Last year my elephant ear bulb rotted. Advice needed this year.

9 years ago

Last summer my Thailand Giant did very well. I kept it in a pot. Frost came very late last year. I wanted to cut the leaves off and bring the bulb inside. When I took the soil off the bulb, I was surprised and disappointed to see the bulb had turned to mush. (There had been no indication of this above soil!). So I am trying again this year and have, in fact, purchased a few more elephants ears (Illustris, Hawaiian Black). When is the right time to cut it and bring it inside? Should I try just bring in my other elephants ears (which are smaller) in their pots and treat like a houseplant? If I do, how much watering do they need?

I hope that I can be successful in overwintering these beautiful bulbs. Any advice would be appreciated!

This post was edited by newhostalady on Sun, Aug 24, 14 at 15:51

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Comments (4)

debbiecz3
9 years ago
These will not tolerate any frost as far as I am aware. To trigger dormancy it is advised to stop watering about a month before your average frost date. Dig up bulb and allow to dry several weeks in a warm place. The soil etc will then drop off and bulb can be stored in a well ventilated sack until late winter when it can be potted up again to begin growth. Clumps of bulbs will survive better than individual bulbs. Keep dry over the winter.
If in a container you can just bring it in for storage over the winter and resume watering in spring(that's what I do). I have never tried growing over the winter as a houseplant; why don't you give it a try? It may need dormancy at some point; not sure. Good luck. Hope I helped.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks so much Debbie for replying to my post.

I think I see what I did wrong last year---I continued to water as usual because I knew that the elephant ears liked moisture. I did not reduce the water to trigger dormancy as you suggested. Our average frost date is mid October. I have noticed that the nights are cooler than before and the day temperatures are lower too. I think it will be time soon to stop watering. I will cut the top off and check on the bulb. I wouldn't want to bring it in with its pot (too big) and then find out it had rotted! My other elephant ears are smaller. I think I will pick one of them to keep as a houseplant. The only worry I have (besides bulb rot) is fungus gnats since the soil likes to be kept moist. The other three elephant ears I'll keep in their pots, but stop watering until spring. I sure hope this all works out! Thanks so much!

By the way, Illustris is a lovely elephant ear. . . don't you think?
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debbiecz3
9 years ago
Beautiful. Nice contrast with the lamium, caramel heuchera, creeping jenny and ? H. Blue Mouse Ears. Love shady gardens.
Good luck with your plants.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
9 years ago
Hey girl, you know your plants! Yes, what you see is Blue Mouse Ears. The lamium and elephant ears is actually in a pot on the soil. I like shady gardens. I just don't love the tree roots! Thanks for the compliment. I am hoping that these elephant ears will survive too. I appreciate your good luck wishes.