Elephant ears are great tropical plants with huge, leathery leaves that are great for any backyard or patio. They are hardy in Zones 9 and warmer but can be grown just about anywhere during the summer.
Elephant ears grow from what looks like a huge bulb, but it's actually a tuber. Typically, garden centers have them available in the late winter and early spring, which is an excellent time to get them started. Look for a heavy bulb and stay away from those with any mold or mushy spots.
If you're going to plant it outdoors, wait until all threats of frost are gone. Otherwise, you can give it a jump-start indoors by starting it in a pot. You need a large pot at least 18 inches across and deep. Add a good potting soil and some soil polymers, which help retain water and keep the bulb hydrated. Elephant ears are heavy feeders, so add a handful of an all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer and mix it into the soil before planting the bulb. Plant the bulb, with the point up, to a depth two times the height of the bulb.
Give the bulb a good drink of water and then don't water at all until you see sprouts. Then keep the soil relatively moist. Remember, it's a tropical and a heavy feeder. So once it starts sprouting, feed it every couple of weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer that is diluted to half strength. In no time, this pot will grow big ears.
)
)
