Elephant Ear in Cold Climates

Type

• Elephant ear is the common name for several plants. Alocasia, colocasia and xanthosoma are all elephant ears. The common factor is that they are tropical and subtropical plants with over-sized leaves that have a distinctive elongated heart shape reminiscent of the ears of pachyderms. Identify your type of elephant ear so that you can address the specific environmental conditions it needs. Your plant is starting out with the known disadvantage of being in a colder climate than it prefers.

Location

• In its native tropics, elephant ears thrive in partially shaded, moist locations. The shade protects the leaves from burning under the full harshness of the sun. In the north, the sun does not create the same level of heat as it does in locations closer to the equator. Try to create a microclimate in your yard. Group several elephant ears and other warm weather plants together to trap warm, moist air.

Containers

• Place plants in containers rather than directly in the ground to exercise greater control over the quality of the soil and moisture levels. Colocasia will fare better under more bog-like conditions than will xanthosoma. Start with a mixture rich in organic materials. Organic materials provide nutrients and improve drainage. Feed the plant regularly with liquid fertilizer during the growing season. Move the containers to take advantage of changes in the sun's position as the season progresses to prolong the plant's growth period. Place the containers in a spot sheltered from strong winds that can break stems as well as dry the plant.

Winter

• Treat your elephant ears as annuals and discard them after the frost kills them. Alternatively, preserve your tubers so that they will benefit from their season of growth and potentially produce larger plants during the following summer. Dig the bulbs up in the fall as nighttime temperatures begin to approach 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Dry and store the bulbs in a cool location that does not freeze. Cover the bulbs with perlite or peat moss. Inspect the bulbs during the winter for rot or fungus and discard problem bulbs to avoid infecting the entire batch.