Continue to care for it, and the rapid growth will return the following growing season. Both its roots and leaves are edible. Don’t forget to bring the bulbs or plants indoors in any region where freezing temperatures are expected, as Alocasia plants are not at all winter hardy. Alocasias can be heavy feeders, especially large specimens. They can do well indoors if … The leaves can grow up to 16 inches long. This will increase the level of humidity surrounding the indoor elephant ear plant while preventing the roots from coming into contact with the water, which may cause root rot. A variety of diseases including crown, stem, and root rot, leaf spot, and Xanthamonas are particularly common with alocasia plants. They require and thrive in very humid environments. Colocasia Mojito's wide chartreuse green leaves are generously spattered with irregular purple splashes and splotches, endearing this dramatic elephant ear to garden designers. Plant in loose, well-drained potting mix or a crumbly loamy soil. Colocasia Mojito Bulb | Variegated Elephant Ear. To raise the humidity around your plant, place it on a tray filled with pebbles and then add water until it rises to just below the bottom of the pot. Once the plant is in its dormant period (in the late fall and winter), it will begin resting. Also, elephant ear houseplants should be elevated slightly with a layer of rocks or pebbles between the pot and the saucer. Growing Colocasia inside requires high humidity. Ask the grower or seller if the plant is sun-trained. When growing Colocasia inside, be sure to choose a fairly large container to pot the plant in. In the warm summer months, alocasia can produce a new leaf every week. Plants will occasionally, albeit rarely when grown indoors, bear insignificant purple spathes. This will help keep the soil evenly moist. Colocasia spp., commonly called taro or elephant ears, never fails to attract attention. At that time, propagation via tuber root division may occur. Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home.". Even with a short growing season in northern climates, these plants can grow rapidly. The following varieties of elephant ear make good choices for growing indoors: ‘Black Magic’ a 3 … Colocasia can tolerate direct sun, but it will tend to sunburn although it may acclimate after a time; it will really do much better in indirect sun. I grew it in a bright spot in a potting soil with lots of compost, and stood a big, deep saucer underneath—something I wouldn’t do … Positive: On Jul 24, 2012, lseddins from Atlanta, GA (Zone 8a) wrote: Keep Alocasia plants moist all year; they are water-loving plants. ‘Nancy’s Revenge’ is of medium height at 2-5 feet (.6-1.5 m.) tall with dark green leaves with creamy centers. Colocasia Mojito has attention-grabbing, variegated leaves. All Elephant Ears grow best when nighttime temperatures are at least 70 degrees Farenheit. If you are in zones 4-7, we suggest planting them in a pot and bringing them indoors during Winter months. The Alocasia is a very poisonous plant; the leaves contain insoluble oxalate crystals. Alocasias indoors can be occasionally plagued with spider mites. Signs of diseases are typically black or dark brown spots on the leaves and a yellowish rim around the spots. The Colocasias have graceful arching stems with the tips of the leaves pointing towards the ground. The patio zone is 4b-11 which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before frost. Elephant ear is the name given to plants with large foliage shaped like a pachyderm’s ear. In the right conditions, they can grow very fast, but they are also sensitive plants. Il mesure environ 100 cm et développe de longs pétioles au bout … You may discontinue the fertilization during the winter months to allow the Colocasia to rest. They have colorful veins and a variety of textures from thick, waxy, slick, and glossy. ‘Black Stem’ which as its name suggests has black stems with burgundy-black veins on green foliage. However, the only drawback is that it is highly toxic, so you must take care no one ingests the plant or mishandles it. While quite striking, these plants can be quite sensitive. Flowers. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Mojito Elephants Ear - Colocasia - 4" Pot - Indoors/Out Description At 5-6 feet high and wide it's perfect in pots, spreading its graceful foliage over the border; or standing in … There is a fine line with these plants. I had two that wintered over in containers. Choose a site to situate the indoor elephant ear plant that is in indirect sunlight. ‘Chicago Harlequin’grows 2-5 feet (.6-1.5 m.) tall with light/dark green foliage. Keep the foliage dry and provide proper air circulation around and near the plant. This plant is one of my favorites. Trim away faded leaves. ALOCASIA PROBLEMS. Alocasias will suffer below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Alocasia & Colocasia plants are both members of the Elephant Ear family. GROWING MOJITO ELEPHANT EAR - This plant prefers moist soil and loves growing in full shade of sun. Dragon Scale Alocasia is one of the larger Alocasia varieties and will grow upwards of 6-feet in height under optimum growing conditions. You can prevent disease with proper watering practices; do not overwater these plants. