What does an elephant ear begonia look like?
Elephant ear begonia, is a tender, herbaceous perennial Begoniaceae (begonia) family. It is grown for its hairy, wide leaves and colorful long-lasting pendant clusters of white flowers with red hairs which bloom June through November and are attractive to bees.
It is a compact, bushy, mounded, fibrous-rooted plant that features fleshy stems, waxy dark green to bronze leaves and loose clusters (cymes) of single or double flowers in shades of white, pink or red plus bicolor versions thereof. Flowers reliably bloom throughout the growing season (May to October).
Sun or Shade: Elephant ears will grow in sun or shade. If you grow them in a hot, sunny location, be sure they get a little shade during the middle of the day. Zone: Elephant ears are tropical plants. In zones 9-11 they can be grown outdoors year-round.
Cane begonias, commonly called angel wing begonias, have tall bamboo-like stems and slender teardrop-shaped leaves that point downward. They have clusters of small white, pink, or red flowers, though the leaves, which come in many colors and are often speckled with silver, are arguably the real stars.
A large elephant ear, three to five feet tall, with upward-pointing, two-foot wide, dark green leaves, slightly ruffled along the edges. Leaf stalks and veins on the leaf undersides are a striking ebony purple.
Cutting off dead leaves won't hurt your indoor plants! It will encourage and stimulate new growth, like this elephant ear portodora.
Yes! While they are generally outdoor plants, you can grow elephant ears as houseplants. If you plan to grow elephant ears as indoor plants, place them in a sunroom or another area that gets plenty of light. For tips on growing elephant ears and other houseplants, contact the professionals at Botanica Floral + Home!
Elephant ears can be grown as houseplants, but also as large outdoor plants in warmer weather.
- Diseases caused by Fungi:
- Powdery mildew, Erysiphe, Oidium. ...
- Leaf spots, Phyllosticta, Gloeosporium, Cladosporium. ...
- Botrytis blight or blotch, Botrytis cinerea. ...
- Root rots, Thielaviopsis basicola, Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia solani. ...
- Diseases caused by Bacteria:
- Bacterial leaf spot, Xanthom*onas begoniae.
Most begonias have male and female flowers on the same plant, the same flowering stem (peduncle), with male flowers usually flowering before the females. The males look like an opening clamshell. Female flowers have an inferior ovary behind the clamshell.
Do begonias come back every year?
This results in at least four months of blooms a year and if looked after properly, they will come back year after year so one purchase will give years of enjoyment in your garden. Begonias are extremely versatile and can be used in different ways.
Epsom salt helps ferns and plants similar to ferns, such as elephant ear, have rich, dark foliage. Add 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and spray ferns and elephant ears to achieve the look.
If you decide you don't want to plant your elephant ear plants in the ground, container growing is perfectly acceptable for these plants. Elephant ears do well in containers so long as you provide them with the right sized container, proper soil, and adequate sunlight.
Pruning Elephant Ear Plants
As the leaves start to age, they'll start looking droopy and not as vibrantly colored as younger leaves. If the appearance detracts from the overall look of the plant, it's fine to trim these off near the base of the stem, using a pair of sharp pruners or shears.
Begonia brevirimosa tops the of list of Begonia species with the most beautiful foliage. The leaves have a natural variegation of pink and black which look as though someone painted them. The foliage colors deepen in warmer temperatures with exposure to bright light, compared to cooler temperatures.
Which begonias can grow in full sun? Many begonias will do just fine in full sun. The bedding plant fibrous begonias, Dragon Wing Begonias and Bonfire Begonias handle full sun best.
Fibrous and rhizomatous Begonias are usually the easiest to grow indoors. They have showy leaves, but less significant flowers. Tuberous Begonias are the ones with the big showy blossoms that do best outside.
Elephant Ears perform best in sun or part shade. While most can be grown in partial shade, the darker colored varieties are best grown in full sun. Provide a sheltered location to protect the decorative leaves from strong winds.
Elephant Ears like consistently damp soil, so the plant needs water if the soil is slightly moist. If the soil is dry, then the plant definitely needs water. Other signs your Elephant Ears need water include leaves wilting or drooping.
Elephant Ears are poisonous to children. Touching the stems or leaves can cause skin irritation and possibly a rash and itching. Eating the leaves, stems, or sap can cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat and lead to swelling.
