The spectacular , heart - shaped leaves of an elephant ear in full heyday are a sight to lay eyes on . So it ’s a huge letdown when your elephant ear bulb does n’t uprise for no apparent reasonableness .
The bulb may be sit in the growing medium doing nothing , if not mocking your readiness to see any sign of life story .
But , on the other hand , if your elephant ear medulla oblongata are n’t sprouting or growing , there are a variety of possible causes . To that goal , lease us set out our investigation .
Little sprouting in elephant ear bulbs is often due to too stale soil .
To encourage the bulbs to sprout and grow , you must raise the soil temperature to 70 - 90 ° F ( 21 - 27 ° C ) and provide adequate lighting and tearing .
The elephant ear bulb could also be dead , decaying , or dormant .
Contents
First Up – How Long Does It Take Elephant Ear Bulbs to Sprout?
There are three plant genera collectively come to to as “ elephant ear”:Xanthosoma , Alocasia , andColocasia .
Even so , elephant ear bulbs typically sprout or show the first signs of growth after planting for 3 to 8 calendar week . ( Source : University of Wisconsin - Madison )
Reasons Why Elephant Ear Bulbs Are Not Growing
[1] Soil Temperature is Too Cold, Causing Elephant Ear Bulbs Not to Grow
So , this argue that grow an elephant ear corm ask patience and fourth dimension .
However , you do n’t have to be refer if your light bulb do n’t show signs of growth for eight weeks .
Then , look at the bulb to see any plain problems , such as rotting .
When grown outside USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8a through 12b , elephant ear bulb are not hardy .
This let in metal money grown in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8a through 10b .
In increase , the bulbs will not sprout if the soil is too dusty , and the plant can not tolerate temperatures below 70 ° F ( 21 ° hundred ) .
plant native to tropical regions , such as elephant ear bulbs and plants , are more vulnerable to freezing temperatures .
As a result , elephant bulbs , tubers , and corms must be planted in a lovesome soil bed and kept at a perpetual 70 - 90 ° F ( 21 - 27 ° nose candy ) .
You should hit the bulbs from the ground as soon as you see the first frost flakes .
Then , to keep the bulbs healthy through the wintertime , grade them in a nerveless , dry place , like peat moss , sawdust , or Sir Henry Wood shavings .
Your elephant ear bulbs or corm must be plant in the spring when frost and winter cold are no longer a threat to them .
A temperature of at least 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ) at nighttime is require if you mean to acquire it outdoors . For most USDA Hardiness zone 8 - 11 , mid - April to early May is typical .
If you ’re planting indoors to control the grime temperature , keep the temperature around the passel or container between 70 - 90 ° F ( 21 - 27 ° C ) .
Your elephant ear bulbs should sprout in as little as three or eight weeks if the weather and other factors are ideal .
[2] Elephant Ear Bulbs Cannot Grow in Dry Soil
wetland in Africa , South America , Central America , Australia , and Asia are the rude habitat for elephant ears .
Since they ’re water - loving plants , it ’s no surprise that they require consistently damp soil . Colocasia , for example , can survive in piddle up to six inch deep .
These plants grow chop-chop , so they require a pile of dirt wet to help them absorb the nutrients , minerals , and other resources they need to stay healthy and warm .
So it does n’t matter what the situation is ; you should never allow the soil to dry completely .
You may have admit the develop medium for your elephant ear lightbulb to become too dry or even bone - dry if they are n’t wave .
To keep elephant ear healthy and happy , irrigate them on a regular basis . This is especially truthful if your plant is potted and needs daily irrigation .
In the summertime , you may have to irrigate your flora several time throughout the day .
Irrigation can be more approachable if you practice the growing medium ’s airfoil as a guide . If the top half - in of the territory is dry , you should tote up more urine .
Irrigate just enough to keep the soil from becoming sodden , but not too much .
As a general rule , you should avoid allowing the soil to become overly wet , which can suffocate the roots and encourage root rot .
[3] Elephant Ear Not Getting Enough Light
Your elephant ear bulb may not be sprouting because you placed the pot in an area with deficient brightness . Either fond shade or direct sunshine is ideal for this tropical plant .
For case , if the Dominicus is too hot , the soil will dry out quicker , and the light bulb will not arise in good order .
If your elephant ear bulb does n’t get enough Christ Within , the soil wo n’t be warm enough to boost sprouting and growth .
Do you see any yellowing of the shoot leaves ? That indicates that it is situate in a low - lighter area .
Your elephant ear necessitate more sunshine , and that is all . pose it in an country that gets a lot of indirect sunshine .
Ideally , it should be exposed to the sun for at least three to six hours daily .
However , the sunnier the location , the more frequently you must water your elephant ear .
[4] The Elephant Ear Bulb is Still in Dormancy
Because elephant ear are susceptible tofrost damage in the winter , I usually keep back watering and dig up the light bulb late fall ( right before the first sign of hoarfrost ) .
This will stimulate my elephant ear bulbs to be dormant , avoiding problem like frost damage or theme bunkum .
As a result , you could plant your bulbs on warmer springtime days to assist them bust quiescency .
However , the elephant ear bulbs may sometimes fail to break dormancy , explain why they are not sprouting or growing .
The simple solution is to assist your elephant auricle bulb break its dormancy . Here ’s how it works :
[5] Elephant Ear Bulb Rotting
Another plebeian cause your elephant pinna is n’t sprouting or turn is bulb rot .
But , again , this could have happened if you didn’tcorrectly winter the bulbs . verify to dry out the bulb after cleaning it .
[6] Elephant Ear Bulbs Are Dead
Another intellect could be that the elephant ear bulbs are already a toast . They could have succumbed to early Robert Lee Frost , rot , disease , physical hurt , or even been eaten by rodents or pests .
In most cases , a stagnant elephant ear bulb can not be rescued . or else , you must veer your losses and depart afresh with another industrial plant or set of electric light .
How To Plant Elephant Bulbs for Quick Sprouting
The Right Season
You must found your elephant ear electric-light bulb during bounce when the soil has warmed enough to around 70 ° F ( 21 ° C ) .
Then , of course , you may begin your elephant ear bulbs indoors six or so weeks before the escort you plan to transpose outdoors .
The Right Temperature
Elephant ear bulbs will sprout and boom if you maintain temperature within 70 - 90 ° F ( 21 - 27 ° blow ) .
The Right Planting Mix
You must use an organic - plenteous but well - run out planting mix , such as sand or peat growing medium ( check out the latest price on Amazonhere ) .
Soak Elephant Ear Bulbs before Planting
The elephant ear bulb needs plentifulness of wet to discover the dormancy .
FAQs
What happens if you plant an elephant ear bulb upside down?
While planting an elephant ear bulb upside down wo n’t stop it from burgeon forth ; it will delay the time it takes for the stem to break through the surface by day , if not weeks .
How do you tell the top from the bottom of an elephant ear bulb?
The top of an elephant ear bulb is point , while the bottom is rounded and features some divots or bump .
Can you cut an elephant ear bulb in half?
Yes , you could thin out an elephant ear bulb in half , but you must grant the cuts to dry out out before storing them in dry sawdust or peat moss .
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