Elephant ear
Originally from China, Elephant's Ear is rare in the wild and only found in wooded areas at fairly high altitudes. The plant quickly became popular as a houseplant in Scandinavia after being brought here as late as the 1940s. A Norwegian missionary played an important role in spreading the plant. Many elephant ears from the middle of the last century came from a plant he brought back from China. In Chinese culture, elephant ear is a plant that has inspired poets and artists for a very long time. It has often been used as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. In China, elephant ear has also been used extensively in natural medicine. It is believed to relieve everything from cold symptoms to stomach problems.
You can eat elephant ear
It's not very common for elephant ear to be grown for eating. However, young leaves taste quite good, lightly fried or boiled. You can also make elephant ear tea by steeping the leaves in hot water for a few minutes.
Elephant ear - care
Elephant ear is an easy-care plant. If it thrives, it can grow to over 50 cm tall and produce many cuttings. When it comes to light conditions, partial shade is good for elephant ear. You should let the soil dry between waterings. In summer, it is good to feed the elephant ear about once every two weeks. Taking a cuttings from the elephant ear is grateful because it produces new cuttings all the time. If you plant elephant ear cuttings in new pots, you can have a home with lots of greenery in no time.
- Don't take cuttings from an elephant ear that are shorter than 10 cm.
- Choose cuttings that look healthy, preferably as large as possible.
- Dig up the cuttings and try to get as many roots as possible.
- Cuttings without roots can be placed in a glass of water until roots have formed.
- Put an elephant ear cuttings in a pot with ordinary potting soil.
Elephant ear is also called parasol pilea
Elephant ear has leaves shaped like parasols on long stems. You don't need an elephant ear flower to make the plant look good. With a bit of luck, however, elephant ear can grow dense clusters of small white flowers. By cutting the elephant ear, you can give it the desired shape and, for example, influence how densely it should grow. In addition to the common parasol pilea (Pilea peperomioides), there are several other varieties on the market. Here are some examples of elephant ears with a slightly different appearance: Splash - Green leaves with white areas. Mojito - Silver and white spots on the leaves. Sugar - Dark green leaves with light green edges. Black Gold - Leaves with bronze-coloured undersides. Keep in mind that different varieties of elephant ears may have different preferences when it comes to care.
Why does elephant ear lose leaves?
If elephant ears don't thrive, they may start to lose their leaves. If this happens, you need to try to find out why so you can fix the problem. Here are some common causes of elephant ear leaf drop:
- The plant has not received enough water or too much water.
- Your elephant ear needs more nutrients.
- It is too bright or too dark.
Elephant ears can also lose leaves due to disease or pests, or simply because the plant is getting old.
Author: Johanna Damm Fact checked by Erik HoekstraLast updated 2023-01-16
