Alocasia Species, Giant Upright Elephant Ear, Taro

I've been growing Alocasia odora for about 10 years now. They love it under Pecan trees, as full Central Texas sun burns leaves up. With ...Read Moreconstant light shade, they handle the heat very well. Most summers, they live on rainfall, so I find them to be somewhat drought tolerant. If winter threatens below 25°, I remove leaves and cover the bulbs with upside-down 5-gallon buckets stuffed with fall leaves. Larger bulbs that have offset are too large for buckets. I cover them with a mound of fall leaves, then place the Alocasia's heavy leaf stems on top to keep the wind from blowing away the mulch. Without protection, the exposed bulbs disintegrate into smelly mush.

We've had an Alocasia odora for two years now, potted on a rear deck which gets full sun, here in Eastern (coastal) MA. I brought it ins...Read Moreide over the winter and the leaves slowly died off one by one, and the last remaining leaf, in the spring, looked a little sickly when we put it outside. But it started sending out new leaves, and is healthier and more vigorous this summer than it was last year.

It has recently sent up a new plant about 3" from the main bulb or culm, and after I find out if it's safe to do so, I may dig it out and repot it.

But it's a great specimen plant, and lends an exotic feel to our summer deck!

i posted a picture of my upright elephant ear plant. it is truly one of my favorite plants that i have. it lives in a 22" pot all by itse...Read Morelf. i water it probably 2 times weekly during the hot summer months we have here in the valley. its living environment is sort of backwards, its in all day shade literally, then get the most intense late afternoon sun-sunset lighting. you'd think it would have killed over by now. cant tell you how many times it has bloomed. it seems to like its home so i'm not moving it.

I purchased two bulbs last year and they did beautifully in Southern exposure. I kept them in their large pots for the winter and treated...Read More them as houseplants. They didn't care much for the dry heat from the furnace and due to the aridness, got spider mites. I cut them back to the lower leaves and they are recovering just fine.

I plan to experiment with them in a different sun exposure this year in a "tropical" bed setting. Will post pictures later in the year. They are gorgeous; well worth the space they take up in the garden and/or the house!

Also, I forgot that they are suitable aquatics. I may also sink a bulb in water as well to compare any difference in performance.