What is the best way to water my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
There are plenty of viable ways to supply your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear with water. If you grow your plant in an indoor pot, for the Variegated Upright Elephant Ears in small pots, you can bring your potted plant to your kitchen sink. Then, use the faucet to add water to the container. By holding the pot in your hands, you should easily notice when the water begins to run through the pot’s drainage holes, at which point you can stop watering. The cold temperature will hurt the plants' root system, so please don't do this during winter or in cold climates. Most of the time, watering via your faucet is permissible for the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear. However, if the local tap water contains a high proportion of fluorine, chlorine or salts, you should consider using rainwater or lake water. Also, since the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear can respond well to overhead watering and watering directly into the soil, you can use a watering can, hose, or just about any tool you’d like to water it.
What should I do if I water my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear too much or too little?
If you discover that you have underwatered your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear, your first step towards remedying the situation is to give your plant some water. Water deeply until excess water runs from the container’s drainage hole, or if you grow outside, water until the soil has become entirely moist. If you find your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is receiving too much water, begin by reducing your watering schedule. You also want to address the soil and container your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear grows in. If either the soil or the container makes it difficult for water to drain efficiently, your plant will likely become overwatered again. Resolve the issue by moving your plant to looser soils and/or a container with bigger drainage holes or a more porous material. Also check the location of the plant. If the plant is in places like a corner, then it is recommended to move it to a window or around a door to enhance ventilation. Making sure the plants are in a well-ventilated location can reduce the occurrence of overwatering to some extent.
How often should I water my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
The Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is not a species that requires consistent soil moisture. Instead, it is better to allow this plant’s soil to become dry between waterings. If you are like the many gardeners who grow Variegated Upright Elephant Ears in containers, you can judge whether or not it is time to add water by how dry the soil within the container is. For instance, if about top half of the soil in your container has become dry, it is time to add water. You can feel it by inserting your fingers or sticks into the soil or with soil moisture meter. For those who grow the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear outdoors, you can plan to do your watering about once every other week, provided it has not rained recently.
How much water does my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear need?
After waiting for the first several layers of soil surrounding your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear’s root to become dry(top half of the soil), it is time to add enough water to make them moist again. The amount of water it takes to achieve that goal depends on if you use a container, how large that container is, and how large your plant itself is. For a small Variegated Upright Elephant Ear growing in a small to a medium-sized container, one to two cups may be enough to dampen the soil sufficiently. As you would expect, the volume of water you supply should increase for a larger plant. The best way to make sure your plant has received enough water is to stick your finger or a trowel into the soil and feel whether it is entirely moist. Alternatively, you can water until you see excess water draining from the holes at the bottom of your container.
How can I tell if i'm watering my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear enough?
Overwatering and underwatering are both bad for the health of your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear. These two issues also manifest themselves in subtly different ways when they occur. Variegated Upright Elephant Ear that receives too little water may begin to develop yellow leaves. Underwatering may also cause the leaf margins to become brown and brittle. By contrast, Variegated Upright Elephant Ear that gets overwatered will often show yellow and brown marks on its leaves at the same time. Overwatering can also lead to diseases like root rot, some of which may also be visible on your plant. However, if you know the signs of overwatering and underwatering, you stand a good chance of correcting both issues.
How should I water my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear through the seasons?
During spring and fall, your watering schedule for the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear will remain relatively the same, which will involve watering this plant about once every week. During summer, you may find that the hot weather causes your plant to need more water than usual, especially if it grows where there is a considerable amount of daily light exposure. In the winter, if it's hard to find some warm places for you plant, your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear will enter a dormant growth phase, in which it will need far less water than usual. At this time, you may get by without watering your plant at all. If you do choose to water during winter, you should not do so more often than once every two to three weeks.
How should I water my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear at different growth stages?
After planting a new, young Variegated Upright Elephant Ear or after transplanting an older Variegated Upright Elephant Ear, you will probably need to give this plant more water than usual. Young plants often need consistent soil moisture during the early stages of their growth to help them adapt to their new growing locations. Transplants also need more water for a brief time to overcome transplant shock. In either case, you may need to water multiple times per week until your plant has exhibited continuous healthy growth. In most situations, your water should be moderate and should never be significant enough to cause overwatering.