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Tropical plant grown as a houseplant in non-tropical climates, Size ranges based on variety from 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide to 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide, Bright indirect light indoors; part shade outdoors. Every few weeks, spray the plant with warm soapy water to prevent these pests and keep the plant dust-free. Cut off a piece of the underground rhizome and pot it up separately. Le Colocasia esculenta Mojito est une plante bulbeuse au feuillage décoratif, en effet planté au jardin vous ne pourrez pas le manquer. Alocasia plants are primarily hybridized because of the appeal of their leaf form, color, and size. A. zebrina and A. macrorrhiza both have a taller and more slender stature, although they don't often grow taller than 75cm / 30in. Some varieties will die back during colder weather and re-sprout from the rhizome. Alocasia grows well in containers; they can thrive outdoors in the summertime and then be brought indoors to overwinter. ‘Lime Zinger’ has lovely chartreuse leaves and is quite tall at 5-6 feet (.6-1.8 m.). Propagation Plant tubers when soil is consistently around 70°F. Like all aroids, Alocasias flower with a typical spathe and spadix, but the flower is usually unremarkable. Keep it warm and moist until new growth begins. They are meant to be planted in partial sunlight and either in rich soil/earth directly or in a large container. They require less water during the winter months because the plant is dormant. Some species are considered invasive, especially along the gulf coast of the United States. Unlike the leaves of Alocasia which point skyward, the leaves of Colocasia droop and point toward the ground. Sign up for our newsletter. See more ideas about colocasia, plants, elephant ear plant. Mix it with purple foliage plants for a … Keep all species warm, moist, and humid. ‘Illustris’ has green foliage marked with black and lime green and is a shorter varietal at 1-3 feet (.3-.9 m.). SPIDER MITES. The leaf shapes can vary from slim arrowheads to wide heart-shaped leaves. Colocasia can attain a good size, so you will want to be prepared. A human or pet chewing or biting into a leaf releases the crystals which can cause swelling and irritation of the mouth and GI tract. The plant is beautiful, and it gets all the points for its easy maintenance and simple care routine. With its unique leaf patterns the Colocasia Mojito is a must have of any Elephant Ear collector! Also, it's best to divide the rhizome annually to keep the plant a manageable size and increase your collection. Colocasia is a swamp plant that develops a hardy root system under the water. Although flowers appear once in a while on a well looked after Alocasia, they are quite insignificant. Pot Size: 4" ‘Cranberry Taro’ has dark stems and grows 3-4 feet (.9-1.2 M.) high. Learn how to grow it indoors. ‘Green Giant’ has very large green foliage and may get as tall as 5 feet (1.5 m.). Colocasia 'Mojito' puts on a lot of growth in one season and makes a high-impact display in the first year, be it grown in large pots or in the border. Learn how to grow it indoors. Generally, they are larger plants than the Colocasias, reaching heights of 8-12 feet. Alocasia commonly known as elephant ears come in all shapes and sizes and their uses range from indoor houseplants to hardy landscape specimens and mixed container centerpieces. Amazon elephant's ear (Alocasia amazonica), with its large two-tone leaves, is an ornamental plant that's hard to miss. Strong and fast growing this Elephant Ear is a hassle free plant that makes an unforgettable focal point and brings distinct tropical flare to the landscape, water garden, or even a large container. Most Alocasia plants can be propagated by clump or rhizome division. Most of these herbaceous species in the arum or aroid family (Araceae) that are offered as ornamentals belong to the genera Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma, although there are others that have similar appearance and growth habits. Alocasia Pink Dragon is a popular Alocasia plant, and it is not hard to see why. ‘Black Magic’ a 3-5 