elephant ears

Can someone tell me when I should dig up my elephant ear bulbs? Then what do I do with them? Thanks for any and all help.

I dig mine after first frost, and lay them out to dry for a few days. Then I store them in boxes, covered in dry peat moss, and keep them in a cool, closet. A basement is ideal if you have one.

Thanks Gemini. My friend said I could put them in perilite, but I wasn't sure. This is my first time having a real garden outside, and I'm not crazy about cutting it back. Should they be touching or is that not good for them?

tammy, also, I think if you have a nice sunny window and the space inside you can keep growing them... that's what rox_male does.

I am going to try to keep mine going through the winter this year....

I thought about trying to keep them going, but they're so big and there are alot of them. I wish I had the patience and imagination to make something out of the leaves. Good luck with yours through the winter.

Tammy, I've never had a problem with them touching while in storage, just make sure they've dried for a few days before storing them to keep them from rotting. I've never tried to keep Colocosia type elephant ears going in the winter, but Alocasias have kept leaves through winter for me. This is the alocasia I've kept going before:

These are regular green Colocosia on the right. They get too big for me to even try to keep them in.

Off the topic, gemini_sage - what kind of begonia is in the second picture?

And which Alocasia in the first?

Robert.

In Texas can I leave mine? Also does anyone have any Upright EE that they would consider for a trade or postage?
Carol

This message was edited Sep 18, 2006 12:13 PM