What's the difference between watering Variegated Upright Elephant Ear indoors and outdoors?
There are a few reasons why you may need to water an indoor Variegated Upright Elephant Ear more often than one that grows in the ground outdoors. First, indoor growing settings tend to be drier than outdoor ones, often due to the effect of air conditioning units. While thw size of the pot and the soil determines the warer accumulating ability. Additionally, when your plant grows indoors, it will rely on you entirely for its water By contrast, Variegated Upright Elephant Ear that grows outside can receive water from rain. If you are in an area with high rainfall, you may not have to give it extra watering. When there is not enough rain, you should water additionally to ensure that the soil does not dry out completely.
How can I prune my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
Pruning your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is a fairly simple process. First, you will need a reliable set of hand pruners or hedge trimmers. You may use a clean pair of sharp scissors if you don’t have pruners or garden shears on hand. It’s important to always clean your gardening tools before and after using them to prevent the possibility of spreading disease or infection to other plants. To prune your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear simply allow your plant to go dormant over the Winter. Some time between late winter and early spring – or when new growth starts to appear – take your clean pruners or trimmers and cut away any dying, damaged, yellow or declining foliage. Repeat this process until you reach the base of the plant or until there are no dead pieces left to cut. When pruning, be careful not to damage the new growth that may be emerging near the base of your plant. These parts cannot be restored and pruning can increase the ventilation of the plants and facilitate their growth. Any pruning that is done to this plant should be cut straight across the blades or stems. No angled cuts are required. Diseased leaf blade foliage can be removed as it appears. This could be done anytime when your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is growing.
What should I do after pruning my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
Once you’ve pruned your plant, you should dispose of the stems and leaves either by composting the healthy ones or throwing out the diseased parts. You can also fertilize just before or after pruning, which gives Variegated Upright Elephant Ear a little vitamin boost that can provide it the nutrients needed to better protect itself from any nearby pathogens or diseases. Do not water the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear immediately after pruning as this can lead to fungal infestation of the plants through the wounds. You don’t need much after care when you’re done pruning. It might benefit from light watering and some liquid plant food to encourage new growth.
How can I prune my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear during different seasons?
Early spring and late winter are the best times to prune your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear on a large scale. If you want to control the size of your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear, you can prune them as you wish, but be careful not to prune more than a third of the size of the plant. Yellow and diseased leaves may appear during the summer months when the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is growing vigorously and these types of leaves need to be pruned back immediately. These parts of the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear cannot be restored and pruning increases the ventilation of the plant and facilitates its growth.
When should I prune my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear through different stages of growth?
Strategic pruning is usually done at different times of the year or during certain stages of growth depending on the plant. However, knowing when to prune your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear depends on where you live and how established your plant is. For example, if your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is a new resident, it’s a good idea to wait until the plant starts to grow back before you start pruning. On the other hand, if your plant is already established, you will want to prune the dry or dead parts in plant before new leafy growth appears in early spring or late winter. This is the time of year when plants are dormant and pruning causes the least damage to them. This is also the best time of year to do more extensive pruning. It’s important to note that if Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is pruned too late in the season, it can leave new growth at risk for damage or disease. However, if your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is indoors this is not a problem and you can prune at any time. Since this can affect the long-term health and appearance of your plant, it’s important to keep this in mind when deciding when and how to prune. As your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear grows larger over time, you can trim it as needed after annual pruning. Dead, damaged, or diseased leaf blade foliage can be removed as it appears. This could be done anytime when your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is growing.
How many hours of sunlight does Variegated Upright Elephant Ear need to grow?
Variegated Upright Elephant Ear requires about 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. However, it also needs some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. Morning sunlight is ideal for Variegated Upright Elephant Ear, but it can also tolerate some afternoon sun if the temperature is not too hot. To provide the perfect balance of sunlight, try planting Variegated Upright Elephant Ear in an area that gets partial sun, such as under a tree or on the east side of a building.
What will happen if Variegated Upright Elephant Ear doesn’t get enough sunlight?
If Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is exposed to too much direct sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow, dry out, or even burn. You may also notice that the plant wilts or becomes stunted. To prevent sun damage, make sure to give Variegated Upright Elephant Ear some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can use a shade cloth or plant Variegated Upright Elephant Ear near taller plants that can provide some natural shade.
