I have lots of ears and previously lived in zone 7, now live in zone 10. I have put xanthosoma variegata and xanthosoma Lime Zinger in the sun. I'm thinking I've made a mistake. Although they lived in full sun in TN, the sun here is much hotter. Do they need shade? Morning sun? Do they like acid or alkaline soil?
Ear question
Hiya Calalily,
I am NO expert on EE's but OUR TEXAS sun will turn those babies (and most anything else) into crispy critters come August...about the only thing we grow in full sun here is blisters.lol
Seriously depending on how far inland you are & how much natural humidity you have then my suggestion is to plant almost everything in partial sun.
Welcome to Texas Calalily.:)
Lottie
ACK! I will move them back. The black ones seem to love where they are, but the yellow leaved ones don't. My yard is part morning sun on one side, part evening sun on the other side. I'll put them in morning sun.
I'm 3.5 miles in from the bay. When the breezes are blowing(which is 90% of the time) the humidity is low, when the wind is still, the humidity is higher.
Calalily,
You are going to love it here in Texas and love the climate.
Your location is very similar to mine...I'm 13 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, too. We rarely get freezes that last long enough in winter to do much damage to healthy plants or the bugs. We didn't have much of a winter so be prepared for a long hot summer. I've been here almost 50 years so I have a little experience with our weather...lol
You probable aren't going to like our summer heat & humidity for yourself, but your tropical plants are going to love it...the next best thing to being in their natural home.;)
I have even planted my tea roses in morning sun with partial shade because if I plant them according to "rose rules" they end up cooked!
You may what to consider building arbors out of shade cloth or even decorative lattice to serve both as a wind block and as a source of shade. It can help create a micro climate and protect all your plants. You will be surprised at what "full sun plants" will thrive & bloom in our shade.
One other tidbit I have had to learn the hard way...don't over water...the heat here creates a lot of steam & you will end up with steamed roots, especially if you use those black pots...lol
Hope you have a great growing season.
Oh yeah...be sure & get yourself some good sun block. You are going to have the best Tan you've ever wished for...
I'll be interested to hear how you like it here at the end of the season. And your comparisons...
I wish you the very best of luck always,
Lottie
We have fencing for wind block, six foot tall solid wood fences all around plus palms and bananas along the perimeter. We might get a freeze once in 10-15 years, rarely does it get below 39 here. Our summers are not as humid as Dallas or Houston, we have a constant breeze and more clouds than full sun because of the ocean(or that's what everybody here says causes the clouds). I lived in TN where we would go weeks at 90 and above in July & August, no wind, no rain and 95% humidity, so don't think it could be any worse here, lol. At least there is a breeze!
Three of my close neighbors have jungles for yards, so I'm gonna take a peek at how they have their stuff planted!
Well Both of them need shade....in zone 10. when finding the right spot for ely ears I put them in a pot and move them around... just clip of to crispy ears... I find indirect light best for almost all elys..
ely
I moved the Lime Zingers back to more shade. I'm hoping that some of the taller plants will grow fast and shade the rest! I have my Imperialis planted under a big brug, it loves it, no sun at all and one Peggy gave me(can't think of it's name, it's dark leaves, pewter something?) is in a semi shady spot and loving it. Violaceum is doing much better in almost full shade under a high palm. Ruffles,saggitifolium, the big one from Root(forgot it's name too), and the black ones are still in full sun and doing great, no brown leaves so far. Frydek and Fallax are in morning sun for about an hour and are doing good too.
I have a question , Suzie, about all my elephant ears. I think Tracey may have said that when she let her ele. ears stay in the ground for the winter, they were forever coming back, but did they come back? And my question now is if the ground feels hard, and not smushy, does that probably mean the bulb is still okay, just not up yet? I am afraid to dig it up; I may tear up the bulb. Maybe I should dig a big hole around the entire area and work out the bulb to see what is going on?
Roz, they have to be really warm to start growing, then it takes a little while for them to emerge. I guess if you dug a big hole around the bulb, then lifted it, you should be able to tell if it's still okay, then divide if necessary and replant.
Suzie, I did dig a big hole, and I am glad I did cause the portadora was beginning to rot. I don't know why it would, cause the ground was not all that wet, but it is in a shady location and holds water, too much mulch. Some of the others do not have any thing but hard dirt mounded, but I still have hope. Looks like two more are going to make it; healthy looking roots.
I think wet in the winter got some of mine. They were doing good, then I planted them in a too wet place and they rotted.