Elephant Ear Care

But make sure you keep your Elephant Ear plant away from direct sunlight as this can cause leaf burn which unfortunately is irreversible. You might want to consider moving your plant a little closer to the window during winter to make use of all the sunlight. If you aren’t sure if your plant is getting enough light, you can use a sunlight monitor to test different spots in your home.

One really important thing to remember when taking care of an Elephant Ear Plant is to keep the soil moist. You want to make sure that the soil doesn’t stay too dry in between waterings so keep a close eye on it and regularly check the moisture levels using a moisture meter. 

Although they will still grow and survive in slightly colder homes, a warmer environment will really help your Elephant Ear plant thrive. Don’t be alarmed if there is no growth in the winter period, they are just adjusting to the temperature change.

As Elephant Ear Plants are native to the tropics, one important part of your care routine is to try and replicate some of that natural environment in your home. An easy way to do this is by increasing the humidity. We recommend this affordable humidifier available from Amazon. You can find out more about this in our detailed guide to humidity.

This goes for most other houseplants too as this is when the growth period occurs. We also recommend using a water-soluble fertiliser like this one from Miracle Gro so that it is not as harsh on the root system.

If any part of your Elephant Ear plant is ingested by your dog or cat, it can cause mouth and stomach irritation so try and keep your furry friends away from the plant.

You may find that over time your Elephant Ear Plant leans in towards the source of light. In order to keep the new growth equal and the plant balance, rotate your Elephant Ear Plant every month or so.

Unfortunately, propagating your Elephant Ear Plant isn’t the easiest. You can propagate your plant by dividing and repotting the runners into new individual plants.

Due to the size of Elephant Ear leaves, they are prone to a large build-up of dust which can affect the plant’s health which is why we recommend wiping them down with a damp cloth every few weeks.

Over time, as your plant matures, we recommend pruning the older leaves that might be beginning to droop a little. Make sure you use clean, sharp shears to remove the leaf. We love these shears from Amazon.

Don’t worry about needing to find a new pot for your Elephant Ear Plant all the time. You only really need to repot them when you start to see roots coming out at the bottom or top of your plant. When it is time to repot your Elephant Ear Plant, make sure you do it in spring or summer to coincide with the growing season.