What will happen if Variegated Upright Elephant Ear gets too much sunlight?
If Variegated Upright Elephant Ear doesn't get enough sunlight, it may grow tall and lanky, with sparse foliage. The leaves may also turn yellow or pale green, indicating that the plant is not producing enough chlorophyll due to lack of sunlight. To remedy this, try moving Variegated Upright Elephant Ear to a sunnier spot, or prune nearby foliage to allow more light to reach the plant.
Why do I need to fertilize my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
All plants rely on soil nutrients to facilitate their growth, and the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is no exception. However, it is not always a guarantee that the soil in which your plants grow will have all of the nutrients required. Fertilization and soil amendments help ensure that the plants in your garden not only have the basic nutrients they need but also that they get the nutrients that are specifically necessary to them. Variegated Upright Elephant Ear needs fertilizer to ensure that its roots and stems continue to develop in a healthy way throughout the growing season. Fertilization will also help a Variegated Upright Elephant Ear a set of leaves that looks fantastic, which is especially important for this plant since its foliage is its main point of ornamental appeal.
When is the best time to fertilize my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
A Variegated Upright Elephant Ear will need the greatest amount of fertilizer during the seasons in which it is actively growing. This active growth phase typically spans most of the months that make up spring, summer, and early fall. Once winter ends, you should plan to feed your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear about once every two to four weeks. Continue feeding at this rate until the fall months arrive. Once fall arrives, you can reduce your fertilization rate, reducing the amount of fertilizer you give gradually until you cease feedings entirely in anticipation of winter, when the Variegated Upright Elephant Ear will have far less active growth.
When should I avoid fertilizing my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
Throughout most of the year, including spring, summer, and most of the fall, you should continue feeding your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear regularly. The only exception to this is if you notice that your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear has received too much fertilizer or if you have managed to fertilize your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear incorrectly, causing fertilizer burn or some other issue that you'll need to remedy before returning to a regular feeding schedule. The only time of year when you should not fertilize a Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is during winter. If you grow this plant indoors in an area where the winters are cold, it will enter a dormant phase during the winter. Feeding this plant during its dormant phase is not only unnecessary and unhelpful to this plant's growth, but it is also very likely to cause fertilizer burn.
What type of fertilizer does my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear need?
The fertilizer for a Variegated Upright Elephant Ear has a specific blend of nutrients, each of which is present in relatively low amounts. An ideal fertilizer will have an N-P-K ratio of 3-1-2. However, a general-purpose fertilizer that has an even blend of nutrients can work well in some cases. Still, even when using a balanced fertilizer, the ratio number representing the volume of each nutrient should be at 10 or lower. The fertilizer you use can be either granular or liquid based. If you choose to use a liquid-based fertilizer, it is often best to dilute the strength by half. While there is not much downside to granular fertilizer, it is often most sensible to use liquid fertilizer, especially if you feed your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear while you supply water.
How do I fertilize my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear?
The fertilizer that you purchase for your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear will likely come with application instructions that you should follow in most cases. However, for a Variegated Upright Elephant Ear, you should always fertilize just before or while you are watering the soil, as this will prevent the fertilizer from burning the plant's roots. If you use a slow-release granular fertilizer, you should sprinkle it on the soil and then provide water immediately after. If you use a liquid-based fertilizer, you should dilute it with water, apply it to the soil, then supply a bit more water. Diluting your fertilizer by at least half is especially important in spring and fall when the plant's growth is ramping up and decelerating, respectively.
What happens if I fertilize my Variegated Upright Elephant Ear too much?
Since it is advisable to fertilize your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear every few weeks throughout the growing season, overfertilization is not often an issue. However, it remains possible for this to occur. If you overfertilize your Variegated Upright Elephant Ear, you may notice accumulations of excess fertilizer on the soil’s surface and foliage discoloration. Fertilizer burn is the most common issue you should worry about when feeding a Variegated Upright Elephant Ear. This issue occurs when you overfertilize, fail to dilute your fertilizer, or when don’t water during and after fertilization. In any of those cases, the fertilizer can draw moisture out of your plant’s roots, causing it to dry out. Often, fertilizer burn will manifest with browning and yellowing of this plant’s leaves.