How To Plant An Elephant Ear Bulb

Elephant ear bulbs are one of the most beautiful and impressive flowers you can grow in your garden. Elephant ears are also called caladiums and can grow up to three feet tall, so they make a nice focal point for any garden. The bulbs themselves are quite large, making them difficult to plant by hand. You can do it yourself if you have the proper equipment, but I’d recommend finding someone who has a lot of experience with elephant ear planting or hiring an expert to handle this project for you.

Elephant ear bulbs are normally planted in the spring and summer months, as they require warm weather to grow.

Elephant ear bulbs are normally planted in the spring and summer months, as they require warm weather to grow. Planting elephant ears in the fall is not recommended, as they can rot before they have had enough time to form a proper root system. Similarly, planting elephant ears in the winter is not recommended, because they will not have time to form roots before cold temperatures set in and inhibit growth.

As such, it’s recommended that you plant your elephant ear bulbs during their peak growing season: springtime! And if you really want your plants to thrive (and look like their glorious true-to-life selves), then you should also consider planting another batch around midsummer for a second round of blooms!

Plant the bulb in cold soil.

Plant the bulb in cold soil. Elephant ears are not delicate flowers, but they do like their roots to stay cool. This can be difficult if you are planting in warm, dry conditions without much rain. The best way to grow a more successful elephant ear is to plant your bulb when the ground is still cool and moist from winter rains. Once those first shoots break through the ground’s surface, however, it’s important that they get lots of sun!

Plant the bulb pointed side up.

Plant the bulb pointed side up.

The pointed end of the bulb should be facing upward when you plant it. Planting it with the pointy side down will cause rot, which can be very difficult to treat and may even kill your plant entirely. To ensure that your elephant ear bulbs are planted correctly, place them about 2-4 inches into soil and firmly press down on them with a garden trowel or flathead screwdriver handle until they are secure in their new home!

Water the plant immediately after planting it, and make sure it stays moist for about three weeks.

After planting, water the plant immediately and continue to do so for about three weeks. Make sure that you keep the soil moist until it is established in its new home. If it dries out, the bulb may rot and die over time.

If you live in a place that gets very cold in the winter, bring the elephant ear inside before the first frost.

If you live in a place that gets very cold in the winter (zone 5 or lower), bring the elephant ear inside before the first frost. If you can’t bring it inside, mulch it very well and keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t get nipped by frostbite.

In the winter you only need to water your plant about once every month.

Elephant ears like warm weather, so in the summer it’s a good idea to water them weekly.

When growing elephant ears outdoors, you’ll need to water your plants about once every week or two if there has been no rain. Elephant ears are tropical plants that grow well in areas with lots of rainfall or humidity. You can also grow them in containers above ground if you live in an area where the winters are cold and dry. In this case, however, you will need to bring your plant inside before the first frost of winter arrives so that it doesn’t die from lack of sunlight and warmth outside.

Start fertilizing your plant about two months after you first planted it.

Fertilize your elephant ear plant about two months after you first planted it, when the leaves are 6 inches tall. Use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. Fertilize once a month, but be careful not to overdo it—too much fertilizer can cause leaf burn and other problems with your plant’s health. If you’re using a slow-release granular fertilizer (like Osmocote or Milorganite), apply according to label directions every three months; otherwise, water only when the soil feels dry at least 3 inches deep, then apply diluted liquid fertilizer in a band around the outside of the pot until it drains into the bottom of the container (about ¼ cup per pot).

Elephant ear bulbs can be planted outside with some special care.

Elephant ears are large, tropical plants that perform best in warm climates, but can be grown in cooler regions with proper care. Elephant ear bulbs can be planted outside in the spring or summer and left to grow through the fall, but because elephant ears do not like cold weather, you will need to bring them inside before the first frost occurs.

If you live in an area with cold winters and have a greenhouse, then it is possible to plant elephant ear bulbs outdoors and keep them growing year-round. In areas with very mild winters (such as California), this is also possible if you use artificial lighting indoors during winter months. If you don’t have access to a greenhouse or artificial light source for your indoor garden during winter months and live somewhere where temperatures drop below 40°F/4°C regularly throughout most winters, then your best bet may be to start new plants each year from seeds rather than trying to overwinter existing plants indoors (see How To Grow Elephant Ear Bulbs From Seed).

If you follow these instructions, you should be able to grow your very own elephant ear plant in no time! It can take anywhere between a few weeks and a few months for the bulb to sprout and then produce its first leaves. Once this happens, you can transplant your new plant into a larger container or outside garden.