I Need to know how to care for elephant ear plants for winter?

Question

I live in Corbin ky. Do I need to dig them up and bring them inside?
or is it ok to leave them outside?they are planted in my flower bed,
thanks, Paula,

Answer 1

Paula,

They are most probably OK outside, but since I have lived my entire life in the frozen North (Zone 4 -5 depending on the map you use) I would bring them in.
I have elephant ears that I have been growing in a container for the last 2 years. I have them year round, but in the winter they function nicely as a house plant and really brighten up the place :-)

Answer 2

Elephant Ear Plant Winter Care

Answer 3

First of all, there are a whole host of DIFFERENT kinds of the Elephant ear plants with leaves ranging from the size of your hand all the way up to 4 or 5 feet long. Some have solid leaves and some are "varigated" (the leaves look like they have fingers). Elephant ear plants are ACTUALLY related distantly to Philodendrons. If you bought this in the South then it is in deed a tropical plant and WILL die off when frozen in a harsh Northern winter. If the leaves are large then you really have your work cut out for you if you want to dig up the bulb and its roots!!!!!! The elephant ear I had outside my bedroom window as a kid growing up in Orlando, FL had a root over 5 feet long and was about as big around as a football goal post. Its leaves got to about 3 - 4 feet long. It had been in ONE spot for about 10 years. Some of the answers given here speak of elephant ear plants growing here in Missouri where the winters CAN get fairly nasty. These are "Hardy" elephant ear plants that I've sometimes seen just left in the ground over the winter time. I don't know how 'they' created an elephant ear plant that can withstand the winters here. LOL! What you need to do is take a sample (like a leaf or some good quality pictures) of your elephant ear to a local nursery, give them the same info you gave here and find out EXACTLY what __type__ of plant you have. With THAT information you will be able to determine what you need to do for the proper preservation (if possible) and continuing care of your plant.

Answer 4

I also live in Kentucky. A few years a go I had two big beautiful elephant ears. Instead of digging them up like I did the year before, I left them outside. Now I have NO elephant ears. If in doubt, DIG them up. It's better to be safe than sorry. You may have to spend a few bucks on a big pot to put them in, but it beats buying more elephant ear bulbs.

Answer 5

I live in Alberta, Canada Zone 3 - I have 3 elephant ear plants - I leave them alone for the winter - they have not "died" back - but have gone through the winter green and in the spring when the snow melts they are green and will start to shoot new leaves. I hope this helps...

Answer 6

Hey Paula,
Do you feel lucky? Well, punk, do ya? Enough Dirty Harry. You're on the border. If you have a cold winter it will probably kill it. But if you believe Bush is causing global warming and the winter is going to be mild, it should do fine. Since it only takes 2 minutes to dig it up, I would play it safe an accept there could be a cold winter coming.

Answer 7

just make sure the bulbs are covered with dirt. If you ever have an elephant ear plant that produces a big, tall flower, (much like a calla lily) it is supposed to be at least 25 yrs. old !

Answer 8

I just am not sure how to advise you on this... I used to have many of the plants when I lived in Africa but it did not freeze there and so kept them out all winter ... In Kentucky... where it does freeze, you can try two things:

a) Take a chance(sometimes it works) leave them in the ground but.. BUT... you have to mulch them heavily with straw. mulching meaning to cover the base of the plant with straw. I do know of some people who have had good luck doing it this way and others have had them die during the winter.. Here.. mulching is the key to survival.

b) Secondly(the much preferred way) is When the tops of yourElephant Ear, (Colocasia sp.... the scientific name) have frosted, carefully lift the tubers, clean them, and cure them for two or three days in a dry, well-ventilated place at 65-70°F. Place the tubers, in a single layer, on a bed of peat moss in an open box on the floor in the coolest section of your basement(or house). Check their condition occasionally. Remember to keep pets and children away from tubers; eating them uncooked can lead to stomach upset.

Answer 9

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I Need to know how to care for elephant ear plants for winter?
I live in Corbin ky. Do I need to dig them up and bring them inside?
or is it ok to leave them outside?they are planted in my flower bed,
thanks, Paula,

Answer 10

Elephant ears will die back in winter, but come back in spring even larger than before