My biggest elephant ears grow directly in my pond with roots in the water and the waterfall rocks holding the bulb in place without soil. They get plenty of nutrients from the water that has small fish and a turtle. The pond is circular 2.5 ft deep x 11 ft wide. The only problem I have had is the turtle LOVES to eat the huge leaves. I was sure to place the bulbs where she couldn't easily climb to.
Late to the game, but here's my experience. We had several alocasia varieties in pots. This year I decided to plonk them in a pond, soil and all. They did well, but the nutrients in the soil caused a gnarly algae bloom. I was also worried about the nutrients overwhelming some carnivorous plants. I washed the roots off and chose a nursery pot about the same diameter as the root spread. Then I cut the pots down to about three inches. I laid the root ball directly on the pot bottom and spread the roots as best as I could. Then I covered the roots and part of the rhizome with lava rock until the plant felt stable. I elevated the plants in the pond so only the roots and part of the rhizomes sit underwater. They always did well planted conventionally, but they do a lot better bare-rooted in water. The petioles seem more robust and shinier. The leaves get a lot more character. Some have developed deeper color around the vascular system. They just look more interesting. I have not used fertilizer in the pond since repotting. The pond sits under three massive Douglas firs, so it gets its fair share of needles and pollen. That seems to be enough to feed these characters. I'm in zone 8b, almost 9. They're coming inside this winter, but not in conventional pots. I might try my hand at a makeshift hydroponic system to keep them going. They do that well for me in just water.
I Am doing an experiment but not putting on youtube because no one watches my videos, but anyhow, I AM having a bulb in water with rocks on the bottom trying to see if it grows that way. I will update you.
Put them In deeper water and see what happens???? I some accidentally got some of my bulbs in my pond to my surprise they sprouted and began growing and I mean literally floating bulbs dam near completely under water I saw no rot and was very surprised
I'm glad I came across this video! I have a colocasia blue Hawaii and an alocasia macrorrhiza at the moment and am acquiring both a black magic and a black coral calocasia. I was going to invest in a small pond liner to have them on my deck but I'm thinking I may just plant them. Might be easier than trying to maintain proper water conditions in a very small pond all summer 👌 I'm so thankful I found your channel. Big hello from a fellow Ontario resident
Great video! Thanks for posting! I also grow elephant ears during the summer and winter them over in my garage. My question is do you think the growth of ones you grew in this video the pond were stunted due to the pot size? Perhaps if the pot size were larger they would have grown larger? I love the idea of growing them in a pond type setting and I'm going to try it myself this year because of your video. I have a small bog that feeds a small pond and I will put a pot of them in the bog with the other plants. I think they'll love it! I'm gonna try adding some Leica clay balls to the potting soil mix I will use in the pond. Thanks again for your videos and ideas!
I don't think the pot size matters too much. The roots went out the bottom of the pot and into the pond. They had large root systems. Growth in water will depend very much on the nutrient level in the water.
I love this informative video. If I want to plant my elephant ear bulb in a pot, what size pot should I start with? I’m not sure if I should start big (10 inches) or start smaller (6 inches) and repot when necessary. Any suggestions would be helpful. 🙂
This was very informative! I have a small taro indoors right now, have it placed in about 2 inches of water in a old fish bowl - would this be sufficient until I move it outside??
Christa, this is almost exactly as I did. I have 5 taro that had no sprouting nodes. I had just dug a pond in my back yard. I put the taro bulbs all on the shelf of the pond about a week ago. Some were half-submerged and some were fully submerged. I checked them daily to see if they started to get mushy but they stayed nice and solid. They all have nodes shooting out now and are healthy. I'm planting in pots to be submerged in my pond today. :)
Just so I'm clear since the title is contrary to what you actually did.... these types of plants cannot be solely water propagated? Your pond plants were still in soil 🤷🏽♀️😐
1) this video has nothing to do with propagation 2) Yes they are still in soil The video compares two types of culture which are normally used for these plants.
@@Gardenfundamentals1 again your title says water or soil not soil or soil in water. It's confusing with the most stretched of imagination. But thanks just the same it just wasn't the information I was looking.
@@MsButtaSoulFly you cannot grow these in just water. It requires some kind of substrate. The only plants that I know of that don't are floating aquatic plants. Elephant ears are not a floating aquatic plant
@@mightiestmouse8833 Thanks so much. I was honestly trying to research if I should transition my Alocasia Lon to a water only environment like I did my Monstera who has thrived so much I can take a cutting, add a little water from the mother plant and the rest rainwater and in 2/3 weeks it not only has roots enough to gift the cutting but the mother plant will have started pushing two new blooms. Thanks again for taking the time to answer.
My biggest elephant ears grow directly in my pond with roots in the water and the waterfall rocks holding the bulb in place without soil. They get plenty of nutrients from the water that has small fish and a turtle. The pond is circular 2.5 ft deep x 11 ft wide. The only problem I have had is the turtle LOVES to eat the huge leaves. I was sure to place the bulbs where she couldn't easily climb to.
Great video. I'm a scientist so I love to see experiments done. I am planting my elephant ear (taro) in pots to go in my pond today.
Late to the game, but here's my experience.
We had several alocasia varieties in pots. This year I decided to plonk them in a pond, soil and all.
