Elephant's Ear

Botanical Name: Alocasia x amazonica

Elephant's Ear is an exotic house plant with striking foliage. Thick, upright stems carry arrow-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. The bold silver-green veins make a dramatic pattern on glossy, dark-green leaves.

Just like other members of the Aracae family, its flowers are composed of a spadix surrounded by a spathe. On this plant, however, they are insignificant. It's the spectacular foliage that makes it well worth growing.

Caring for Elephant's Ear

This tropical house plant can be somewhat fussy, prefering the high humidity of a greenhouse to an average home. However, a room humidifier and frequent misting of the leaves will give it the moist air it craves. Regular misting also helps to keep away red spider mites that like to attack this plant.

Repot in spring when necessary. Use a container with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Give it a rest period in winter, allowing the soil to become almost dry between waterings and stop fertilizing. It may go dormant if it dries out completely. But don't give up on it -- it'll recuperate in a month or two with good care. Continue to provide plenty of humidity with a pebble tray or misting every day.

Origin: Tropical Asia

Height: To 2 ft (60 cm)

Light: Bright light, but no direct sun.

Water: Keep soil moist spring through fall when plant is actively growing. Water sparingly in winter, allowing soil to become almost dry between waterings.

Humidity: Requires moist air. Use a room humidifier for best results.

Temperature: Average to warm 65-75°F, 18-24°C

Soil: Peat moss based potting mix.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks spring through fall with a 20-10-10 liquid fertilizer diluted by half. Do not feed in winter.

Propagation: Division. Divide rhizomes in spring and pot in separate containers. Keep the top surface of the rhizome above the soil line so that the growing stems don't rot at soil level.