OK, I know it's "my bad" that I'm just now getting out there to clean up these guys. Usually, I cut old dried leaves off and mulch in November or so, but this year they stayed pretty for so long--and then it was cold. Anyway, I'm trimming them now, and I haven't seen this before. Some of the bulbs are completely on top of the ground; some completely buried and some everywhere in between. I cut two of the ones on top. One was brown and sort of styrofoam texture inside (obviously dead), but the other was crunchy, like a potato inside. I've never cut one before, but it seemed like a healthy material. Do I bury everything, or leave them alone or throw the above ground ones away? These bulbs are probably seven or eight years old. I've never dug them up or divided. They look beautiful every yead. Advice appreciated.
Syb
WHAT'S WITH MY ELEPHANT EARS?
My experience with elephant ears is that you can't kill them if you even try. The mushy ones on top of the ground are probably goners, but the others should jump back up and fill in. Throw enough mulch on them to suit the appearance of the bed to your tastes and don't worry about them, they'll be back. Oh, the crunchy potato texture is normal for healthy ones.
Crow
Sounds like frost heaving, at least I think that's what it's called. That happened to me 10 or so years ago with my glads.
Depending on the type, some of mine stayed pretty all winter, and some like yours started showing stress. This is typical, due to winter conditions, low humidity, dry conditions and low sunlight, (short days). Just snip the stress leaves and they'll start coming back pretty again now that days are getting longer. We just need some spring rain now.
Rj
Oh, rj, we're not ever gonna get rain again.
I know..today at 81F I could tell some of the in ground plants are becoming stressed
Thanks all, and I'm holding onto a thread of hope for rain tomorrow
Syb
You're forgetting tomorrow never comes!
omg, I had EE bulbs all around and they are huge. These EE's get about 8ft tall. ... bulbs I harvested are the size of a small potatoe to the size of a small stump. I planted one on my side and one on the neighbors. I got about 10 left and I am bring them to the RU. Sheila I know you want one. LOL
Sylvia
I will take a stump or 2. lol
I really would love 1 or 2
Sandy, I will bring you a stump.;) Which RU?
This message was edited Mar 9, 2009 7:22 PM
I hope to attend both of them. But maybe the CS as it is first. I am going to try to make myself go to atleast one.
Thanks you are such a doll.
Blessings,
Sandy
Hey! Two of my sis-tahs are making swaps.
Guess who is driving fr the South!!!
Sylvia, if she doesn't show, I get her 'stumps'! lol
Sure you will and I may pop you over the head with it. rotflol
Doesn't she talk big for someone 5-6 inches shorter than me? lol
Linda if you are coming to the Arlington RU could you throw in a bag of V for me? I would give you a couple of EE stumps for bringing it.
Sheila please let me give up my stumps first. :)
Sheila, I'll be making a trip into the big city next wk & I'll pick it up then.
Thanks Linda, you are a jewel!!
Sylvia.....trust me, they will all find homes!! Everyone wants the big ol'EEs!!
Gee I wish mine stood up that straight. Sheila mine are much bigger than that. Mine are on the corner right there by the gate ... I wish I could find a picture. I have not moved it because it shades my Hostas.
Oh that one is a young one, it is just the only one that I had a picture of that showed the leaves and bloom. I wrestled on out of my pond one year that was taller than me. I don't plant them there anymore!
I dont think I will plant this anymore, I am thinking it might be a bannana tree. :)
Well if it was a banana tree, at least it wouldn't spread like the EEs! LOL! I bet you can't get out of your gate in that corner where you had them when they are growing.
You are so right, I have to move them out they way because they are laying on the ground. Maybe I didnt bury the bulb deep enough?
No, they get that way as they grow, there is still a lot underground.
OMG! Sheila on my Lasagna Bed ... I still have a lot of newspaper that has not disintegrated. The grass is dead, and I want to plant my Zinnia seeds. What can I do?
I haven't made a Lasagna bed before, but I would think that you could spread a soil mix over that and plant the seeds there. The roots will make their way down through the newspapers.
Oh, dmail Mitch and ask about it, didn't he do the LB?
Thanks, but i think its too late to put mre soil on it, things are coming up. hhmm good reason to Dmail Mitch. :)
(The roots will make their way down through the newspapers.) oh well I am good to go. Is Mitch coming to the RU?
No he isn't since it is Sunday, his workday.
Its just amazing how Mitch made that switcharoo. :)
What exposure are these EE's getting that they grow so well? I am having trouble figuring out the best place to plant them.. afternoon shaded? .... morning shaded?... north side of the yard... west... no matter where I go, they will get shade at a different time of the day. Which works best in the Dallas area? You are in a similar climate to me... I am just 360 miles west and a bit drier...
Thank you for any help... those are beautiful.
LL.....The EEs can take the morning sun just fine, but if they get too much afternoon sun they will wilt. As for the side of the house, that doesn't make much difference, as long as the afternoon sun is not direct. I had some at one time that got pretty much full afternoon sun from 11a-3pm, but with lots of water they survived but didn't grow as well as they did when I moved them.
LINDA, DONT FORGET MY AIR POTATOES! I NEED A BUSHEL!
Sylvia, I will bring some, not many as Ike took most of them with him. They should be up in your neck of the woods or maybe they blew on up to Indiana! lol