The bluff tropical Black Magic elephant ear industrial plant ( Colocasia esculenta ‘ inglorious Magic ’ ) is an exciting summation to any garden . With its huge , shiny black - purpleness leaves , this elephant ear motley makes a dramatic statement in bed and borders or containers . deal for these impinge on plants is soft when you sympathise their needs . This guide covers how to develop and care for Black Magic elephant ears so you may delight their exotic knockout .
An Overview of Black Magic Elephant Ear
aboriginal to Southeast Asia , the Black Magic elephant capitulum is a fearless tuberous perennial . It grows from a large bulb - like genus Tuber , producing erect stalks topped with the signature elephant ear leaves . The dark bleak - purple leave-taking are shaped like hearts , measuring around 2 understructure long by 1.5 feet wide . They have prominent vein and slightly frilled boundary .
While they can reach 5 feet tall in ideal conditions Black Magic elephant ears typically turn 3 to 4 metrical foot high and 2 to 3 foot wide . Their instinctive substance abuse is vertical and clippety-clop . Small lily-livered - white flowers may appear in summer but they are insignificant .
This elephant ear variety thrives in warm climates and is audacious only in USDA Zones 8 to 11 . It is usually grown as an annual in nerveless zones . With the right care , Black Magic elephant ear is vigorous and riotous growing during the warm season .
Growing Conditions for Black Magic Elephant Ear
To wave , Black Magic elephant ear industrial plant require :
Warm temperatures – Ideal temps are 70 to 85 ° F during the daylight and around 65 ° farad at night They take at least 6 hours of sun daily
Consistent moisture – H2O on a regular basis to keep the grunge systematically moist but not impregnate . Produces good growth with 1 - 1.5 inches of water system per week . Reduce watering once foliage die back in evenfall .
Rich , humusy stain – better native soil with compost or aged manure to create a fat , moisture - retentive stain . right drain is also essential .
Shelter from nothingness – Protect plant from strong winds which can tear up the large leaf .
mellow humidness – Mist leave and leave tidy sum of wet to boost humidness around the plants .
Black Magic favor slightly acid to indifferent grease with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0 . In zone where they are not wintertime sturdy , plant will die back with crepuscule frosts but tuber can be dug up and overwintered indoors .
How to Plant Black Magic Elephant Ear
Black Magic elephant spike can be planted from tuber , works , or divide rhizomes :
Planting tubers – Start tubers indoors 6 to 8 workweek before the last expected frost day of the month . Plant them in passel with the top 1/3 exposed . Move them out of doors after risk of frost is retiring . pick out a website with rich soil and full or fond sun . Plant tubers 2 to 3 inches deep and 12 to 18 column inch aside .
Planting potted plants – Choose youthful plant with 2 to 3 leaves and transpose them into the garden after the danger of frost . H2O well after plant and provide spate of wet during constitution .
Dividing rhizomes – Divide existing clumps in former spring , ensuring each piece has some roots and increase buds . Plant divisions as you would genus Tuber .
Provide spate of space for these profligate growers . Enrich soil with compost and aged manure at planting time . After planting , mulch well to hold wet and suppress weeds .
Caring for Black Magic Elephant Ears
With the proper fear , Black Magic elephant capitulum is vigorous and fast growing :
Watering – Supply abundant wet during the growing time of year . Water at the base of plant and avoid wetting the foliage . allow the top few inch of stain dry between waterings . Reduce watering once plants die back for wintertime .
Fertilizing – Feed plants every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing time of year with a balanced smooth fertilizer or tiresome loose granular fertiliser . lay off feeding once foliage starts dying back .
Pruning – Prune back overgrown stalks or remove tattered / discredited leafage as necessitate to observe an attractive coming into court .
Overwintering – In cold climates , dig up tuber after first frost and store them in peat moss or vermiculite in a cool place over wintertime . Discard any that are pathological or damaged before storing .
Pest / disease control – Watch for aphid , mites , and shell . Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil if pests appear . Practice full garden sanitation by removing all debris in fall . ameliorate airflow and ward off overcrowd to forestall disease issues .
Tips for Growing Black Magic Elephant Ear
Here are some useful tips to get the most out of your Black Magic elephant ear :
Site them in a sheltered area protect from unassailable wind which can tear up their huge folio .
Provide consistent moisture and fertilizer during the growing calendar month for vigorous development . forfend underwatering or overwatering .
Mulch around plants with 2 - 3 inches of constitutional matter to keep back soil moisture and suppress weeds . Replenish the mulch as postulate .
Stake or cage in tall plant to provide supporting and forbid them from toppling over , specially in exposed sites .
Plant tubers at the same level they were growing or more or less shallower to prevent rot . Do n’t plant too deep .
Prune off spent blossom still hunt to meliorate the flora ’s visual aspect and direct energy to leaf increment or else .
Grow Black Magic elephant ears in containers on terrace or decks where they can be appreciated up close . apply a quality potting mix and provide ample H2O .
In dusty climates , allow plant to die back by nature after the first frost in declination , then dig up tubers and store them for the winter before terra firma freezes .
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Here are some potential issues and solution with Black Magic elephant ears :
foliage turning yellow – This can indicate overwatering . Allow soil to dry out out between waterings . Insufficient nutrients can also get yellow . Fertilize works on a regular basis to prevent nutrient deficiencies .
Poor ontogeny – Inadequate wet , Sunday exposure , or fertile soil can lead to scrubby plants . insure plants get ample water and stain is rich in organic matter . Move to a sunny localisation if needed .
foliage spots or blight – Various fungal diseases can cause unsightly spots . Improve flow of air and avoid wetting foliation when lacrimation . Remove and destroy gravely infected leaves .
foliage with ragged cakehole – Look for caterpillars , beetles , or slugs / snails feeding on leaves . Handpick pests or utilize organic methods like insecticidal grievous bodily harm , neem crude oil , or diatomaceous earth .
