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Florida Gardening

Elephant Ears? Colocasia? Alocasia? How do you plant yours?

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

12 years ago

I just picked up two colocasias yesterday: Mojito and Black Magic. They are new to me. How do you suggest that I plant them? In pots? Directly into the ground? In sunken pots in the ground?

I know they put out runners: will a pot-in-pot, sunken in the ground method prevent them from spreading? Or will they still find their way out of the pots through the drainage holes?

Also, do you lift yours every winter? How do you store them? Or can they overwinter in pots/ground?

Would appreciate any suggestions! Thanks so much!

Carol in Jacksonville

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Comments (7)

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author
12 years ago
So I have an idea. Big Lots carries outdoor containers/pots that have no drainage holes. That always bugged me... until today! I'm wondering if they would be perfect? From what I am reading, colocasia like it very wet - in fact you can submerge them in pots in water/pond. I would like to stick these in the ground, but I do not want to deal with runners and an invasive plant. I think I am going to pick up a couple of those very cheap pots at Big Lots and sink those in the ground with my new bulbs. Help me - is there anything bad about this idea?

Carol
katkin_gw
12 years ago
I am much further south then you so I don't know if they could stay out all winter for you, like they do for me. But most of them, like mojito, go down for the winter even here, then come back again when the days get longer. I have them planted right in the ground. But for you pots might be better so you can bring them in when it's too cold.
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Hi & welcome! These plants look absolutely gorgeous together! I'm not sure they're the most practical partners. The blooming ones (Mandevilla & Geranium/Pelargonium?) prefer much more sun than the others but if they keep blooming, they're not bothered by it. If the sun isn't too intense and not shining right on the pot during the hot part of the middle of the day, the other plants might not mind too much. Is there some sunburn on some of the Ti plant leaves? Spider mites LOVE Colocasias. Do you see any spider webbing on the back of leaves? Does your pot have a drain hole in the bottom for excess water to escape?
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Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author
12 years ago
Katkin, thanks for the help. Do you have any problems with them spreading? How aggressive are they?

Carol
echobelly
12 years ago
I'm quite a bit south of you. I've got a few different types of elephant ears, all planted in the ground. They die back in a frost but come back quickly. They seem very picky about their site. Some are doing great, with huge leaves, and have spread a little, others in other parts of the yard are struggling and just have a few small leaves. I can't figure out why some are doing so much better than others, the conditions are very similar.
inulover (9A Inverness, Florida)
12 years ago
We inherited some when we got the house last year. They were pretty sad looking because it was just after the freezes. I almost took them out. They are bordered by cement walkway on 2 sides and grass on the other 2. They want to spread, but my lawnmower and string trimmer easily keep them at bay. I could see how they could take over as part of a bed. The roots don't seem to go very deep, so a pot might work. Mine were mostly killed to the ground by the cold, but are rebounding nicely again this year.
judyk_2008 9a DeLeon Sprs. (NW Volusia)
12 years ago
When I lived in Jax(Mandarin)I had them planted by my AC drainage. They grew huge, froze and came back every year. I just mowed off the runners I didn't want. I'm starting some now to plant by my AC for shade.
westhamutd
12 years ago
I have a few planted in the drainage swale to cover the openings of the drainage culverts.They die back with the first freezes,but re-grow in the Spring.Mine are planted out in full sun & seem to be able to handle it,but I think that is because they are constantly in moist conditions.They are not spreading fast & are easily contained.Hope this helps

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