Elephant ear plant care (repeat?) - Ask Extension
I have a large elephant ear and my home, not sure what species. I repotted it after I bought it and it was very root bound. It is now in a very large ...
Knowledgebase
Elephant ear plant care (repeat?) #871791
Asked June 05, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT
I have a large elephant ear and my home, not sure what species. I repotted it after I bought it and it was very root bound. It is now in a very large pot but the large leaves are always drooping and breaking and I have to cut them off. It doesn't get direct sunlight but I do have grow lights on it. I keep the soil moist but not too wet but I still feel like it's not thriving. The large leaves also seem to be leaking some kind of fluid and I don't know what that is. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question, Raenell. I think your pot is about 1/3 as large as it should be. There is no room for this plant's roots to spread out so they can absorb enough water and nutrients to thrive. Hence, the drooping and failing leaves. The pot should be at least twice the size of the root ball plus bulb/corm/rhizomes (depending upon the species). They need lots of light, and require regular fertilizer. Yours appears to need nitrogen. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Wow! A BIGGER pot? I just repotted it into the one in the picture. The old pot was even smaller and it was nothing but roots. I'll try repotting it again and get some fertilizer. Is there one that you recommend?
Thanks!
The following source indicates it should be a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as one with a 10-5-5 ratio. 10% nitrogen (for foliage) - 5% phosphorus (for roots) - 5% potassium (for flowers, fruit and seeds). Water soluble is recommended. Just use per label directions.
Thank you so much! Now can you come help me re-pot it! Haha!
Thanks!
Raenell
Sorry. We can't make house calls.
