my time and money on the bulb then. I will look around to see if I want to spend the money for one already started. Unfortunately, I had my eye on a couple of unusual ones and not sure I will want to settle for a plain jane one. [g] But I will look around. :-) If not, there's always next year!

pm2

mxk3 I found a potted Black Magic Elephant Ears, so I am planning on giving it to my DD for her deck. I wonder what size pot I should allow for it and whether it is ok to plant other things with it, or should it be in it's own pot? Regular Potting Soil?

PM,

Here's some growing info...

Botanical Name: Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' kol-oh-KAY-shah ess-kew-LEN-tahCommon Name: Elephant ear, Cocoyam, Dasheen, Taro Synonyms: C. antiquorum, 'Jet Black' Genus: Colocasia Rising to about 36 inches, the elephant ear's deep-purple stalks suspend luxurious leaves of the same color. When the leaves undersides are dusted with chalky-looking bloom, they have an intriguing, almost gray look. This plant does well in a bog or even in the margins of a water garden, as well as in average garden soil.

Noteworthy characteristics: Dark purple, almost black, heart-shaped leaves. Loves wet conditions.
Care: ElephantÂs ears are generally not hardy anywhere colder than Zone 9, so treat them like other summer-blooming bulbs. Let frost kill the top growth, then dig up the bulbs and dry them in open shade. Soon they look shriveled, and any clinging soil dries up and falls off with the roots. Hang them in well-ventilated sacks in a dry, cool (about 50°F) place.When spring arrives, plant the bulbs in 1- or 2-gallon pots and put them in a greenhouse to give them an early start. Position them so that any remnants of last yearÂs stem rise above soil level. Since the bulbs have no roots at this point, water them once, and donÂt douse them again until leaves emerge. Grow in a warm greenhouse or outdoors at a pool margin, in a moist border, or in large aquatic containers.

Propagation: Divide in winter or early spring.
Problems: Soft rot, bacterial blight, corm and root rot, and dasheen mosaic virus are common. Aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites occur.

They like it hot & will pout in our cool springs so don't put them outside too early. Mine have responded very well to large dousings of Miracle Grow. I feed 1/2 strength every 10-14 days. And they soak up incredible amounts of water. You can plant trailing annuals around the perimeter of the pot but if 'Black Magic' grows well for your DD...the other plants will soon be swamped by 'Black Magic'. I live right on LIS &, frankly, we just don't get hot enough here so they've been poor performers for me...they just get going well & temps start to cool off for fall. I believe they'd do better off the coast a few miles from where I am & summer temps are about 10 degrees warmer.

/tricia

Here is a link that might be useful: Growing 'Black Magic'

Prairiemoon, triciae gives you great info. You might suggest that your daughter plant some other things in smaller pots and arrange them around her EE. Coleus and Caladiums (especially white) are stunning with them, as well as brightly colored begonias.

DD decided she wasn't that keen on having such a large black plant on her deck. So I am happy to be able to try it for myself this year. It is a very tiny 2" pot and I have in mind a very large blue ceramic pot to grow it in. I'm considering planting this tiny 2" pot in this massive blue pot and having a good laugh. :-) Not sure if I will try growing it on in a gallon container first. Thanks again for all the help. :-)

{{gwi:157560}}

If the weather is hot enough it will fill up that big pot before you know it, as long as you keep the water and nitrogen coming. I wouldn't bother with an intermediate size here in my climate, though your climate may be different story entirely.

Thanks Donna...I will give the large pot a shot. I'd rather save myself the step anyway. It should be fun. :-)

Yes, it will grow rapidly once it really warms up, but I personally wouldn't plant just that one pot in a "large" pot. I'd put at least three of that size in a 14-16" pot.