I have never grown Elephant ears before. I am in zone 9. We can get very hot and dry in the summer. Can anyone that has grown them before give me some good advice. Do I need to keep them in the greenhouse for the humidity?
Thanks, Patricia
Mickey Mouse Elephant ear
just through it in the ground not a boggie area though..., lots of water... part sun to full shade....
ely
If I can grow them here in a pot or the ground, Patricia, you should have a forrest in no time. I think this one is a bit slower than a lot of them, but it will do well for you, I'd bet.
I grow them in the ground in shaded area
I got one last year, freaked when it got cold and pulled it up. Put it in a pot and it still went dormant. Well, the one in the pot resprouted this spring and in the ground where the original plant was, it came back, and another, and another, and so on and on and on, until I have 13!!! I am SO excited!!All since spring, It is planted in full sun. I have a friend who has hers in part shade and after 3 ears, still has one!!! Do what you want, but all mine are staying in full sun!!!
Of all the 'Exotic' EE's we grow 'Mickey Mouse' and the other pocket and variegated EE's are the toughest.
They tend to like it a little dryer than the Black Magic, Illustrus, etc.
I started treating ours like regular Tropical house plants and haven't lost one since.
Ric
Thank you all for your input. Should I dig it and bring it in for the winter or should I be able to leave it in the ground. WE can get down to around 23 in the winter and do get frost.
no you shouldn't
they need the cold weather that you have to help them make babies... 1 plant can give you 4-10 babies... if you let it sleep. mine stay in full sun to cause that is what janetos told me to do.. and they look so pretty.... janet the MBG told me they were having them for sale at there show this fall and I was like laughing at them...."I thought they were ahead of me...".... oh I got that ee that I showed you and next year I should have some V-stags babies for you too.
O.K. I am going to trust you all and put mine in the ground. I am new to growing these marginal plants in my garden so it is a little scarey for me as hard to come by as some of the plants are.
Patricia
Patricia....I would think that they will be fine for you! Oh how I wish I was in zone 9! Just pot up a few pups and then you'll feel safe!
Patricia,
I'll tell you what, next spring,if it doesn't come back, I'll send you one of mine. I'm that confident. LOL!!!
Jot down my DG name and email me next spring and let me know how it's doing. I'd love to hear you have a yard full of them. LOL!!!!!!!
Good luck!!!!
Janet
Janet, that is so sweet of you. Mine doesn't have pups yet. I will be sure to make a note of this post.
Patricia
Patricia,
I just spoke to PerennialGirl, who told me that your mm hasn't come back yet. Since we got all this rain, check it again, and I will make good on my promise to send you one since yours died!!
lmk!!
Janet
No it for sure didn't come back. I got done there and with my hands and fingers tried to dig down to see if it was coming up and nothing there. Are you sure you have an extra, because I will only except it if you do. Are you by any chance looking for a thunbergia 'Raspberry smoothie'? I have an extra one that I could send you.
Patricia
Patricia - I thought I had lost my MM, so I replanted the bed, put in more soil and while renovating it AGAIN 2 years later, up it came...full of pups! Just remember where you put it...you may be surprised!