EE, now what?

I bought this bulb yesterday, and have tried to search for information on what to do with it now. I have some alocasias and colocasias in pots in the pond, but think this will fill the pond. Do I just pot it up for now till it's started leaves then throw it in a garden? Full sun? Can I plant in on the east side of the house, gets lots of morning sun till about 2 pm in the summer. I have put a Loonie next to the bulb for size comparison

Any suggestions would be helpful

And is this the right way up??

Linda

This is what I followed when I planted mine. It would be great if Grant ( CannaAskForMore) would drop by.

Plant the tuber twice as deep as its diameter.


Elephant ears grow from what looks like a huge bulb, but it's actually a tuber. Typically, garden centers have them available in the late winter and early spring, which is an excellent time to get them started. Look for a heavy bulb and stay away from those with any mold or mushy spots.

If you're going to plant it outdoors, wait until all threats of frost are gone. Otherwise, you can give it a jump-start indoors by starting it in a pot. You need a large pot at least 18 inches across and deep. Add a good potting soil and some soil polymers, which help retain water and keep the bulb hydrated. Elephant ears are heavy feeders, so add a handful of an all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer and mix it into the soil before planting the bulb. Plant the bulb, with the point up, to a depth two times the height of the bulb.

Give the bulb a good drink of water and then don't water at all until you see sprouts. Then keep the soil relatively moist. Remember, it's a tropical and a heavy feeder. So once it starts sprouting, feed it every couple of weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer that is diluted to half strength. In no time, this pot will grow big ears.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_bulbs_seeds_planting/article/0,1785,HGTV_3555_3637758,00.html

I didn't use soil polymers tho.

Thanks Pam, I have some much smaller ones, but I like the bigun's, I figure I may as well go for it!

Hey Linda,
how big will that get, and where did you get it, if you don't mind me asking - in Victoria, somewhere?

It's huge!!

Is that a colocasia?
(20 questions - sorry!)
Cheryl

I keep mine in the dappled shade of my woodland garden in an area that I dig up every late summer and put the bulbs in dry storage for the winter. I put them back out after it gets warm June15 or so.

I got it at Garden works, $15. They said it was an Alocasia but no other name such as a hybrid or anything. I think i'll start it in a pot, as suggested above, and then figure out where to plant it. I don't have an idea of how big it'll get, but if the size of the tuber is any idea, I'd say big. I'll have to pull them up here as well. everyonce in a while we get the ground frozen.

Thanks, L, and you will keep us posted with its progress, eh?

Hi Linda:
I did the same thing--was tempted for about 3 years now and finally gave in. I have mine in a gallon container in potting soil with tip out of soil and keeping it wet. I will transfer to an open pond container later with clay for weight in bottom and grit on top. I have grown Taro before but overwintering these ---asias is difficult for me and if they survive in the pond, they are never as vigorous the next year. Liz grows them if you need any info.

I planted it today in it's own huge pot, on the deck for now. It's in a mixture of 1/2 manure, 1/2 potting soil and about 1.5 cups of vermiculite. I'll have it near the pond, but not in it. So far it's just a big tuber.