Lookie here!

This horrid hot and damp summer weather has at least been a boon to my EEs! This leaf is 25+" from notch to tip. I think it's my personal record, but another leaf is unfurling rapidly behind it.

How big are EEEEs??? (everyone else's Elephant Ears) Which is the largest species?

I didn't know I was growing Aroids until I stumbled upon this thread and didn't know what an Aroid was. I don't know the species of this, it was a Walmart special about 2 years ago and I've overwintered the tuber. I have so many offshoots they are going to take over my property, but that is OK! I had several rotten tubers after the winter, so I tossed 'em in the compost heap. Umm, guess what is sprouting out of my compost pile?

My favorite aspect of EEs are the funny looks you get from: 1. the checkout person at the store who has NO IDEA what they're holding("do you eat this?"); 2. the motorists and as they run off the road when they see your garden; and 3. The non-gardener when you tell them you have elephant ears!

This message was edited Aug 30, 2006 2:22 AM

Check out this post...
Who has the biggest...
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/625762/

Congrats and welcome to the forum. The post in the link will show you several varieties that DGers grow.

Enjoy!
ROX

Dear All-
Isn't it fun to see the enthusiasm in a true Newbie.
Anyone gonna' tell Jax how addictive growing EEs can be? ...Nah!
ROX

Isn't it fun, I love them.

Im a newbie??? I've grown and loved these guys for years. It has just been in the past 2 or 3 that I've sucessfully overwintered the bulbs. I will have probably 15 big bulbs for next spring!

So I'm shooting for 4 feet, huh? HHHmmm, what does Guiness say? I don't know what's possible because I'm the only one I know that grows them!

Does the 4' Colocasia grow on top of a nuclear waste site? I have had ZERO luck with Colocasia Black Magic. They sprouted, grew some pathetically tiny leaves before keeling over and rotting in the soil. I keep trying for some reason.

Jax-
Sorry if I offended you...I hope the link was interesting.

EE love compost, some use fish emulsion.
With that soem colocasia can easily grow to 5 feet within a few seasons. [I am in Zone 6a and just pot mine up during the winter]. This is the first year I am growing 'Pink China' which is supposedly hardy to Zone 6a. I will try leaving some in the ground and seeing how it does.

Re: Black Magic. I keep mine in soil (mostly clay) that is mixed with humus and compost.
I believe that they don't like constantly wet feet, especially if it is cold or they are just breaking dormancy. However, once they are growing well and it is warm, several people actually use them as marginal plants here in OH.

Have you tried Fontanesii (purple stem)?
I find these very tolerant. A. gagena is also eay to grow.

ROX

I'm not offended. Just happy that SOMETHING beside the weeds is doing well. My roses are miserable. I must have over-watered the Black Magic, because I water the garden every day that it's not raining through July. I use an overhead sprinkler, so it's hard to single-out plants when the EEs are in the same bed with shade perrenials.
We are in the same zone. I use the fish emulsion (really great on a 90 degree day!) and the cat goes crazy.
I guess the size and age of the corm/tuber is key, too. Do you have an online source for your EEs? I have never seen the cultivars you mention in stores.

Jax, look for some of the posts started by bwilliams (Brian) and look at his setup. He has quite a collection. Click on his username and you'll find his web address.

I looked up Brain's EE ID entry! WOW! He is either a very tiny person or those are very big leaves!!! In some of the pics he looks like he's on the losing end of a great battle!

I am HUMBLED and HMHIS.

Impressive huh. EEs can become quite addictive.

I just found this forum,I guess we are so nuts,Dave chased us into our own corner,LOL!