foot (.9-1.5 m.) specimen with dark burgundy-black leaves. All pictures are contributed by our community. Once the plant is in its dormant period (in the late fall and winter), it will begin resting. These impressive ornamental specimens grow outside in sheltered location in USDA zones 8-11. Pete has a big Alocasia ‘Odora’ in his office and said this is the fourth time he’s brought it in for the winter. Primarily grown for its spectacular foliage, Colocasia esculenta 'Mojito' (Taro) is a tuberous, frost-tender perennial with large, heart-shaped, chartreuse green leaves flecked with deep purple to black. Noteworthy Characteristics Speckled and flecked foliage Care Gardeners in cool hardiness zones may overwinter plant’s tubers indoors covered by peat moss during winter, after the leaves have been desiccated by frost. If you have children or pets, you might want to avoid these plants because the leaves are toxic to humans and animals. Most Alocasia species will survive in shade, but they often appreciate slightly brighter filtered sunlight. Common pests of the Alocasia plants are mealy bugs, scale, aphids, and spider mites. Use a humidifier in the room where you plan on growing Colocasia inside. It goes up to 2-3 feet tall and loves partial shade. Leaf color tends to be better among plants that grow best with more light. These plants generally reach a height of 6-10 feet. Characteristics Of Alocasia Amazonica Although it rarely flowers, especially indoors, it would be hard not to notice Alocasia Amazonica’s leathery, arrow-shaped leaves in deep green with wavy edges and with thick white or silvery leaf veins. Colocasia ‘Mojito’ (Zone 7b-10), like all its cousins that we call elephant ears or taro, is a heat-loving plant that’s also hungry and thirsty. Colocasia Mojito A frost tender perennial with large, heart shaped, chartreuse green leaves that are flecked with deep purple to black. A. amazonica will normally grow up to 45cm / 18in in both height and spreads when grown indoors. In the northern end of their grow zone Portidora Cold Hardy Giant plants should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. Whether you choose to plant it straight outside in late spring or give it a head start by starting it off in your home, you will be amazed and impressed to have this unusual, exotic treasure looking so fantastic, indoors or out! Very rarely, extreme swelling of the upper airway can occur making it difficult to breathe. Flowering of the indoor elephant plant is rare, although when grown outdoors, the plant may bear a small green sheathed yellow-green cone of flowers. Once the plant is a year old, transplant to an appropriate area of the garden and enjoy. Colocasia Mojito has wintered over for the past two years in my garden. Temperatures for your elephant ear houseplants should be between 65-75 F. (18-24 C.). The following varieties of elephant ear make good choices for growing indoors: Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Colocasia Coffee cups grow with sparkling blue-grey leaves, pointed towards the sky and round from the base. Flowering of the indoor elephant plant is rare, although when grown outdoors, the plant may bear a small green sheathed yellow-green cone of flowers. Leaves range in size from 4 to 6-inches. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Elephant ear plants, or Colocasia, are tropical plants grown from tubers or from rooted plants. Tropical plants in the Alocasia genus feature stunning foliage that can become the centerpiece of a garden or room. Depending on your location filtered sun is best. Keep the plant away from children and pets and call poison control, your doctor, or veterinarian if a person or animal ingests a plant leaf. The bigger varieties can be trained to handle the full tropical sun. Give your plant a huge space since the leaves are wide spreading and a plenty space will provide proper growth for this one. The Mojito Elephant Ear is sure to bring a tropical feel to your garden or patio during the Summer months. Primarily grown for its spectacular foliage, Colocasia esculenta 'Mojito' is a frost tender perennial with large, heart shaped, chartreuse green leaves that are flecked with deep purple to black. A fertilization regime every two weeks with a 50 percent diluted 20-10-10 food is an integral part of houseplant care of Colocasia. “Elephant ears” is the common name for a group of tropical perennial plants grown for their large, heart-shaped leaves. Each new leaf might be twice the size of the previous week. Tropical flare for your landscape! You want to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Soggy soil makes the plant susceptible to fungal infections. Debra LaGattuta is a certified master gardener