How to grow Alocasia

How to grow elephant ears in a pot

Choose a pot at least twice the size of the original pot. Position in a well-lit indoors, but away from direct sunlight. 

Partially fill your chosen planter with quality potting mix, such as Yates Specialty Potting Mix Indoor Plants & Ferns.

Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any encircled or tangled roots.  

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well. 

Protect your plants from fungus gnats by applying a layer of Yates Gnat Barrier to the top of the potting mix.

Water occasionally, allowing the plant to near dry out between waterings.

Feed fortnightly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Indoor Plants & Ferns Liquid Plant Food or use Yates Thrive Plant Food Spikes Plants & Ferns which feeds for up to 2 months.

How to grow elephant ears in a garden

Choose a well-drained, partly shaded spot in the garden and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root ball. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots. 

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.

Mulch lightly with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, sugar cane or pea straw and water in well. 

Water once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions to keep the soil lightly moist. 

Feed regularly from spring to autumn with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Growing tips

Keep the leaves clean by wiping with a damp cloth.

Elephants ears can be easily propagated through division. When the clumps are overcrowded (usually after a couple of years), carefully remove from the pot or ground and using a clean sharp knife, separate them into manageable clumps.

Remove dead stems from the base of the plant to encourage a clean well groomed appearance.  

When grown indoors In winter, keep the soil on the dry side as they don’t like having too much water near their base during their dormant period.

Our favourite Elephant ears include:
- African Beauty (A. zebrina) – Large green, glossy leaves with zebra-like striped stems.
- Polly amazonica (A. lowii) – These little gems are popular on their own in a lovely pot where their deep green leaves with the deep and intricate white veins just pop!