Why are my elephant ear bulbs not growing?
With its vast, broad leaves, the elephant ear bulbs are a one-of-a-kind decorative plant. However, it is susceptible to various growth issues, as are other plants. Sometimes the elephant’s ear bulbs don’t grow. There are no bugs or illnesses harming it; it is just not growing as it should.
Other times, the elephant ear plant’s leaves begin to droop, turn yellow, or develop yellow or brown patches. The decorative plant is essentially unsightly without healthy leaves. So, how would you cope with all of these elephant ear plant growth issues?
Read along to know why your elephant ear bulb is not growing-
Reasons why the Elephant Ear Plant doesn’t grow-
Your elephant ear bulbs will eventually exhibit indications of suffering and will not look good overall. It’s tough to determine the particular problem with this ornamental plant. There are no visible signs of a pest infestation on bulb. There are no signs of a fungal infestation, such as holes in the leaves or stains on the foliage. Here are some instances of these signs:
- The leaves of the bulb seem stunted and do not grow at a regular rate.
- The leaves and stems of bulb lack that vibrant color. They instead seem pale.
- Deformed leaves may also develop and appear on bulb to worsen with time.
- The stems are wilting and collapsing as a result of the weight of the leaves.
- Root spots do not diminish over time, even after the plant has been fed.
You must carefully inspect the leaves, stems, and roots with nothing to rely on but the elephant ear plant’s general attitude. Each of the symptoms described above might suggest an illness or poor growing conditions.
Stunted or non-growing leaves indicate nitrogen deficiency in the soil. The essential NPK nutrients, in particular.
Pale leaves indicate a shortage of micronutrients in the soil and suggest that the plant requires more nitrogen. Once every ten days, apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer and watch your elephant ear plant reclaim its former beauty.
These seven minerals, which include iron, zinc, boron, manganese, and copper, are essential for the plant’s overall health. Use plant food supplements in little doses to see if your symptoms improve.
If the leaves are deformed, it might signify a spider mite infestation. The deformation is produced by tiny bugs obstructing the nutrition routes that provide the leaves with moisture and food. Spray the leaves with neem oil or brush them with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to eliminate the pests.
- Remove any deformed leaves to promote new, healthy growth. Wilting and drooping stems are signs of drought stress. The plant needs more water.
- Water the soil as soon as possible and regularly.
On the other hand, spots on the roots may indicate that the soil is damp. Root rot is caused by wet soil. Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry between your daily watering routine.
The Elephant Ear bulb is Not Growing?
Another typical elephant ear bulb growth issue is that the plant suddenly stops growing. The entire bulb plant looks to be frozen in time.
This problem has various reasons:
- Excessive sun exposure
- Overwatering
- Under-watering
- You placed the pot in an area with insufficient light.
- That your keeping them too cold.
They are all indications of temperature stress and low humidity levels. Too many elements may compound the situation that the bulbs could have been damaged beyond repair, and you must consider both the environment around these bulbs and the amount of water you provide.
How to Make Elephant Ears Grow?
Removing the elephant ear from the window side or direct sunlight can help elephant ears grow. Make a curtain to block the light, which ensure shade and reduce the amount of UV radiation the elephant ears receives if the only place for the pot is near a window.
- Water less often and allow the soil to dry between the routine of elephant ears. Another reason for soggy soil is using clay soil or a container with few or no drainage holes.
- Water the elephant ear plant regularly, as lack of water causes it to grow slowly.
- Place the plant in an area with temperatures ranging from 85°F during the day to 60°F at night. The plant will stop growing if the temperature goes below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why Elephant Ear Bulb Plant Leaves Drooping?
The elephant ear plant’s leaves droop when things aren’t going well, such as when it’s stressed. The plant informs you that you need to act quickly and correct things surrounding the pot. The plant may perish if no aid arrives after the leaves wither and drop. So, what’s the source of all of this?
This tension and leaf drooping are mainly caused by unfavorable environmental conditions. There are examples of inadequate irrigation, bugs, sickness, and insufficient or excessive lighting.
- Look for signs of moisture in the soil. You may be overwatering the plant if the soil is humid despite the fact that you last watered it few days ago.
- Drooping leaves may also be caused by under-watering or dry soil; wait until the soil dries out before
- watering again or remove the plant and repot it in fresh soil. Container soil dries up faster than garden soil.
- Lower levels of humidity also cause the leaves to droop. This problem is usually resolved by misting twice a week.
Why are Elephant Bulbs Plant Leaves turning yellow?
It is a fact that many people would not maintain the plant in their offices or home spaces if it did not have such beautiful leaves. When the elephant ear plants begin to turn yellow, you realize you have a problem and must act quickly before the plant deteriorates further.
This could be caused by the following:
- Inadequate moisture, either too much or too little.
- Constantly dry air surrounding the plant.
- Excessive or insufficient light.
- Pests can induce the yellowing of the leaves.
This is what complicates matters with this plant- there is never a single cause or instance. When it comes to tackling a single problem, you’ll have to go through a long list of possible causes and try out many solutions.
Here are some possible treatments for yellowing leaves.
- Raise the humidity around the plant by placing a tray filled with water and stones beneath it.
- Spider mites feed on the juices out of the leaves, turning them yellow. You can use neem oil spray to treat insect infestations. It is a natural pesticide that has no negative impact on the environment or on humans or pets that come into contact with it.
Brown Spots on your Elephant Ear Bulbs
The green leaves of the elephant ear plant may have brown blotches. These patches are an indication of a fungal infection, and you should not ignore them.
The most prevalent cause of brown blotches on elephant ear plant leaves rust. This disease infects stressed plants in environments with high temperatures, insufficient sunlight, or high humidity. To solve the problem, work on each issue separately.
- Maintain a temperature in the room that does not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and does not drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
- Place the plant in an area with enough light. To prevent direct sunlight, place the plant near a north-facing window.
- Control the humidity surrounding the plant and hold off on misting or turning off the humidifier for a few days until the humidity levels have stabilized.
To sum up, there are a few problems with growing elephant ear bulbs, but it is all worth it once fixed. The bloom of the elephant ear bulb will leave everyone stunned! So, grow elephant ears now.