Elephant Ear
About Elephant Ear
Alocasias, commonly known as Elephant Ears, are some of the most common houseplants although their leaves can reach enormous sizes when grown outdoors! 🐘 They typically only support a few leaves at a time (more, when they get more sun!) so don't be concerned if you see an old leaf begin to retire after a new one emerges. They grow out of underground corms which are similar to bulbs, so next time you repot keep an eye out for baby Alocasias! They contain calcium oxalate crystals so be sure to keep them out of reach if you have children or pets! ⚠️
Taxonomy
Alocasia plumbea 'Nigra'
Alocasia
Araceae
Alismatales
Also known as
nairobi nights and alocasia nairobi nights
How to care for Elephant Ear
How often to water your Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Elephant Ear in your home
Elephant Ear may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Elephant Ear in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Elephant Ear
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Elephant Ear after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Why do my new leaves have holes and yellow dots I have two elephant ears that are both putting out a bunch of new leaves. One looks perfect while this one has sad looking leaves with yellow spots, holes and crispy brown spots. Even the new leaves that haven’t started to open have tips that look like they’re browning. They both have the exact same pots, soil, water regimen and sit under the same grown light. I’m at a loss 😢 #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #NewGrowth #PlantTherapy #GrowLights #NewPlantMom #help
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I bought a Dragon Scale Alocasia around a month ago. Could anyone advise why the leaves may be getting these brown patches spreading from the tip of each leaf? They don't feel dry or soft but are spreading. It's new leaf seems healthy.
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Good morning & Happy 🐪 Day!! So, today’s #brunchataudreys special is a lovely, rejuvenating rainforest shower for our more dramatic, hydration queens. We also have a super yummy, fall inspired worm casting tea with nothing but the absolute purest h2o for my “boujee” (they think they are anyways, tap water won’t do. Fiji wanted only or they’ll throw a fit…) Philodendrons 🤍 @PlantJedi @Chevysgirl11 @TheOddAsity @ILoveMyPlants @CourtlyKingfern @SweetAzurebluet @stephonicle @Michelle5986 @JenniferNoel @MariansOasis @Ninabeena @UltraKoreanfir @SuperblyLilac @Amateurbotany @Arid_oasis @BabeVila @ehery @FitBrowallia @JazzyGardeNerd @JenniB81 @pamjam @prizedshadscale @craaa777 @grateful_68 @BasementForest @poisedalbo #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy #GregPlantShop #GregGang
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HELP! It was happily living in a north facing window since the spring, put out one new leaf but then last month it started going brown and has 1 of 3 leaves left 😢 *The bulb is not soft 😅 *I've moved it next to my fish tank with a grow light for now #KrisPlant
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I just got this little one from a friend about 2 weeks ago. New to plants. I notice the tip of the leaf is turning yellow and not looking good. What can I do to bring it back alive ? #ZebraElephantEar
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found this dragon scale alocasia at the grocery store today and couldn't resist bringing her home 💚 i was expecting this to be a rescue situation, but her roots look healthy and she even has a lil corm baby starting to grow 🥺 she will be in quarantine for a while and will hopefully enjoy her new home in my collection ☺️
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I recently moved some of my alocassias from soil to pon but this happening why? What did I do wrong😫
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Cracked and browning- not sure what’s wrong with her! Been taking care like normal and recommended from the app and she started to crack. Does anyone have any tips on how I might prevent or care for this in the future?
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Does anyone know the secret? Does anyone know why my alocasia red secret keeps growing sideways? I have it about a foot away from a south facing window that does not get as much direct light as you would expect and I don’t overwater it. I’ve tried moving it at least once to an east facing window, but it still kept growing this way. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get Bob to straighten up his act? #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantTherapy #AlocasiaAddicts #Alocasia #alocasiaredsecret #PlantRX #theamigos #LaSiguanaba
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Should I repot? I got this black velvet alocasia from my local grocery store yesterday for $8. 😊 It looks like its in regular potting soil and in a self watering pot. The soil was dry when we got home. I filled the bottom with water. This morning the leaves are dripping. Should I repot it in an alocasia soil mix or leave it alone?
Care Summary for Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear
Greg recommends:
0.5 cups every 9 days
< 3ft from a window
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.