Elephant ear plants ( Colocasia esculenta ) develop easy from prominent tuberous bulbs . There are many species of the works that are democratic as both houseplants and out-of-door plants in tropic or semitropical regions . Many of the elephant ear varieties are poisonous if consumed by human beings , dogs or cats . The plants grow 3 to 5 base in meridian with large gullible , arrow - shaped leave that resemble the ears of an elephant .

Oxalic Acid

Elephant ear contain varying degrees of oxalic acid . The leave and stanch of the works contain the highest amount of this toxic chemical substance . consumption of elephant spike can stimulate stern burning in the mouth , lips and gastrointestinal parcel . The mouthpiece , tongue , throat and esophagus will begin to swell , which can cut off the skyway of the victim . Vomiting , sickness and diarrhea can hap . exigency medical treatment should be seek for any man or animal ingesting an elephant ear plant part . While the victim is expect aesculapian aid pass over the inside of his backtalk out with a coolheaded , dampish washcloth .

Growth of the Elephant Ear Plant

Elephant ear plants go to the Araceae plant family . The tuberous bulb that originate the elephant capitulum plant is known as a cormel . The plant bring forth a lateral root system that gives additional posture to support the large heavy leaves and stalk . The cormels of the plant are prosperous to plant and graft . The cormels can be set on top of the soil or now below the soil with a very thin bed of soil across the top . Growth will soon occur .

Indoor/Outdoor Planting

Elephant ear industrial plant can be grown outside in tropical or semitropic regions and they can be successful container plants . When the top growth of the elephant ear first appears , the plant life may require venture to bid extra support in a tedious part because the root system is often slow to grow enough to anchor the plant . Once the root are establish the big elephant ear does not require staking . plant life grown in a container should be planted in a pot that is at least 2 foot deep to allow for ample root maturation room . A 30 - gallon batch works well for the elephant ear ’s growth . Elephant ear plants grown outside where winters are cold-blooded will need to be dig up from the G for the winter or moved indoors .

Water And Soil

Plant elephant ears in areas of dappled nuance for best result . They thrive under tree in a mass planting . Soil should be high in humus and well - draining . The plants thrive on moist ground but they do not like waterlogged roots . A few species of elephant ear can be grow successfully in standing piddle . The elephant’s ear macrorrhiza can be get in water system or in a pond as a water plant . All elephant ear species treasure being planted beside a pond or other body of water .

Storing Elephant Ears

Cut the industrial plant stalks back to 2 to 4 inches from the soil agate line after the first frost hits . The cormels can be mildly dig up and grant to dry for a few days . Place the cormels into peat moss in a cool , teetotal , glowering lieu such as a cellar , cellar or other construction . If the cormels are flyspeck , the industrial plant might not have accumulate enough nutrients to survive the wintertime and will be ineffective to grow the following season . Only overwinter large cormels .

References

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