How I Save Elephant Ear Plants for Next Year. Step by step., by The Garden Wise Guy on YouTube. 4 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Cut the stems down to about 2 to 4 inches above soil when frost is forecast or the leaves die back. Wear gloves and use clean, sharp pruners.
Loosen the soil around the clump with a digging fork, then lift the corms. Shake off loose soil but do not pull the stems.
Let the corms dry in a warm, airy spot out of direct sun for about a week. Brush off dry soil and cut away soft or damaged roots.
Place the dry corms in a paper bag or cardboard box with dry peat moss, newspaper or vermiculite. Do not seal them in plastic.
Store the bag or box in a dark, frost-free spot at about 50 to 60 F, or 10 to 15 C. Label it with the plant name.
Check the corms once a month. Remove any soft or moldy ones and keep the rest dry.
Replant in spring after the last frost, about 2 to 3 inches deep with the pointed side up. Water after planting.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep only firm, healthy corms and discard any that feel soft or smell bad.
Do not store corms in sealed plastic bags, because trapped moisture causes rot.
If you grew plants in pots, stop watering as the leaves die back and store the pots frost-free, or lift the corms to save space.
Clean your knife or pruners between plants to avoid spreading disease.
Questions
Can I leave elephant ears in the ground over winter?
In warm, frost-free climates you can leave them in the ground. Where frost occurs, lift the corms or store the pots in a frost-free place.
Do I need to water the bulbs in storage?
Keep them dry through winter. A light mist is only needed if a corm becomes badly shriveled, and it should never sit wet.
When do I replant the corms?
Replant after the last frost when the soil has warmed. Set them about 2 to 3 inches deep with the pointed side up.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
