The leaves of elephant ears are shaped like hearts.You can divide the tuber of a healthy parent plant to make elephant ears.In the fall, plant the tubers in containers or store them for the winter and then plant them outdoors in the spring.These elephant ears are a lovely addition to your home.
Step 1: It's best to dig up your parent plant in the fall.
If you want to get the best results, wait until the parent plant starts to go dormant in the fall and the leaves start to die off, then remove it from its pot or in-ground location.If you divide the new tubers from the original in the fall, you will be less likely to harm the parent plant.If you live in a place where the temperature drops below 40 F, you should dig up your elephant ear parent plant in the fall and store them indoors during the winter.This is a good time to separate the new tubers since you will already be digging up your plant.
Step 2: If you want to avoid diseases, wash your tools with bleach.
In a clean bucket, mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water.If you are using a shovel, place it in the solution.After soaking the tools in the solution for 30 minutes, rinse them with clean water and use them to dig up and cut new growth from your parent plant.The bleach helps prevent the transfer of diseases from one plant to another.You will avoid introducing newbacteria to the parent or new plant that may be on your knife or shovel.
Step 3: The parent plant should be removed from its location.
Lift the elephant ear plant out of the pot by grabbing onto the stems.Use your hands or a shovel to dig around the plant to loosen the soil, then grab the stems to lift it out of the ground.Carefully dig around your in-ground plant so that you don't harm the healthy roots.
Step 4: To divide from the parent plant, select healthy tuber with roots.
If you want to see the bulbs, first shake the plant or use your hands to loosen the soil.Look at the new growth to see which ones have roots.If the tubers have at least one new root bud or sprout, they will be able to survive away from the parent plant.If the plant has a disease that can prevent it from successfully propagating, choose tubers that don't have any blemish or rotten areas.
Step 5: The tubers should be separated from the parent plant.
Remove the roots from the parent plant tuber.To cut the new tubers away from the parent plant tuber, use a sharp knife.The potato-like texture of elephant ear tubers makes it easy to slice through them.If you want the parent plant to grow larger more quickly, you can cut all of the new growth from the main plant mass.
Step 6: If you want to grow them immediately, plant them indoors.
If you want to put the tubers in a container, you can replant them immediately.Pick a pot with drainage holes and fill it with potting soil.The tuber should be placed in the well with the side facing up.Place soil around the tuber.A good soil for elephant ears can be found in a mixture of moss and sand.
Step 7: If you want to plant the tubers outside, keep them in a dark place until spring.
If you live in an area with cold winters, you should keep your elephant ear inside until spring.When the weather warms up, put the bags in a dark place and keep them dry.If it's not too humid, a basement is a good choice.The best place to keep the tubers is in a room with a temperature of 50 to 60 F.
Step 8: The planting location should have full sun to part shade.
In areas with plenty of sunlight, elephant ear plants do best.They should not be planted under trees or structures that provide a lot of shade.In areas that get 6 or more hours of sun per day, elephant ears should be planted.If possible, choose a location that is sheltered from the wind.
Step 9: When temperatures reach 40 F (4C) and higher, plant the tubers outdoors.
If you live in a warm location or have stored the tubers indoors, you can plant them outdoors.You can use a shovel to dig a hole for each tuber.The tuber should be placed inside the hole with its side up.If you want to water the tuber thoroughly, cover it with soil.Let the soil temperature rise to at least 65 F.The new elephant ear plant may take several weeks to grow.
Step 10: The elephant ears are 6 ft apart.
Each elephant ear needs a lot of space.They will fail to thrive if they are planted close together.There is a lovely effect to Lining your walkway or fence with elephant ear plants.
Step 11: The soil around your plants should be moist.
Elephant ear plants need moist soil.After checking the soil with your finger to see if it is dry, you should water your plants each morning.The base of the plant is more important than the leaves.