How to Grow Elephant Ear Plant Indoors Successfully

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This is one of the most common issues in growing elephant ear plant indoors. A lot of people aren’t really sure about the watering rules. The first solution is to buy a plant moisture meter and use it to ‘inform’ you about the condition of the soil. The second one is to use your hand. Simply touch the soil. It should be damp, not soggy. If it feels soggy, then you are overwatering it. Refrain yourself from watering the plant just yet. If the soil feels dry, then you don’t provide it with enough water. Basically, you need to check your plant quite often, especially at the beginning. You will then develop a watering routine over time. You will get used to different watering routine in different situation and condition.

Sunlight Exposure

Sunlight is another common issue when growing elephant ear plant indoors. Being a tropical plant means that it is used to warm and humid condition. The plant may get direct sunlight, but it is only for several hours in a day. In the native rainfall setting, the plants are often shaded by other tall trees that are filtering the sunlight, so they don’t really get a lot of sun exposures.

Elephant ears appreciate warm and sunlight, but they can’t really stand full and direct sunlight, especially if they have to get the direct exposure for hours in a day. However, they will also die if they don’t get enough sun – which is the common issue when you plant the elephant ear indoor. Make sure that you choose a spot that can get direct sunlight only for a short hour and then completely shaded every day. If you have a small houseplant, it would be easy to move the pot around. But if your plant is quite big, then moving it around would be an issue. Thus, the ideal location is required.

Growing and Caring Tips

Growing elephant ears isn’t exactly difficult, but it can be tricky if the ideal requirements aren’t met. If you want to achieve successful result, you can do the following things:

  • Be sure that you provide enough space. Although some Alocasias or Colocasias can be grown as houseplant, you still need to consider the container to accommodate proper growth.
  • Think about the proper placement and location. Choose a place that gets indirect sun or partially shaded one. If you have found a spot that gets direct sunlight, make sure that it doesn’t happen all the time.
  • Elephant ears like humidity. It would be better if you can use a humidifier within the same room that you use to grow the plant. When you place the plant, elevate it a bit. Place pebbles or rocks between the saucer and the container. It will prevent the roots from rotting (because the roots won’t directly touch with the water) while at the same time increasing humidity level surrounding the plant. The temperature should be set from 65 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for the plant to survive and thrive. It’s about 18 degrees to 24 degrees Celsius.
  • As it was mentioned before, check your watering routine. It may take time to get used to the whole regime, but you will get the hang of it.
  • Don’t forget about fertilization. Some people say that elephant ear plants need fertilizing once a month, but some say that it should be done twice a month. Skip the fertilization during winters so the tubers can rest and be prepared for the upcoming spring.

Final Words

Elephant ear plants are basically versatile. You can grow them outdoor as well as indoor. Sure, indoor growing may have its own challenges, but so does the outdoor method. From the explanation above, it’s clear that you can grow elephant ear plant indoors as long as you can address the problems.

Read: Knowing the Proper Time of When to Plant Elephant Ear Bulbs

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