Beginner needs advice

19 years ago

Hello all. I've been lurking around here for awhile and I am very glad to have found this forum as I have gone completely "tropicrazy" this summer! My yard and patio are packed full of tropicalesque type plants. My friends and neighbors all think I'm "weird plant guy" now. I love it!

Just had some questions about storing different types of Elephant Ears for the winter.

From what I've been reading my plan is like this.

1. Wait till first frost, cut off all the "green".

2. Dig up the tuber, trim the roots, clean.

3. Allow tuber to dry a bit.

3. Store tuber in a dark cool dry place.

4. Water very sparingly throughout the winter.

(*I've think this is the method Boca Joe uses.)

I own several types of EE's:

Colocasia Esculenta

Black Magic

Fontanessi

Imperial "Illustrus"

Alocasia macrorhizza - Upright or Upee.

Alocasia freydek

Xanthosoma

Some are in the ground and some are in pots.

All of the plants were purchased quite small and have grown considerably large this summer. Especially the Upright EE's. However when I purchased the Upees they were already a decent size.

Seeing the amount of growth on the other plants this year I have no doubt that they will come back strong and grow even larger next season. (As long as they survive the winter)

However, the Upees are SO big that I'm afraid to cut them back. The trunks are 4 to 5 inches across and I have a hard time visualizing these ones getting this big next season.

If I cut the trunk close the base where does the new growth sprout? Will they get as large next season? Should I pot them and move them inside? Am I out to lunch with my wintering plan?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Sam

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Comments (6)

the_virginian
19 years ago
Boca Joe is a friend of mine that I meet with regularly and he is an awesome source of real life information. If he says it will work he is probably right. He gave me the same advice about elephant ears last year and it worked like a charm.
Las_Palmas_Norte
19 years ago
Humm ... What part of the Island are you that's concidered zone 7a?
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sunsetsammy
Original Author
19 years ago
Hey Las palmas norte,

I'm in Comox.

According to the Plant Hardiness Zone map on the Canadian Agriculture website, Comox peninsula is Zone 7a. It appears that many areas on the southern part of the Island are Zone 7a as well.

cheers

Sam
holly_bc
19 years ago
Hey Sammy ~ if you happen to get back to this thread ~ I'm in Comox also and would love to see your Trop garden come spring!
As to zone - as you can see - I consider this area to be more 7b than 7a from a temp perspective. But of course there are always micro climates within zones.
Barry - hope to be down to see you come spring.
sunsetsammy
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi Holly,

I'd love to show you my garden. I'm not sure there will be much left of it come spring though. This winter snow storm is bad. I'll get back to you. :)

Most of my plants are being stored in a garden shed. Our recent cold spell may have been the death sentence for many of my bulbs etc. Who knows maybe I'll get lucky.

As for which Zone we are in??? I see and hear conflicting numbers. The Weather Network website lists Comox as 6b. Other websites say 7a or 7b. Some people claim even 8.

I'm not sure but I normally love the weather here.

Off to shovel.

Later, Sam
holly_bc
19 years ago
Sam -- I'm sorry I've not gotten back with you sooner. I'd love to see your garden and the tropical fun you are having. It has indeed been a rough year! We've already burned once this spring and have another gargantuan pile to burn again. Ordered 9 yards of mulch a couple of days ago so you know what I'm up to these sunny - if not terribly warm - days!

I have lots of Japanese Butterbur (Petasites Japonica) which I'm about to dig and move over the next few days. I have more than enuf to share so if you are interested in any, let me know. What I don't use is simply hitting the compost.

Look forward to being in touch. Happy gardening!