planting elephant ears in pots....

is it too late in the season to plant elephant ear bulbs in containers that will eventually come into my house during the cold??

Sticks, I don't think it's too late. We have such a long growing season anyway. If you'll be taking it in anyway I don't see why you couldn't plant some now. I have a big pot with some upright bright green ones that are really pretty. They are multiplying so I'll have to do some repotting before long. I have some Black EEs that I really like too.
Lin

Sticks,
I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be planting now.
Since you're talkin' bulbs/tubers I assume you mean Colocasia?
I use 1/2 compost and 1/2 top soil for them in Containers.

Know though that unless you have a serious set of lights or GH and high heat they will set back as Winter progresses.
Indoors they are treated more like a dry Houseplant.

But as you have at least two months left in the growing season............. I'd say go for it!
Ric

ric...what do you mean 'set back' as winter progresses.....i have a sun room, where geraniums bloomed all last winter....but i thought ee 's did well in shade?? i am a real novice here ......but am trying slowing to become a jungle....(grin)

I overwinter several EE during the winter in pots in my jacuzzi room. I keep it at the same temp as the house (72 high/62 low). It has windows on three sides, so it has lots of light.

Some like Colocasia esculenta; black stem (fontanesii); ruffles; black ruffles will do fine if the temp is kept above 60F. My only big issue with them are spider mites. So make sure you mist with water and keep the air circulating.

Some alocasia: gageana; odora; cuprea; macrorrhiza also do well, as above.

But some of my xanthosoma like golden delicious and sagittifolia will try to go dormant if the temp gets near 60F. Even with 60F they still look like they are trying to fall asleep.

My alocasia 'hilo beauty' and frydek eventually go dormant below 65F. So I just water a lot less and wait until Spring. The trick is that if your plant does go dormant, let it [see note below]. Put it in a cooler place, ~55F, and don't water as much.

Note: I have been told that there are some plants that do not do well with dormancy. But you will have to ask others about that.

I would definitely try C. Pink China. It is supposedlu hardy to zone 6a, so you could leave it outside.
A. gageana is a gorgeous shorter and "bushier" version of macrorrhiza that overwinters as a house plant fantastically!

Best of luck!

well you are definitely over my head with the information....so i will keep your information handy to research bulbs....; thank you so much:)

They are under story plants in areas much closer to the equator.
Up here most Colocasia will take full sun.
In TX full/part sun w/ a lot of or in water.

By setting back I mean they will start to throw smaller and smaller leaves.
They also use less and less water.
So you must be careful about rotting the bulbs.
And as ROX stated spider mites seem to be very attracted to them indoors.
Good air flow lessens that problem.

Ric

Sticks I have a pot of large EEs that I overwintered in a storage room that has east windows and a light that I used. It never did even go dormant. Could you keep them in your garage?
Lin

i have a sunroom to put them in.....but i was intimidated by the all information i got from the experienced ear people....i just figured i would just put some ee in a pot and grow....but then they were saying the different kinds....the different ways they act etc....so now i am scared....

No, don't be scared!
If you decide on an EE and let us know which type, we'll try to give you some advice.
Otherwise, trial and error isn't so bad. The EE don't speak but if you observe them, they'll let you know if they are happy. I actually find them pretty easy to grow. Each kind just has its own temperment. Sort of like cats, really!

ROX

I agree w/ ROX.
Play all you want w/ them!
Several of us here grow some odd ones.
(Many of us far too many odd ones! LOL)
They can be rather quirky.

Good old Colocasias, stock cultivars especially, are easy and better yet easily and cheaply replaced.
Here's a Xanth and some 'Big Dipper' pups I over-wintered at work in the entrance hall.

Ric

Sticks my EEs multiply like crazy, even in the pots. So just start you some and take from there and see what happens. It's not a big loss if they don't make it.
Lin