About Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear Plant is a very wide-leaf plant, many people mistakenly believe they are large-leaved plants. The elephant ear plant is not a plant of the true elephant ear plant. The leaves of this plant are several times larger than the leaves of the true elephant ear plant, so it is more beautiful and eye-catching. This kind of large-leaved plant can be found in many tropical rainforest areas.
Elephant Ear Plant is a perennial herb of the Araceae family. The stem is fleshy. Its leaves are big and shaped like an elephant’s ears as its name suggests.
There are two types of elephant ears: the light green or nearly black leaves of the Colocasia plant and the bluish-green leaves of the Xanthosoma plant.
These plants can be grown from either bulbs or tubers, and they grow best when planted in rich soil located in a part of the garden that gets full sun to partial shade.
Since these plants die back each year after they have stood tall, they will need to be dug up and stored over winter.
Advantages of Having Elephant Ear Plant
The Elephant Ear plant is one unique plant that can be used as an ornamental plant in the home. It can absorb sound and hence, it is a good choice if you want to decorate your home with plants and also reduce noise at the same time. Aside from its ability to absorb sound, there are other advantages that you get from this plant. These are:
1. Easy maintenance – The elephant ear plant is very easy to maintain. That means that you don’t need to spend too much time and effort on maintaining this plant. All you have to do is sprinkle some water on it once a day and it will be fine. You should also take note of any signs of disease or damage so that you can immediately address them before they get worse.
2. Fresh air – The elephant ear plant can purify the air in the room where it is located, making it very good for those who suffer from different types of allergies and asthma. Through this advantage, you can significantly improve your health conditions by being able to breathe in the fresh air throughout the day.
3. Helps reduce stress – This type of plant also helps reduce stress levels by promoting relaxation through increasing levels of positive energy.
Growing Elephant Ear
When people hear “elephant ear plant,” they usually think of a tropical plant that naturally grows only in the rainforest. But elephant ear plants can grow in pots in your home, and they make a great addition to any room!
Potting: Elephant ear plants like a pot with drainage holes and rich, well-drained soil. The soil should have some sand or perlite mixed in to make sure it drains well. They also like to stay moist but don’t like soggy soil, so water regularly but not excessively.
Watering: Water elephant ear plants whenever the top layer of soil dries out—usually one to two times per week. If the leaves start drooping, this is a sign that the soil hasn’t been watered for too long.
Sunlight: Elephant ear plants need a lot of light. They do best in bright indirect sunlight all day long. If you do not want to put your plant outside, choose a south or west-facing window for your elephant ear plant. A north or east-facing window will not provide enough light for the good growth and flowering of the elephant ear plant.
Temperature: Elephant ear plants thrive at temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so keep them close to a window where they can get lots of sunlight but not get too cold.
Humidity: Elephant ear plants love humidity! If you live in a dry climate or during wintertime, mist your plant once or twice per day with water from a spray bottle to keep it happy and healthy.
Caring Elephant Ear
Elephant ear plants are known to grow quite large, but the plant isn’t difficult to care for.
Most elephant ear plants are grown as annuals, but if you’re going for a permanent outdoor planting, fertilizer is key. It should be noted that there is no such thing as a tropical plant fertilizer. There are different formulations of fertilizer that may mention the type of plant they are intended to feed, but they are all the same chemically.
Fertilizer for elephant ears needs to be applied regularly to keep the plant looking its best. The soil they are grown in needs to be maintained at a high level of fertility to produce the lush foliage that makes these plants special.
The reason that fertilizer is used so often on elephant ear plants is because of their high nutrient requirements. They need a lot of nitrogen and other nutrients to grow large leaves and stay healthy throughout the growing season.
Propagating Elephant Ear
Propagating elephant ear plants is generally done by division or by seed. Seeds form on tall stems after the plant has flowered. Roast the seeds and then plant them in spring. You can also try planting the seeds in a container indoors to get a head start in the growing season.
Division of elephant ear plants is best done in early spring before new growth appears on the rhizomes. Locate a clump of mature plants with rhizomes that are at least 2 inches in diameter. Cut through the rhizomes, making sure that each section has at least one bud on it. Let the cuts dry overnight before replanting them in pots of moist soil or directly into your garden bed.
Another method for propagating elephant ear plants is to simply plant a piece of rhizome directly into moist soil, with at least one bud present on it.
Pest and Disease Control
The elephant ear plant makes a stunning addition to the landscape or as a houseplant. However, one of the problems when growing elephant ear plants in managing pests and diseases. Read on to learn more about common pest issues with elephant ear plants.
Most insect pests that feed on elephant ears are primarily interested in the sap of the plant, rather than the leaves themselves. The most common of these insects are:
Aphids
These small insects appear in clusters on new growth. They leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew that can encourage the growth of sooty mold.
Mealybugs
Similar to aphids, mealybugs tend to cluster together and feed on new growth. They can also produce honeydew which encourages sooty mold fungus growth.