with decades of experience with perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. The rapid leaf growth will stop and the plant will likely remain as-is throughout the winter season. They can also be grown in containers or indoors. Thus, verify with your local municipality before planting this species outdoors. These products will kill the pests and their eggs. The rapid leaf growth will be quite diminshed and the plant will likely remain as-is throughout the season. Colors of the foliage may be anywhere from purplish black, green or green/white variegated. I live in Greensboro NC. Continue to care for it, and the rapid growth will return the following growing season. The plant itself reaches heights of between 3 and 5 feet (.9-1.5 m.) tall and for this reason is usually grown as an outdoor specimen; however, it is possible to grow elephant ears indoors. Allow the top few inches of soil to become nearly dry before watering. If an infestation occurs, use an ultra-fine insecticide oil or Neem Oil. Offspring shoots can be … Repot Alocasia varieties annually into larger pots with fresh, free-draining potting soil. Pots with tubers may be stored in the basement or garage with temps between 45-55 F. (7-13 C.) until the spring growing season and once temperatures have warmed. Check out the selection on Amazon if you are looking to purchase your own Alocasia Frydek. Be sure to mulch the planting area very well by early November. So if you live in zones 4-8, where the plants are not hardy, you can simply grow them indoors as houseplants during the winter months. Some include: Additionally, the plant has been extensively hybridized. Keep them away from cold drafts from windows, doors, and air conditioning. Most varieties are tropical and need warmth and humidity, excellent drainage and for the most part shade. View picture of Colocasia, Elephant Ear, Taro 'Mojito' (Colocasia esculenta) at Dave's Garden. bulbs or tubers of the plant are dug up and stored, Elephant Ear Control – Ridding The Garden Of Unwanted Elephant Ear Plants, Elephant Ear Plant Types: Learn About Common Elephant Ear Plants, Elephant Ear Problems: What To Do With Elephant Ears Taking Over Garden, Cacti For Beginners: Easy Cactus Varieties, Cat Claw Cactus Care – Learn About Growing Cat Claw Cacti, What Is An Orange Snowball Cactus – Tips For Growing Orange Snowballs, Treating Problems In Apricots: Learn About Diseases Of Apricot Trees, Clarkia Flower Care: How To Grow Clarkia Flowers, Botryosphaeria Canker Treatment – The Control Of Botryosphaeria Canker On Plants, Care Of Alternanthera Joseph’s Coat: How To Grow Alternanthera Plants, Mild Winter Weather: Winter Gardening In Zone 10, The Struggle To Make My Indoor Cactus Grow. Plant it in the ground when the soil is warm in springtime (should be 45F). The leaves of Colocasia point dramatically toward the ground. For this reason, elephant ears make great landscape plants in, around, or near water features in the garden. Feed with liquid fertilizer during the growing season or frequent, small applications of granule fertilizer. In the chillier northern areas, elephant ear is treated as an annual wherein the bulbs or tubers of the plant are dug up and stored through the winter and then replanted in the spring. Needs vary from shade to full sunlight, depending on the variety. Amazon Elephant's Ear Plant Profile (African Mask). Elephant ears have very large heart-shaped leaves borne on 2-3 foot (.6-.9 m.) petiole or leaf stalks. Also, cut back on watering during this time and allow the soil to dry out slightly. Colocasia Esculenta or ‘Taro‘ is famous in Asian cuisines. Mar 23, 2020 - Explore Margaret Chiew's board "Colocasia" on Pinterest. For indoor growing, plant the tuber in a large pot (14- to 20-inches), and get an extra large one if you want your plant to become truly monstrous. Many produce white spathes and spadix flower forms. There are about 70 species of Alocasia, as well as dozens of hybrids. Soil choice for growing Colocasia inside is a well-draining, peat-rich medium. These Colocasia NORMALLY suffer some leaf loss but they will bounce back if given the proper moisture/sunlight/warmth. Fill the pot about three-quarters of the way with potting soil and then nestle the tuber in the center with the root side down. Colocasia Varieties. These are not the most carefree plants out there, so let me discuss the most common problems that you can have with your Alocasia Frydek and what causes them. The large heart-shaped chartreuse green foliage is flecked with contrasting deep purple almost black. Amazon elephant's ear (Alocasia amazonica), with its large two-tone leaves, is an ornamental plant that's hard to miss. 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