Comments on: Winterize elephant ear

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:13:43 +0000

We live in Raleigh, NC. Three years ago we moved to a new house, and I brought some of my elephant ears bulbs from the old house to the new one. They were small, pitiful little bulbs, about the size of walnuts. I figured what the heck, and I planted them in a long bed on the east side of the new house. The first year, I was amazed to see them all come up and produce a lovely stand of 4+ feet high leaves. I had never dug them up over the winters at the old house, so I just left them in the ground at the new house. This year I have an even larger stand of 6+ feet leaves with enormous bulbs (?) bulging out of the ground. A few of the plants have flowered. I didn’t mulch last winter, although the large bulbous parts of the plants were above ground. I just cut back the leaves after the frost hit them. Can I continue leaving them in the ground, or are they becoming more vulnerable as they push themselves upward? Any suggestions?

Hi Victoria
Sounds like they are pretty hardy in your area. You may want to mulch around them to protect the bulbs or dig them up and replant them deeper in the ground which is probably what you will eventually have to do in spring.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:26:14 +0000

I live in Long Island NY. Is it possible to leave the elephant ears bulbs in the ground , cover them with mulch and let them overwinter in the ground? If yes then how should I prepare them, ie water, cut back stems, etc?
Thanks for you help

Hi Peter
Elephant ear is hardy in zone 8-11, although some are hardy in zone 7. You are in zone 7. I think its worth a try to winterover outdoors. When a hard frost blackens the foliage, cut it off or let it die back naturally. Add 2-4″ of mulch around the plant and in mid-winter a few more inches of mulch . This should keep the bulb insulated during the winter.

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:09:25 +0000

I planted a few elephant ears last year in my yard, I live in north Georgia. The biggest one kept a few of its leaves after it got cold. Instead of browning, they filled with water and started to turn yellow. When that happened I cut them down. But the large bulb suffered with white soggy stuff and died. The sprouts off of it were fine and rebloomed this year. All of the other bulbs I planted were fine too. I never dug them up.
I want to prevent this from happening this year. Should I just cut down the leaves when I know it is getting too cold, even if they are still green? Will this hurt the plant?
Thanks

Hi Karen
I wouldn’t cut the green leaves down, they will add nutrients to the bulb. Wait till the frost “blackens” the foliage and then remove it.

By: Judi

Judi — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:34:35 +0000

HI, I just dug up my elephant ears from their pots and the root growth is huge. The plants have grown extra stocks as well. Can I cut back the white roots and also split the plant into two?

Hi Judi
Are you repotting the plants? Are you planning on keeping them indoors for the winter? If so trim back some of the white roots and repot in fresh soil. You can split the plant, if you have 2 plants otherwise wait till spring.

By: Gina Kay

Gina Kay — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:26:04 +0000

my elepahnt ears have had a frost on them and the leaves have turned brown. I cut them off but still have a few new leaves coming out. Would it be okay to cut them all off to about 6 inches then dig them up to winterize?

Hi Gina
You can either cut all the leaves off, dig it up and let the bulb go dormant or dig it up and replant it as a houseplant letting it continue to grow indoors.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:11:16 +0000

I live in St. Louis, MO where we have a moderate climate but it does freeze in the winter. Should I dig up the elephant ear bulbs and store them?

Hi Jim
Yes, you should still dig it up. St. Louis, Mo. is in zone 6, elephant ear is hardy in zone 8-11.

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:07:28 +0000

Thanks so much for all the useful tips for over-wintering the bulbs of this beautiful plant.

By: DAVID

DAVID — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:50:28 +0000

Is any part of the elephant ear edible? Seems a shame that so much energy goes to waste!!!

By: BRYAN

BRYAN — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:42:44 +0000

what about it being soft.how does that effect the bulb.will a soft bulb still produce. i am running out of time.

Hi Brian
If the bulb is soft, then it probably is bad and will eventually rot. If it is soft and wrinkled then it may be dehydrated and needs moisture.

By: Ianina Mendoza

Ianina Mendoza — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:29:41 +0000

Store elephant ear
Can I store my elephant ear bulbs in a shed that is outside in the yard?

Hi Ianina
As long as temperatures do not get colder than 50’sF, you can store them in the shed outside. Be sure to insulate them and keep the soil from completely drying out. Elephant ear prefer warmer storage temperatures than other tender bulbs.