How to Care for Elephant Ears in Northern Climates
If you want to add pizazz to your garden, you can't go wrong with elephant ear (Caladium). With its huge leaves in shades of green, white and even red and pink, elephant ear is impossible to ignore. Elephant ear is a tropical plant that prefers temperatures over 55 degrees F. If you live in a cooler northern climate, it's still possible to enjoy caladium, but extra care is in order to prevent the elephant ears from getting nipped in chilly weather. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer
- Mulch
- Spade or garden fork
- Cardboard box
- Peat moss or sawdust
Instructions
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Plant elephant ear in moist soil, and don't allow the soil to dry out. Elephant ear will even thrive in poorly-drained soil near a boggy area or pond. In cooler climates, plant elephant ear in morning sunlight and afternoon shade.
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2
Fertilize elephant ear monthly during the growing season using a balanced, liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer. Follow the specifications on the fertilizer package closely.
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Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the elephant ear plant. Mulch such as pine bark, chopped leaves or dry grass will stabilize soil temperatures and retain moisture.
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4
Dig up elephant ear bulbs with a spade or garden fork when the leaves die down, or soon after the first frost of the season. Dig several inches from the plant to avoid cutting into the bulbs.
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Remove any remaining foliage from the elephant ear bulbs. Shake the excess dirt off the bulbs, and lay the bulbs in a shady, dry place for a day.
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Fill a cardboard box with peat moss or sawdust, and bury the elephant ear bulbs in the box. Moisten the peat moss or sawdust ahead of time so that it is just barely damp.
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Store the elephant ear bulbs in a cool, frost-free room with temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees F.
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Re-plant the elephant ear bulbs in the spring, after you're sure any danger of frost has passed.
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Tips & Warnings
Never remove the foliage from the elephant ear plant before it dies down, as the leaves store nutrients that the plant will need for the following year.
References
- Photo Credit feuille de caladium image by Unclesam from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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thanks for the information.
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There is always ideas for storing and taking care of the elephant ear plalnts. Some say do NOT let the frost get them, others say it is ok for the frost to get them once. Some say to trim off the foliage, other say no. Then some say they do not bloom, but ours are blooming and the bloom is really a conversation piece.