They did well, but the nutrients in the soil caused a gnarly algae bloom. I was also worried about the nutrients overwhelming some carnivorous plants.
I washed the roots off and chose a nursery pot about the same diameter as the root spread. Then I cut the pots down to about three inches.
I laid the root ball directly on the pot bottom and spread the roots as best as I could. Then I covered the roots and part of the rhizome with lava rock until the plant felt stable. I elevated the plants in the pond so only the roots and part of the rhizomes sit underwater.
They always did well planted conventionally, but they do a lot better bare-rooted in water. The petioles seem more robust and shinier. The leaves get a lot more character. Some have developed deeper color around the vascular system. They just look more interesting.
I have not used fertilizer in the pond since repotting. The pond sits under three massive Douglas firs, so it gets its fair share of needles and pollen. That seems to be enough to feed these characters.
I'm in zone 8b, almost 9. They're coming inside this winter, but not in conventional pots. I might try my hand at a makeshift hydroponic system to keep them going. They do that well for me in just water.
I Am doing an experiment but not putting on youtube because no one watches my videos, but anyhow, I AM having a bulb in water with rocks on the bottom trying to see if it grows that way. I will update you.
I have the black elephant ears in my small pond in a wire basket with no soil and they grow beautifully.
Thanks for sharing! I just purchased two, trying to figure out where I want to out em. This video info really helped. Thank you
Great Experiment! Thank you. Helps many of us out, growing this Beautiful Plant.
Put them In deeper water and see what happens???? I some accidentally got some of my bulbs in my pond to my surprise they sprouted and began growing and I mean literally floating bulbs dam near completely under water I saw no rot and was very surprised
This guy is so educated and amazing 😊😊
do you have an updated one :D I am looking to try putting some alocasia in the top of an aquarium, can that work??
I'm glad I came across this video! I have a colocasia blue Hawaii and an alocasia macrorrhiza at the moment and am acquiring both a black magic and a black coral calocasia. I was going to invest in a small pond liner to have them on my deck but I'm thinking I may just plant them. Might be easier than trying to maintain proper water conditions in a very small pond all summer 👌
I'm so thankful I found your channel. Big hello from a fellow Ontario resident
Could I do the same growing with the alocasia regal shield, since it is a hybrid of the Odora (elephant ear)???
Great video. Could you share the names of the various taros you planted and where could I buy online?, thanks!
You can't buy from my source.
Great video! Thanks for posting! I also grow elephant ears during the summer and winter them over in my garage. My question is do you think the growth of ones you grew in this video the pond were stunted due to the pot size? Perhaps if the pot size were larger they would have grown larger? I love the idea of growing them in a pond type setting and I'm going to try it myself this year because of your video. I have a small bog that feeds a small pond and I will put a pot of them in the bog with the other plants. I think they'll love it! I'm gonna try adding some Leica clay balls to the potting soil mix I will use in the pond. Thanks again for your videos and ideas!
I don't think the pot size matters too much. The roots went out the bottom of the pot and into the pond. They had large root systems. Growth in water will depend very much on the nutrient level in the water.
I love this informative video. If I want to plant my elephant ear bulb in a pot, what size pot should I start with? I’m not sure if I should start big (10 inches) or start smaller (6 inches) and repot when necessary. Any suggestions would be helpful. 🙂
go with a big pot.
This was very informative! I have a small taro indoors right now, have it placed in about 2 inches of water in a old fish bowl - would this be sufficient until I move it outside??
Christa, this is almost exactly as I did. I have 5 taro that had no sprouting nodes. I had just dug a pond in my back yard. I put the taro bulbs all on the shelf of the pond about a week ago. Some were half-submerged and some were fully submerged. I checked them daily to see if they started to get mushy but they stayed nice and solid. They all have nodes shooting out now and are healthy. I'm planting in pots to be submerged in my pond today. :)
Any size works, provided it does not get too big.
Do they get bigger and bigger every year
What about ponds with fish?
Do you think they would do good if I put them in the ground next to my pond? I know the roadies got root rot and didn't take
If it is a lined pond - beside the pond is no different than a garden.
Do you eat the leaves?
no
@Gardenfundamentals1 not true. They are edible. Green leaf stew!
Just so I'm clear since the title is contrary to what you actually did.... these types of plants cannot be solely water propagated? Your pond plants were still in soil 🤷🏽♀️😐
1) this video has nothing to do with propagation
2) Yes they are still in soil
The video compares two types of culture which are normally used for these plants.
@@Gardenfundamentals1 again your title says water or soil not soil or soil in water. It's confusing with the most stretched of imagination. But thanks just the same it just wasn't the information I was looking.
@@MsButtaSoulFly you cannot grow these in just water. It requires some kind of substrate. The only plants that I know of that don't are floating aquatic plants. Elephant ears are not a floating aquatic plant
@@mightiestmouse8833 Thanks so much. I was honestly trying to research if I should transition my Alocasia Lon to a water only environment like I did my Monstera who has thrived so much I can take a cutting, add a little water from the mother plant and the rest rainwater and in 2/3 weeks it not only has roots enough to gift the cutting but the mother plant will have started pushing two new blooms. Thanks again for taking the time to answer.
👍