elephant ears base - Ask Extension
I have a 3 year old elephant ear plant, I bring it in for the winter months. I have 2 new plants I have started off of the plant, The base of the pl...
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elephant ears base #470482
Asked July 14, 2018, 9:49 PM EDT
I have a 3 year old elephant ear plant, I bring it in for the winter months. I have 2 new plants I have started off of the plant, The base of the plant is getting a bark like base high up on the plant, Should I cut the plant back and let it regrow from the bulb?
Brunswick County North Carolina
Expert Response
This is a natural phenomenon for mature elephant ears, and is something to be proud of since you've nurtured these for years.
I am concerned that cutting the stem back so far might cause some problems - like allowing rot to enter the tuber, or removing the growing point and having to start over from a bud underground.
If your purpose is to reduce the size, you might be better off to wait for an offshoot to form and pot that up (you could plant the parent outside and let it go the way of compost when freezing temperatures strike).
If you just don't like the bark appearance, you could place some other, shorter plants in the pot with it to fill up the space, and some to spill over the sides. It could be an even more eye catching planter with a few additions.
It is a beautiful specimen and I wish you luck in this and your other gardening endeavors.
I am concerned that cutting the stem back so far might cause some problems - like allowing rot to enter the tuber, or removing the growing point and having to start over from a bud underground.
If your purpose is to reduce the size, you might be better off to wait for an offshoot to form and pot that up (you could plant the parent outside and let it go the way of compost when freezing temperatures strike).
If you just don't like the bark appearance, you could place some other, shorter plants in the pot with it to fill up the space, and some to spill over the sides. It could be an even more eye catching planter with a few additions.
It is a beautiful specimen and I wish you luck in this and your other gardening endeavors.
