Crank up the indoor drama by growing this big-leaf plant in your home.
Jacob Fox
With their big, bold leaves,elephant ear plants(Alocasiaspp.)
can definitely make a splash in your home.
Credit:Jacob Fox
Keep thislarge-leafed houseplantinside year-round orgive it a summer vacation on your patio.
As with all plants, the goal is to mimic their native conditions.
For indoor elephant ears, if you live in northern light and chilly rooms, keep on plant shopping.
Credit:Nature’s Way Farms
They also demand warmer temperatures and higher humidity.
Not so for elephant ears.
Water them after the top 2 inches of soil dry out.
After resting in the winter, alocasias have their growth spurts in spring and summer.
Thats when you want to use a houseplant fertilizer to give them extra nutrients.
In the fall and winter, plain water is best.
Ive grown alocasias indoors and outdoors for years without any kind of pest problems.
You may also notice their fine webs, particularly on the undersides of leaves.
If your indoor alocasia looks dusty, pop it in the shower for a rinse.
This sturdy plant gets 8 feet tall so it definitely needs plenty of space.
A three-foot-tall elephant ear that sportsbig, bold leaveswill still make a statement.
‘Frydek’(Alocasiahybrid) has eye-catching white veins on its black, shield-shaped leaves.
‘New Guinea Shield’(Alocasia wentii) produces shield-shaped leaves that get about a foot long.
Alocasias can thrive in indoor, filtered light year-round.
