Quck answer
To grow elephant ears in water, follow these steps:
1. Select a healthy elephant ear rhizome, preferably one with multiple buds.
2. Fill a container with clean, room temperature water.
3. Place the rhizome in the water, ensuring that the buds are facing up.
4. Keep the container in a warm and well-lit area, away from direct sunlight.
5. Change the water every week to prevent stagnation and ensure freshness.
6. Wait for the roots to develop and new shoots to emerge from the buds.
7. Once the roots are well established, transplant the elephant ear into a pot with well-draining soil.
8. Continue to provide adequate water and sunlight for optimal growth.
Growing elephant ears in water is an easy and rewarding way to propagate these beautiful plants.
Elephant ears, also known as taro plants or colocasia, are large-leaved plants that originate from tubers. These semi-tropical plants require indoor shelter during the winter season. Elephant ear leaves are massive and can come in various colors, including variegated and purplish-black. They thrive in environments with excessive water, making them ideal for ponds and adding a tropical touch to garden water features.
Step 1: Initiating Growth Indoors
In March, start the taro tubers indoors. Plant them in a pot filled with potting soil, burying them 2 to 3 inches deep. Place the pot in a warm room to encourage sprouting. Water the tubers daily until water starts draining out of the pot’s drainage holes. Make sure to remove any excess water from the saucer to prevent the delicate new roots from being submerged.
Step 2: Providing Optimal Lighting Conditions
Once the sprouts appear, transfer the plant to a room with indirect lighting. Elephant ears thrive in semi-shady areas. Use a slow-release fertilizer and work it into the top 2 inches of soil. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage for the fertilizer.
Step 3: Transplantation
After eight weeks, remove the plant from its pot. Brush off as much potting soil as possible. Line a basket with burlap and fill it with 3 to 4 inches of aquatic planting mix. Place the plant inside the basket and fill the edges with more planting mix.
Step 4: Potting and Submerging
Press the soil down and around the plant. To prevent soil from escaping the pot, cover the top 1/2 inch of the soil surface with pea gravel. Submerge the plant into the pond at an angle, allowing any trapped air bubbles to escape. Elephant ears can be grown in the middle area of the pond or on the edge, partially submerged.
Step 5: Winter Storage
In late summer or early fall, remove the pot from the pond. Trim the foliage back to the soil and carefully dig out the tuber. Allow the tuber to dry for two or three days. Once dry, wrap it in sphagnum moss and newspaper, and store it in a cool and dry place for the winter season. Repot the tuber in March and begin the process of growing elephant ear plants again.