Tubers rot – Storing tubers in overly wet conditions can lead to decay over winter . Use only slightly moist peat or vermiculite and keep tubers at 45 ° to 55 ° F . Discard any rotten tubers before replanting .
Achieving Peak Performance
With right care , Black Magic elephant ears will spread into a beautiful tropical display . Here are some primal hint for getting the most out of these alien beauties :
Start tubers or young plants early indoors so you have vigorous , established plants ready to move outside after freeze risk passes .
Prepare garden seam well in overture by enriching dirt with 2 - 3 inches of compost and 1 - 2 pound of all - aim fertilizer per 100 satisfying feet of bed blank . good mix amendment into the top 6 inches of territory .
Site plant in full sun to partial shade where they will have shelter from harsh wind . mottled wraith under high trees is idealistic .
Water elephant ear deeply and systematically during the growing time of year . object 1 - 1.5 inches of water per week from rainfall or irrigation . Check ground moisture before lacrimation .
Feed with a balanced swimming fertiliser every 2 - 3 calendar week to fuel vigorous growing . Or apply a slow release granular fertiliser at planting sentence .
adventure taller varieties or those in expose sites to provide support and forestall tip or lead damage .
take away spent heyday and shattered leaves to direct the flora ’s energy into leaf outgrowth and maintain an attractive visual aspect .
Winter mulch with a thick layer of leaves or wheat after the priming freezes to isolate hole-and-corner tubers from uttermost cold .
How to fertilize Black Magic Elephant Ear
Most potting soils come in with plenteous food which plants use to produce new growth .
It ’s likely that your industrial plant will need a bigger pot by the clip it ’s used up all the nutrients in its soil .
Repot your Black Magic Elephant Ear when it repeat in size or once a year , whichever comes first . This will give the plant novel food .
Most of the time , Black Magic Elephant Ear is sluttish to take maintenance of , but some works owner say they have hassle growing it . retard out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences ! .
Black Magic Elephant Ear prefer for the grunge to dry out between waterings and should be water regularly . you could apply our water calculating machine to get personalise watering advice ground on your area , or you could download Greg to get more detailed advice for all of your plants .
Black Magic Elephant Ear may have difficultness thriving and will drop leaves without ample sunlight . rank it less than 3 feet from a windowpane to maximise the potential drop for growth . Just pick your area to see how the current weather there dissemble the placement in your home
Black Magic Elephant Ear is not good to go through . You , a family phallus , or a pet that has eat any amount of industrial plant affair should call Poison Control at ( 800 ) 222 - 1222 or see your vet . If you have children , hombre , or dog in the home , we suggest keeping this flora out of range .
Black Magic Elephant Ear does n’t require additional humidity . Because plants take in pee through their roots rather than their leaves , watering the territory is the dependable way to keep your works moist .
Black Magic Elephant Ear does easily in well - draining filth . A serious soil will have a lot of organic matter , like coco coir , and perlite or vermiculite to help piss drain away . tot up a handful of perlite to veritable store - bought potting soil should do the conjuration ! .
If your Black Magic Elephant Ear plant doubles in size , or once a year , you should move it to a fresh tidy sum . Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant life needs , so you should n’t need to use fertiliser as long as you deepen it every year . Remember , plants get their zip from sun , not fertilizer ! .
Black Magic Elephant Ear is aboriginal toSoutheast Asia .
Yes , you may see your Black Magic Elephant Ear blossom with the correct amount of sunlight and water .
The Black Magic Elephant Ear plant develop in groups , which means that new plants will turn from the soil around the parent plant .
USDA Hardiness ZoneBlack Magic Elephant Ear can be get outdoors inUSDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b . discover your local hardiness zonehere .
Black Magic Elephant Ear can be propagatedby divisioninto Modern item-by-item plant .
It ’s not always a bad sign when a plant has yellow-bellied leaves ; it can be a normal part of its life bike . Most likely , your works is just getting rid of one-time leaf unless firebrand - new leave are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once .
Since Black Magic Elephant Ear plant do n’t like it when the soil is too lactating , overwatering and root rot are most likely to be to blame . The foliage may also appear to be curl or drooping . Less often , chicken leaves are stimulate by underwatering , nutritious want , or pests .
Change the wet stain to dry , new soil , and download Greg to make trusted your plant never set out too much water again .
To pay back a houseplant that looks sad , first look for mark of distress in its foliage , like yellowing , browning , or droop one . This could mean that the plant is getting too much pee or not enough nutrients .
Inspect the soil wet ; too dry or too cockeyed soil can cause problem .
hold in to see how much light the plant is getting . Too much or too little luminosity can hurt the plant .
ultimately , consider environmental factors like temperature and humidness , and adjust aid routines accordingly to revive your plant .
How to care for Black Magic Elephant Ear
Black Magic Elephant Ear needs 0 . 5 cups of water every 9 days if it ’s in a 5″ throne and does n’t get direct sunlight .
you could use our water figurer to get personalized watering advice based on your area , or you could download Greg to get more detailed advice for all of your plant .
H2O 0.5 cupful every 9
Does your plant get verbatim sunlight ? No Yes
take the pot size
Greg is a industrial plant care intelligence that has learn how plants work so you’re able to grow with confidence !
Houseplant Trends 2022! Colocasia Black Magic (Colocasia Esculenta) Crucial Care! #alocasia
FAQ
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