What is Colocasia gigantea?
Colocasia gigantea, commonly called elephant’s ear, is a large, stemless, tuberous, frost-tender perennial of the arum family which typically grows to 4-7′ tall and as wide and features huge, heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped, conspicuously-veined, downward-pointing, peltate, dull green to gray green leaves (to 2-4′ . If you notice yellowing leaves, wilting, “crying” water, or a foul smell, your Elephant Ears may be overwatered. Adjust your watering routine accordingly.Sunlight: Your elephant ears will thrive in brightly lit rooms indoors and partial shade outdoors. However, the leaves can be sensitive to intense sun, so be wary of any burning or bleaching on the leaves.Other problems with elephant ear plants the huge 4 foot (1 m. without support, the broad leaves have a tendency to droop and cover lower growing plants. They also replace the old leaves as the plant matures.Elephant Ears are poisonous to children. Touching the stems or leaves can cause skin irritation and possibly a rash and itching.
How do you keep Colocasia indoors?
Colocasia plants thrive in bright, indirect light. They prefer a location with filtered sunlight or partial shade. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as this can scorch their leaves. If you’re growing your Colocasia indoors, place them near a window that receives bright, indirect light. Sunlight: Most Colocasia thrive in partial shade, especially in hot climates. Some tolerate full sun with adequate moisture.For watering, Colocasia prefer and do best when they are kept evenly moist at all times. Never allow them to fully dry out, as you will quickly see wilting, leaf browning and shriveling. Once an Colocasia leaf starts to droop, bend or brown, there is usually very little hope in saving it.Prune your colocasia if they get too lanky or bulky. As well, if there are any yellow leaves they should be trimmed.A Word Of Caution While Eating Colocasia Thus, the leaves and tubers must be washed rigorously and as a rule, most varieties of this plant must not be eaten raw and should be only consumed after being cooked which can be by boiling, steaming, roasting, or frying.
Is Colocasia fast growing?
Colocasia is a fast-growing plant that can quickly fill a garden’s space. It’s known for its dramatic tropical appearance and is often used as a focal point in landscaping. Once potted up, water thoroughly. Colocasia prefers slightly wet or boggy conditions for growth, but for now, ensure that the soil is well watered and not saturated. Water regularly when you can see shoots, and don’t let the compost dry out completely.Colocasia needs plenty of warmth, humidity and moist soil to thrive. Outside, grow in dappled shade, in moist, rich soil in a sheltered spot and bring back indoors in autumn. If growing as a house plant, give it bright but indirect light and a humid atmosphere.Colocasia Black Magic needs to be well-watered and fed throughout the growing season. To help support the growth of its lustrous leaves, feed it with fish fertiliser from time to time. If you have a pond, you can use water from it.If you’re growing your colocasia in a pot, bring it indoors and enjoy it as a house plant over winter. You’ll need to keep it at temperatures that are above 21°C, otherwise it will go dormant and lose its leaves. Water sparingly in winter.
Where is the best place to plant Colocasia?
Colocasia needs plenty of warmth, humidity and moist soil to thrive. Outside, grow in dappled shade, in moist, rich soil in a sheltered spot and bring back indoors in autumn. If growing as a house plant, give it bright but indirect light and a humid atmosphere. Caring for colocasia If you’re growing your colocasia in a pot, bring it indoors and enjoy it as a house plant over winter. You’ll need to keep it at temperatures that are above 21°C, otherwise it will go dormant and lose its leaves. Water sparingly in winter.Rinse off any dirt and leave the corms out somewhere warm to completely dry for a week or two. This process will force your Colocasia/Alocasia corms into dormancy for winter. Store them in trays of grit, paper bags or wrapped in newspaper. The trick is to store them somewhere dark and cool throughout the winter months.Caring for colocasia If you’re growing your colocasia in a pot, bring it indoors and enjoy it as a house plant over winter. You’ll need to keep it at temperatures that are above 21°C, otherwise it will go dormant and lose its leaves. Water sparingly in winter.Sunlight: Full sun to part shade. Darker-leaved varieties tend to need more sun to maintain their color. Watering: Keep soil consistently moist. Colocasia thrives with regular watering and tolerates wet or even submerged soil conditions.
How big do Colocasia gigantea get?
Common Name: Giant Elephant Ear gigantea. Its glaucous green leaves can measure a whopping 5′ long x 4′ wide each. Full grown plants typically reach 9ft tall, though some grown in tropical climates have reportedly reached 20′. In warm, frost-free climates (zones 9-11), elephant ears can be grown outdoors year-round. In cooler areas (zones 3-8) they are usually grown as annuals. When the tubers are planted in late spring, they will become large, impressive plants within just a few months.Ensure that the plant is not sitting in the water. Temperature: Elephants Ear plants prefer indoor temperatures to be warm at 15 – 26°C. If the plant is exposed to prolonged temperatures below 15°C, it will become dormant and may drop all of its leaves. Keep the plant away from cold drafts.Should I soak elephant ear bulbs? Water the soil thoroughly after planting elephant ear bulbs. The bulbs need to be kept moist, but avoid soaking or overwatering since this can cause root rot. A good general rule is to wait until the first inch of topsoil has dried before watering again.How often to water your Elephant Ear. Elephant Ear needs 0. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.Elephant ear plants live about eight years. Rather than digging plants from the ground to overwinter in some areas, some gardeners grow them as annuals. Since they multiply, they can be divided when they emerge every spring to generate new plants.