Overwinter Elephant Ears

knotz

15 years ago

I have a couple in the dirt around my pond with good drainage...They are growing great so far.

Can I leave them there over winter??...What do you guys do??...This is my first year with these.

Thanks :)

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Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 years ago
These are Colocasia/Alocasia, aka taro plants? (there are some other plants also commonly referred to as elephant ears). If so, they are not winter hardy here and need to be dug and stored. They can be grown as a houseplant if you have the room and proper conditions but most folks dig them when the weather begins to drop consistently into the 40's, cut back the foliage, clean and allow the tubers to dry a couple of days then store them in peat, like one would do with dahlia tubers. Alternatively, you can follow similar steps but pot them in a container that is kept just barely moist over winter and store them in a cool basement, etc.
buyorsell888
15 years ago
I stick mine in the greenhouse where they are devoured by spider mites. :(

I keep spraying water, neem and safer's soap but I've got a serious problem. My eyes are so dang bad now too that I can't see them anymore.

I can't spray anything more powerful, I've got treefrogs in there.
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I had one in NE Oklahoma (7A), and my experience was that over 4-5 years, it was hardy...BUT...the ground didn't get warm enough to start it into growth till June or even July. Admittedly, how deep I had it planted may have affected that. But consequently, it didn't make much growth/impact. It needed to start growth much earlier....to make good leaves and enlarge, I'm sure mine shrunk. Incidentally, yes, I never lifted cannas..and they got to be a nuisance invading the yard several times, when I'd either dig them up and give away or mow them.
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Dig them up, wash off excess dirt, let dry completely,cut off foliage, then put in the basement in a box. That's all I do, I've had plants each year from the original tubers from many years ago. Also, to prevent them from growing they're better out of a pot of dirt. I tried both ways and out of the ground deprives them of the medium to grow.
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I was just wondering the same thing! I grew mine from seed this year and they didn't start flowering until late August and now it's getting cold here in MA so I don't think they will last much longer outside. Also, how do you overwinter you EEs? I am anxious to do this too since there are some amazing specimens at my local garden center on sale but I don't want to buy them and see them die next year.
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I live in the foothills of western North Carolina (Zone 7) and planted an elephant ear plant last year and did great all spring and summer. When the leaves died back, I cut them back and covered it over with mulch. So far, nothing's emerged. Should I be concerned? Here it is April 10th; or do you think it'll start to send out leaves later on?
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roguegrower
15 years ago
Mine over wintered in the ground last year. I just didn't get around to digging them. They are planted between a pond and the road. No mulch, no special care. I was suprised to see them in the spring because last winter was colder than usual.
greenelephant
15 years ago
I grow my Elephant Ear in a big pot. I put the pot in the dark in the garage and stop watering. They gradually go dormant.

Anyone want mine?? I'll give it away at the Green Elephant.

Best,

Jim Eichner
greenpassion
12 years ago
I need help here. I have had to overwinter my huge (potted)Eleana EE as a house plant because when I went and got one of them out of it's pot, there was no bulb. Only a mass of roots. So the other that I didn't kill goes into the house each winter. I have a huge potted violet stem EE and a huge potted Illustris, as well as 2 Eleana's and a Nancy's Revenge. I want to store them all dormant, but I'm afraid I'll find no bulb to store. I can't find any video on line that shows anyone getting a HUGE EE out of it's tub, and cleaning the mass down to a bulb. The videos that show these little plants aren't a help to me. Does Illustris and the Violet (or black stem) EE have any bulb to store??

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Overwinter Elephant Ears

Comments (5)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

buyorsell888

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roguegrower

greenelephant

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