Caribbean Garden: E is for Elephant Ears

One of the best things about living in the Caribbean is being able to enjoy the outdoors especially if you are lucky enough to have access to a garden.

Gardening is proven to be therapeutic as it can relieve stress and watching your plants grow while birds, bees, and other insects come to visit can also be relaxing.

If you are looking to start or enhance your garden with some tropical plants – this new alphabetical series on flora found in the region (and beyond) may be useful. Here is some information on how to take care of Elephant Ears.

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Elephant Ears come in various species and cultivars and are native to South America, Central America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 

This plant loves warm, tropical conditions so in the Caribbean it can be grown indoors or outside.

As a houseplant, most varieties of Elephant Ears are relatively straightforward to look after. They grow best in rich, loamy soil that drains well, but the soil should be able to retain sufficient moisture to remain consistently damp and moist. 

Elephant Ears prefer regular watering so if you give it a drink one to three times a week that should be sufficient. Water the plant when the top two inches of the soil feels dry. Yellow or droopy leaves are a sign of underwatering.

Place your plant in a spot where it will receive bright, indirect light. You should also wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or paper towel every now and again to remove dust. If it is outdoors, choose a shady position with filtered sunlight, so the leaves are not scorched by the sun.

During the growing season, Elephant Ears should be fertilised every two to four weeks.

Did you know? All Elephant Ear plant varieties are poisonous to dogs and cats.

Sources: LivelyRoot.com and The Spruce.