How to Winterize Elephant Ears in Zone 7

Humans need to intervene in order to grow tropical plants, such as elephant ears, in a nontropical area. U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 7 is a nontropical area in which winter temperatures may dip as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit. Elephant ears grow from tubers and require warm, moist conditions. In the summer, elephant ears will perform well in a boggy location, but in the winter, that same wet location will cause the corm and stem to rot.

Organic material
Paper bag
Peat moss, vermiculite or perlite

Instructions

- 1
  Dig elephant ear tubers out of the ground when you observe one of three indicators: Leaves begin to turn yellow, temperatures consistently fall into the 50s or the first frost of the season hits the plant.
- 2
  Dig smaller plants with a trowel and larger plants with a shovel. Exercise caution when digging to avoid impaling the tuber with your digging implement. Lift the tuber out of the ground. Shake or use your hand to brush excess soil off the tuber.
- 3
  Amend the ground soil with organic material to give your plants a healthy environment for the next growing season.
- 4
  Set the tubers in a warm, well-ventilated area to dry. Brush off the remaining dirt.
- 5
  Inspect the tubers for rot, mold or other damage. Gently squeeze the tubers with your hand to ensure that they are firm. Discard mushy tubers.
- 6
  Cut the stalk off the tuber.
- 7
  Place the tubers in a paper bag or cardboard box. Cover the tubers with your choice of sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite or perlite. Place the box or bag in a cool, dark room where you can protect them from freezing. Provide adequate ventilation for the tubers.
- 8
  Inspect the tubers at least once per month during the winter for rot, mold and dryness.
- 9
  Place the tubers in pots six weeks before the last frost date in your area to give your elephant ears a head start on the growing season.

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