I have a elephant ear plant that is to big to take inside for winter. How do I keep it from dieing?

Question

I live in south carolina.

Answer 1

my grandmother used to leave her's out all year long. They always came back

Answer 2

We lived in Conroe,TX which is close to Houston. We had lots of giant elephant ear plants , some as tall as 10 ft. Once the weather in Dec got down to 30 degrees or so they would turn brown and die. Then we would go out and cut everything off right down to the ground. By April the bulb in the ground would start growing again and produce lots of baby plants also. I got to the point I had more then I could give away so they really reproduce.
I do not know how cold it gets in the winter in SC but if it gets way below freezing for weeks on end it would also kill the bulb.
Then you would need to dig up the bulbs before they froze and replant them in the spring. You can store the bare bulb in a cool location in your house or garage for the winter as long as it is not a freeze-ing location.

Answer 3

hi, I'm almost in the same boat as you, i have several plants i cant bring in either, (i don't know what i was thinking about!!) i planted a lot of plants this spring, knowing full well the would not survive the winter here in north Carolina, so what i will do is, try & make a green house out of old house windows, & run a drop cord with a light to them, & hope that will keep them warm, maybe you can do the same....good luck.

Answer 4

I got one.

I hear you can just let the plant die outside. The foliage that is.

Dig is up. Store it with your other bulbs in the basement and replant in the spring.

I am leaving mine in the garage to force it into dormancy faster. The basement is still to warm.

I am not sure it will live but its all you and I can do.

Answer 5

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/aroid/msg1212394518954.html

See what these folks say...where I live, in Missouri, you have to dig up the bulbs or they die...it is not clear what they mean and there are several caveats but it may tell you what you want to know...I vote for the fact it is going to die back but if you water it it will come back and be bigger next year...and (lucky you) if you plnat it outside in the ground it will just keep coming back every year.

Answer 6

They can stay outside year round. They will die back during winter and come back up in spring. I don't know if you should put mulch over it or not.

Answer 7

Using PVC pipe and heavy mil clear plastic, build a greenhouse around it , make sure to keep it waterd though .

Answer 8

Do they teach English in South Carolina?

.......................that is TOO big to take inside..................
..............................keep it from DYING?