Anybody know anything about elephant ears? I bought a couple of bulbs from Wally World and can't figure which side is up. They have little pinkish bulges on one end, but are the bulges roots or shoots? Help me out here, I don't want to have to dig them up and turn them over.

ut them in peat or something keep them moist for a while they willstart growing and then you will be able to tell which way is up.
MarCat

Does this picture help any?

Giant Elephant Ear bulb

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Roy Rogers
Southern Tampania de la Floridana Universidad (STFU)
STFU Motto: All Bamboos are not Created Equal; @ STFU, the Search Continues
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ROY'S BAMBOO LIST

Hey, the peat moss idea sounds good, I'll give that a try. Dang things don't come with instructions.

I dug one a couple of days ago that's about the size of that big one. I wasn't sure if it was an elephant ear or banana plant, but there were a couple near it that had new ee leaves coming out. I couldn't believe how much water is in the tops. It's easy to tell which way they go when they've got green stuff on top.

One end should have a flat scar maybe the size of a quarter or so, that is the bottom. The top is sort of like a coconut with 3 or so dimples - point them up.

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Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
http://www.needmorebamboo.com

I purchased some of these a few years ago... very nice... "Borneo Giant"



I got mine from http://www.nsexotics.com/servlet/the-Aroids-cln-Alocasia/Categories

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Allen D. Aleshire
Bamboo Nut Farm

http://www.boonut.com

Allen how cold sensitive are those?
MarCat

I planted some at my house last summer, and they died this winter (got down to around 27°F.)

The Borneo Giant won't take much below 40 degrees. Along with the elephant ear plants they belong to the "Alocasia" / Airoid family.I have one in a 15g pot. they prefer some shade in the heat of the day but not a lot and grow well in pine bark with lots of leaf mulch to feed off of. Well drained soil but keep em' well watered but not wet feet. If they're too wet the corms will rot on you.

Good luck.

mike

I think they die back right around 34F, but come back the following year. This year, we didn't get that low and they are in the ground... so they are all doing fine. Once winter hits, the leaves get quite a bit smaller.

I will post pics once the leaves grow larger again. The newest leaves are only about 2 feet or so. Can't wait until the big ones come back.

Here is a picture while it was still in a pot... the first year I got it.

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Allen D. Aleshire
Bamboo Nut Farm

http://www.boonut.com

Ok, I dug them up, washed them off, and planted the ugly side down. The top? is round like a coconut, has rings and emerging pink bumps, and the other end is pointy and has scars. I had them pointy side up before, so hopefully I have them right now.

I did find a link with pics:
http://www.durgan.org/14%20May%202006%20Elephant%20Ears/HTML/

I bought a few bulbs last year at Walmart.....I just chucked'em in the ground and BOOM!!!!....Big Elephant Ears last year.....I expect them back with a vengence this year.....Love'em!!!!!!.....

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Bamboo....The Gift of the Gods!!!!!

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Man, I must be losing my noodles. I would have sworn he was in Florida.