Can you leave elephant ears in the ground over winter?
You can leave elephant ears in the ground over winter if you live in USDA Zones 7-11 or if the weather stays mild (above 40°F (4℃)) through winter. However, you will still need to protect your plants in the ground with some insulation, such as chopped up leaves and lawn cuttings piled over the tubers.
Elephant Ear Philodendron
This plant plays a significant role in filtering the toxins, off-gases and airborne allergens by increasing and rejuvenating the air quality. Elephant ear philodendron is a very beautiful and striking houseplant, it can be placed in both indoors and outdoors.
If you're growing your elephant ears as a house plant, it will need bright but indirect light and a humid atmosphere – a steamy bathroom or conservatory is ideal.
Put the tubers in a grocery bag, plastic pot or bulb rate and cover with a mix of peat moss and soil. Add water to the container and store it in a cool, dark place to ensure the tuber stays dormant throughout the winter. Keep your Elephant Ears moist but not wet.
This plant may be nice to look at, but it can be toxic to your dog. In fact, it can even be fatal if not treated right away. If your dog eats any part of the elephant ear plant, the first symptom you might see is also the deadliest; a swollen airway leading to inability to breathe.
Repeated applications of a 2% solution of glyphosate on the surfaces of the leaves may be effective. Painting an herbicide on the stem also may prove effective against all three species of elephant ears. Glyphosate is a systemic nonselective herbicide that is applied typically to plant leaves.
Elephant ears thrive in soil rich in organic matter, but too much coffee can add too much caffeine to the ground and suppress the growth of elephant ear plants. It can also kill beneficial microbes in the soil that help the plant stay healthy and thriving.
Many types of elephant ears can be grown in partial shade, but the darker colored varieties are best grown in full sun. All need rich, moist soil and nearly all are perfect at the edge of a pond.
Yellow, sticky traps suspended near the plant will attract and catch them. A soapy water spray is also effective.
RULES OF THUMB
No begonia has a long life span. Most only live for 2 to 3 years, even with good care. Cane begonias such as angel wings go dormant if the temperature gets too cool.
What happens if begonias get too much sun?
Observe the amount of sunlight that falls on the begonias during the day. These plants thrive in partial shade, so too much sun can burn the leaves and cause them to wilt. Move the plants if necessary so they receive morning sun instead of hot afternoon sun or to a location that receives dappled sunlight all day.
If growing tuberous begonias for show the female flowers can be removed but there is no need to do this for garden displays. The stem and foliage can be brittle so support with canes as the plant grows.
It's normal for tuberous begonias to produce a mix of single and double flowers. The single flowers are female and the double flowers are male. After the flowers fade, snip them off to keep the plants looking neat.
Begonias are monoecious, meaning that they have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers are referred to as staminate, while female ones are called pistillate.
Can you overwinter begonias in pots? Yes, you can overwinter begonias in pots. Fibrous types can be kept as a houseplant, while tuberous varieties should be stored dormant in a cool, dark location.
When Will They Flower? Most tuberous varieties will flower from mid-summer, often June. They will then provide you with months of floral charm for the summer garden, lasting until the early autumn (September/October). Begonia tubers and corms can be watered once planted as often as is needed.
Begonias bloom during their growing period from late spring or early summer to late summer or early autumn depending on the variety. If they are not producing buds, they may lack nutrition or be in a location where they receive too much or too little sunlight.
Best Fertilizer For Elephant Ears
A water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer is a good option that provides a good balance of nutrition. You can also use all-purpose Miracle Grow to feed Elephant Ears plants.
Adding Epsom salts to soil that already has sufficient magnesium can actually harm your soil and plants, such as by inhibiting calcium uptake. Spraying Epsom salt solutions on plant leaves can cause leaf scorch. Excess magnesium can increase mineral contamination in water that percolates through soil.
Elephant ear plants prefer warm temperatures between 18-29°C. They also need high humidity, so it's a good idea to mist the leaves once or twice a week. You can also place a humidifier near the plant to increase the humidity or keep them in a naturally humid place like a bright kitchen or bathroom.
Do elephant ears grow better in pots or ground?
I recommend growing elephant ears in large pots, where they can reach their full growth potential. Smaller pots equal smaller growth, which is fine if you're growing a more compact variety or you only have a small patio or balcony. But if you want a lot of va-va-voom, opt for a big pot and a big variety.
