Yes, Elephant Ears (Colocasia and Alocasia) are readily propagated, offering an easy way to increase your collection of these large-leaved tropical plants. These foliage plants are prized for their dramatic, heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves. Propagating existing plants allows gardeners to multiply their favorite varieties and easily share them. This process relies on utilizing the plant’s natural underground structures, turning one mature specimen into multiple young plants.
Anatomy and Best Timing for Propagation
Elephant Ears rely on specialized underground storage organs for survival and reproduction. Colocasia varieties are typically grown from a main corm, a thick, rounded stem that stores nutrients. Alocasia plants grow from rhizomes, which are horizontal, fleshy stems often producing smaller corms or offsets. These structures hold the growth points, or “eyes,” necessary for new plants to emerge.
The most effective timing for propagation is in late winter or early spring, just before the plant enters its period of active growth. Propagating at this time gives the new divisions or offsets the entire growing season to establish a strong root system. Alternatively, you can divide plants in the fall when the foliage begins to die back and you are preparing the underground structures for winter storage. Dividing them then, while dormant, reduces stress on the parent plant.
Propagating Through Division of Corms
The division of the main corm is the most reliable method for reproducing many Elephant Ear varieties. To begin, the entire plant must be carefully lifted from the soil, and excess dirt should be gently brushed or washed away to expose the corm. Look for small, raised bumps or nodes on the corm’s surface, as these are the growth points from which new shoots will sprout.
Using a clean, sterile, and sharp knife, like a utility knife or a garden trowel, cut the main corm into sections. Each resulting piece must contain at least one visible growth node to ensure it can develop into a new plant. Once divided, the cut surfaces are highly susceptible to rot. To prevent this, place the cut pieces in a dry, shaded area and allow them to air-dry for 24 to 48 hours. This callousing period permits a protective, dry layer to form over the wound, significantly lowering the risk of fungal or bacterial infection once planted.
Propagating Using Offsets and Stem Cuttings
Separate from the main corm division, many Elephant Ear plants naturally produce smaller secondary growths that can be easily detached. Offsets, often called “pups,” are miniature versions of the parent plant that grow from the sides of the main corm or rhizome. When removing these pups, gently wiggle or cut them away, making sure each offset has some roots already attached to increase its chances of survival.
For Alocasia varieties, propagation can also be achieved using stem cuttings, especially for those with thicker, more noticeable stems. A small section of the stem, known as a nodal cutting, is taken just below a node, the point on the stem where a leaf once grew or a new shoot could emerge. This cutting can be rooted in water or a moist medium like sphagnum moss, which provides the high humidity needed to encourage root formation from the node.
Planting and Initial Care for New Plants
After the propagation material has been separated and, in the case of corm pieces, properly calloused, it is ready for planting. Select a rich, well-draining potting medium. This combination retains moisture while still allowing excess water to escape, preventing root or corm rot.
The newly divided corms or offsets should be planted just below the soil surface, typically about one to two inches deep, with the growth point facing upward. Provide a warm environment, ideally above 65°F, and maintain high humidity using a dome or pebble tray. The soil must be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged until new leaf growth appears, confirming the plant has successfully established roots.