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Saving Elephant Ears Bulbs |
| By Ellen Brown |
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Question: How can I save bulbs from Caladiums and Elephant Ears to use next year? My elephant ears are still HUGE! They are larger now than in the pic.
Hardiness Zone: 7a
Elaine from Charlottesville, VA
Answer: Elaine,
You can use the same method to store both types of tubers over winter. As soon as the tops turn yellow and start to die back (usually the first or second fall frost), carefully lift the plants out of the ground. Go ahead and cut the stems back to the tubers, but leave the roots and any soil attached intact. Allow the tubers to cure for a week or two and then clean off the remaining soil and trim the roots. Dusting the tubers with a fungicide before storage is optional. An easy way to do this is to shake them in a paper bag filled with a bit of dust. The tubers can be layered in a box filled with dry peat, sand, sawdust or vermiculite. Stored in a dry room at temperatures between 50-55ºF. Check on them periodically. If they appear to be shriveling due to moisture loss, sprinkle them with a few drops of water.
Ellen
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About The Author:
Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com |
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RE: Saving Elephant Ears Bulbs
I store Caladium, Dahlias, and Cannas all in peat moss in the basement over the winter. Had them for years!
RE: Saving Elephant Ears Bulbs
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Post By Chris (Guest Post)
(10/09/2006)
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You should wait to pull the bulbs out until they are done for the season. So long as they are still green and leafy they are still making food for the bulb. Once they are done, cut the foliage off and store the bulbs in a cool dry place. They can be wrapped in newspaper, sroed in dry peat moss or saw dust would work too. Do not allow them to freeze though. once the ground is thawed and the risk of frost is past you can replant them.
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