Planting Elephant Ears in Pots
Place the container in full sun to part shade. Varieties with green leaves prefer bright sun, while darker foliage varieties will do better with part sun. A mature plant can grow to be up to 6 feet tall.
The best way to tell the two elephant ear genera apart is to start with the large, elephant-size tubers. Colocasia tubers are bigger and are encircled by striped markings. Conspicuous growth nodes, or eyes, appear on the ends of the tubers.
The ideal time for transplanting elephant ears is when new growth appears in spring. Elephant ears sprout from bulbs in spring and quickly grow into large, spreading clumps. In frost-free areas elephant ears can be transplanted any time of year, but transplanting when the plants are small is easiest.
Elephant ear plants are not a good choice as a low light indoor plant, as they need bright, indirect light to thrive. 'If the plant is not getting enough light, its leaves may droop over time,' warns Brody Hall. For best results, position your alocasia in a bright location not too far away from a window.
Elephant Ears may droop because of an issue with light or water, so try adjusting those things (too much or too little of one or the other) or it may be in need of some fertilizer. Other times, they may be droopy because the leaves are too heavy for the stems to support them. You can give them a boost, by staking them.
- Colocasia. Colocasia is the same, yet a different kind of elephant ear plant. ...
- Alocasia Amazonica. ...
- Caladiums. ...
- Colocasia Gigantic. ...
- Caladium Red Flash. ...
- Colocasia Black Magic. ...
- Colocasia Lime Zinger. ...
- Diamond Head.
Elephant Ear Plant Safety
The leaves and stems are the most toxic parts of the plants. Even touching them can cause skin irritation and itching, and if you get the sap in your eyes, your eyes will sting and burn for several hours.
Begonias are tolerant of a range of light conditions, from full sun to shade. In colder climates, plants can tolerate more light. In warm regions, they need protection from hot afternoon sun to prevent leaf scald. Varieties with darker foliage can withstand more light than those with green leaves.
Elephant ears is the common name for a group of tropical perennial plants grown for their large, heart-shaped leaves.
What is the original elephant ears plant?
Elephant ear belongs to the genus Colocasia, which are tuberous, frost-tender perennials from tropical Asia. You may be familiar with one species, Colocasia esculenta, by its other name: taro. Taro is an edible root vegetable enjoyed in much of tropical Africa and Asia.
Alocasia is sometimes known as the Kris Plant, Elephant Ear or African mask plant. This unusual looking houseplant will produce flowers on occasion, but it's not brought for this reason. When it comes to an Alocasia purchase it's all about the unusual and unique alien looking leaves.
Elephant Ears are poisonous to children. Touching the stems or leaves can cause skin irritation and possibly a rash and itching. Eating the leaves, stems, or sap can cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat and lead to swelling.
Begonia – This pretty flowering plant is toxic to both people and animals. The underground parts of wax begonias are poisonous. Meanwhile, tuberous begonias have toxin in their tubers.
After contact with a skin irritant plant, wash the exposed areas thoroughly with soap and water. Use hydrocortisone cream to treat irritation and inflammation of the skin. Antihistamines may alleviate the itching and hives. The majority of allergic and chemical reactions will clear up in 14-21 days.
Many begonias will do just fine in full sun. The bedding plant fibrous begonias, Dragon Wing Begonias and Bonfire Begonias handle full sun best.
Technically, you don't need to deadhead begonias as they naturally drop their flowers. That said, removing dead and wilted flowers will help your begonias bloom in abundance, help your plant produce more stems and just make everything look a bit more neat and tidy.
Begonias thrive in soil that is neither dry nor saturated. Your goal is to find a moisture level and watering schedule that is justttt right. A good rule of thumb is to water every two to four days. When it's hot and dry you'll need to water more often than when the air cools down and the soil holds more moisture.
Colocasia
Colocasia is one of the best types of elephant ear plants you can grow! The big, peltate leaves can reach up to 2-3 feet long and 1-2 feet wide. It grows quite fast, reaching up to 6-8 feet tall. The plant thrives well in indirect sunlight.
Urbano Rarest “Borneo Giant” Alocasia Elephant Ear Plant.
Do elephant ear plants cry?
If your Elephant Ear plant gets too much water, it will let you know by “weeping” or dripping water from the tip of the leaf.
