From Chicago, I planted some nice black elephant ears pretty late
(August). They took well in my garden, so in October I cut them way
back, put them in big pots in my basement, now they're growing like
they're outside! The basement gets lots of natural light. Is this OK
or do they *need* a dormant season?

TIA

"Guglielmo Portas" wrote in message
om...
From Chicago, I planted some nice black elephant ears pretty late
(August). They took well in my garden, so in October I cut them way
back, put them in big pots in my basement, now they're growing like
they're outside! The basement gets lots of natural light. Is this OK
or do they *need* a dormant season?


They don't need a dormant period. However, if you stop watering them, they
will go dormant. I just dug all of mine this week. I will store them in
the basement in a box until next spring.

They don't need a dormant period. However, if you stop watering them, they
will go dormant. I just dug all of mine this week. I will store them in
the basement in a box until next spring.

Thanks for the info. So, if I stop watering them, they'll just go
dormant and not die completely?

My apologies for incorrectly posting under this thread.

"Guglielmo Portas" wrote in message
...
They don't need a dormant period. However, if you stop watering them,
they
will go dormant. I just dug all of mine this week. I will store them
in
the basement in a box until next spring.

Thanks for the info. So, if I stop watering them, they'll just go
dormant and not die completely?

My apologies for incorrectly posting under this thread.

Yes. They will go dormant. The top will die back, but the rhizome will
survive. Here is a link to some information:
http://www.emilycompost.com/elephant_ear.htm

On 13 Nov 2003 09:55:49 -0800, (Guglielmo Portas)
opined:

They don't need a dormant period. However, if you stop watering them, they
will go dormant. I just dug all of mine this week. I will store them in
the basement in a box until next spring.

Thanks for the info. So, if I stop watering them, they'll just go
dormant and not die completely?

My apologies for incorrectly posting under this thread.

All caladiums (elephant ear is one of them) will go dormant regardless. I have
some growing indoors and I watch them. When they start looking tired I cut back
on watering and they go dormant on their own. The ones outside are hardy in the
ground in my USDA Zone 8b.

Victoria

Yes. They will go dormant. The top will die back, but the rhizome will
survive. Here is a link to some information:
http://www.emilycompost.com/elephant_ear.htm

Thanks a ton- I love this ng!

Sounds like black taro and you'll be fine with them in the basement and
cutting back on water.

Guglielmo Portas wrote:
=

From Chicago, I planted some nice black elephant ears pretty late
(August). They took well in my garden, so in October I cut them way
back, put them in big pots in my basement, now they're growing like
they're outside! The basement gets lots of natural light. Is this OK
or do they *need* a dormant season?
=

TIA

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal