How to Store Elephant Ear Bulbs
Colocasia esculenta or Elephant Ear Aracea plants grow mostly in sub-tropical and tropical climates, but can do well in cooler, more northern climates if care is taken to address the needs of these plants. Typically they can be left out all year unless they are planted in areas with cold winters. If this is the case, you will need to store the bulbs for the winter and replant them the spring. Dig them up as soon as the leaves start to show signs of dying. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Trimmers or garden shears
- Mesh sacks, paper bags, or potting containers
Instructions
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1
Cut off all the large leaves, leaving only a short stem as soon as you start to see brown leaves on the plant.
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2
Dig up the bulbs and place them in a mesh bag, paper bag, or potting container.
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3
Cover the bulbs with peat moss, sawdust, or other material which will keep the bulbs dry.
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Store them inside in a cool, dry place where they will not be subjected to freezing weather. If the bulbs freeze, they will become mushy and unusable.
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5
Check the bulbs regularly for signs of rot. If any have started to rot, remove them right away and dispose of them to prevent the rot from spreading to any bulbs which are still healthy.
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6
Wait until the weather has warmed up into the 60 to 70 degrees F to replant the bulbs for the season.
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Tips & Warnings
If you fail to store the bulbs before the first frost, dig them up right away after it has occurred to give the bulbs the best chance of survival.
