The secret to growing large Elephant Ears (Esculenta/Caladium) is water, water, and manure

Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 16:17:22 -0400
From: “N.A. Booko”
Subject: Growing large Elephant Ears (Esculenta/Caladium)

The secret and even sometimes this does not work- Water, Water,   Water and manure. Pliable soil, and medium to average shade.   Last June I bought five one gallon containers of black elephant ears.  I planted two in my garden, (hard clay soil) and left one in the original pot.  The remaining two, I planted in a garden I designed and planted for a friend. He had just started the garden from scratch and bought soil mixture from Poultry Villa, Pittsboro. It contained chicken manure.

My black elephant ears in the soil did not produce very big leaves. The one in the original pot had leaves just as large as those planted in the ground,   but nothing to brag about. The two I planted in my friend’s garden, got huge leaves –   at least 2 ft- and dramatically increased from the base, sending up multiple shoots and forming a grand display.  I had also planted the common green elephant ears and used plenty of organic  fertilizer.  They produce fairly large leaves.

Elephant ears are only half hardy in my area.  (zone 7B) Usually not hardy for me.  In Moncure, I understand that Jim Massey leaves his in the ground all winter.  And his plants are huge.

Many years ago, in Montgomery County, my Aunt Rosa had an elephant ear that grew at least 9 feet high and had leaves 4 to five feet long. It grew on the South side of a hill, at the base of her back porch. At least two times a day, she threw soapy waste dishwater out- and it always landed on the elephant ear.

Good luck- and keep trying- they are well worth effort.

N.A. Booko