How is the elephant ear flower?

Image – Wikimedia/KENPEI

Elephant ear is a plant that has large leaves, which is why it is one of the most popular both indoors and outdoors. Its growth rate is quite fastbecause it produces several new leaves a year and, in addition, it grows and widens thanks to its long petioles slightly leaning to the side.

But If there’s something you don’t see often, it’s the elephant ear flower.. Also, someone might believe that they don’t produce flowers, and they wouldn’t miss them for reasons: they take years to produce, and not only that, but also when it’s grown indoors and/or in a pot costs more.

What flower gives the elephant ear?

Image – Wikimedia/Fanghong

Elephant ear, also called marquise or giant taro, It is a perennial herbaceous plant It belongs to the botanical family Araceae. Its natural habitat is in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, so in cultivation it is recommended to water it constantly and spray its leaves with water daily if the humidity of the air is weak.

And it is that if we want to see its flower, we will have to avoid being thirsty and cold. In reality, we will only see it flourish if it is in good healthand for this it is not necessary to neglect the watering, nor to leave it outside without protection if the temperatures drop below -5ºC.

The flower of our protagonist grows if the specimen is adult, that is, if it is at least 1.5 meters high and develops large leaves 50 to 70 centimeters long. This is why, when you have just bought one, you will have to wait a few years to see it bloom, because adult plants are not normally put up for sale (I have not seen any, and I have been frequenting nurseries over time since 2006). ).

If we talk about its characteristics, you should know that it is a spadix inflorescence. It looks quite similar to the one the creeks have (Zantedeschia aethiopica), it is even also white. When ripe, it measures about 10 centimeters high by 4 centimeters wide and gives off a delicious aroma.

When does elephant ear bloom?

It is a plant that blooms all summer. It loves heat very much, so it will thrive very well in places with mild or warm winters, as it will cost very little to resume growth in the spring, and therefore, it will start the year with more energy. An energy which, when the time comes, will be used to produce flowers.

But beware: that doesn’t mean it can’t thrive in temperate climates. What happens is that it is more difficult to do so. The climate is of great importance for plants, for all of them, and when they do not have the one that most resembles that of their place of origin, they can have problems adapting.

What to do with Elephant Ear Flower?

If our alocasia has flowered, we may be wondering what we can do with the flower. Well, if this is your case, I recommend that you do nothing; that is, leave it on the plant until it wilts. Once spoiled, cut it clean with previously cleaned scissors.

Put on rubber gloves to prevent the sap from coming into contact with your skin. And it is that it contains calcium oxalate, which can cause at least irritation and redness. If this happens to you, you should wash your hands with soap and water as soon as possible.

Why is my plant not flowering?

Related article:

How to take care of Elephant Ear?

Finally, we will see the possible reasons why your elephant ear has not flowered yet:

• he’s still young: remember that it flowers only when it is about 1.5 to 2 meters high. The bigger it is, the more likely it is to flower quickly.
• you’re running out of space: so that it can grow and flourish, it is important that, if it is kept in a pot, it is replanted in a larger pot every 3 or 4 years. If it is always left in the same, we will end up with an elephant ear that will soon stop producing new leaves, because its roots will exhaust the soil and, therefore, they will lack nutrients and no space. So if you haven’t transplanted it in a while, do it in the spring or summer to a diameter of about four inches and up, and fill it with potting soil like this one here.
• The climate is cold: as we mentioned earlier, the elephant ear does not like the cold. Although he supports it, it slows down his growth a lot. Therefore, it thrives best in places where temperatures are high, warm, but not extreme. So if the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius in winter, we recommend keeping it indoors to get it to flower as soon as possible.

Getting elephant ear to flower will take time, but you will surely succeed in the end.