Do you have to dig up elephant ears for the winter
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I have several elephant ears and wanted to know if I have to dig the bulbs up and store them in the basement for winter before it freezes. I live in the southeast Kansas zone. Thanks!!
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I would think so. The elephant ears are very fleshy, so they have lots of water in them. They'll die if they freeze. I can leave them in the ground, but some winters it doesn't even freeze here.
Hi Marsha, Yes, you should dig them up and replant in the Spring. You should wait til after your first frost to dig them up. The frost somehow tells the plant that it's time to go dormant. (Isn't Mother Nature awesome?)
No. Might help to layer leaves on the ground.
I never dig mine up and they come back every spring. Just cover well with leaves and mulch to keep them warm. I live in Va. If you need to dig them up, lay them on some newspaper and let them dry out well, then keep them in a box layered with newspaper in a closet. Just make sure they don't freeze.
Yes, elephant ears are native to Southeast Asia, so are tropical. They are hardy only in zones 8 through 11. Southeast Kansas is about a 6, so they won't survive over your winter.