Elephant ear: large leaves from the rainforests
The Elephant Ear owes its name to the huge leaves. The Alocasia, as the plant is officially called, originates from the rainforests of Asia where the leaves are used to shelter from a tropical rain shower. There are more large houseplants within the Alocasia family. The leaves can have a diameter of up to one and a half meters. The Elephant Ear is therefore an eye-catcher in the house, but one with a manual. Alocasias like to have a slightly moist soil at all times, so check regularly with your finger whether this is the case. Do not give too many large amounts of water at once, but regularly small amounts and preferably with lukewarm water. The plant likes to be watered, preferably once a week.
Sunny place for the Elephant Ear
An Elephant Ear grows towards the light, so turn the plant regularly and give it a place with plenty of sunlight, preferably 5 hours a day. Two meters from a south-facing or directly west- or east-facing window is ideal. When the plant receives too little sunlight, the stems become very long in order to be able to catch a light beam. Do the leaves have yellow-brown edges? Then the roots of the plant have become too wet.