Colocasia

Colocasia esculenta Hawaiian Punch

Colocasia – How to grow and where to buy

A must grow tropical plant for your exotic garden! Massive leaves creating a dramatic jungle effect, one of my favourite in my garden. Lots of different types to choose from, and easy to look after.

Colocasia esculenta

Not to be confused with Alocasia, which look the same but have slightly different growing requirements. Colocasia loves warm weather and humid air, prefer part shade and protection from the wind as it’s shreds them up a bit. Not hardy, but easy to care for over winter.

How to over winter Colocasia

Just like Alocasia, Colocasia is best lifted in the last few weeks of october before the frosts. Clean off all the old soil and stuff into a small pot with barely any compost. They just want to be snug through the winter at a min temperature of 5c, so bare this in mind. If you have the space you can overwinter in your house, but still keep on the dry side.

How To Grow And Care For Colocasia

Colocasia is a tropical perennial plant that requires high temperatures and humidity to grow successfully.

Soil: Colocasia needs moist and organically rich soil to grow. Loamy soil is the most appropriate soil type because it contains sufficient nutrients and can retain moisture that the roots and tubers of the plant need.

Water: This tropical plant likes water and its roots to be constantly damp, hence they thrive in boggy environments. The soil should not be allowed to dry out between watering periods.

Sunlight: Although it is a tropical plant, it does not do well in direct sunlight. Growing colocasia in filtered sunlight with partial shade is ideal for the plant.

Temperature: Colocasia is not hardy to frost, temperatures lower will quickly damage the plant. It should be protected during cold seasons and winter to avoid losing its foliage.

Humidity: The humidity level for colocasia is very high, about 50% ideally!

Fertiliser: All species of colocasia plants are greedy feeders so feed them with a liquid fertiliser once a month or every 2-3 weeks.

Pests: Generally, colocasia plants are not prone to pests and diseases but slugs and snails are easily attracted to young plants and can damage their leaves if not quickly taken care of.
More detail about Colocasia
Colocasia is a tropical perennial plant native to Southeastern Asia and India. Also known as Taro or elephant ears, this beautiful plant is cultivated primarily for its bold and dramatic foliage; thus, its name.

As a great gardener’s choice, colocasia leaves are primarily used to create a focal point in a garden or landscape and can also be used for edging around walkways, ponds, or patio enclosures. Colocasia is not a frost-hardy plant and the foliage and tubers will be damaged in cold temperatures.

Types of Colocasia

Colocasia Esculenta ‘Black Magic’: This species is cultivated for its unforgettable large foliage. Heart-shaped smoky purple-black velvety leaves up to 60cm in length sit on long stalks that point down to the ground. It blooms small inconspicuous yellow-green spathe and spadix.

They vary in size about 3-6 feet in both length and diameter and thrive in moist, and organically rich soil and can also be planted in the water. Colocasia black magic looks best as borders along with ponds or in large containers.

Colocasia Esculenta ‘Pink China’: It is a tropical exotic plant with large elephant ear-shaped leaves that sit on deep pink stems. Colocasia pink china is native to temperate regions but grows very well in the UK because it is one of the hardiest species in the colocasia genus.

Altogether, this tropical plant will grow rapidly in late spring to a height of 150cm and spread just 50cm. It can survive most winters if the roots are protected by enough mulch.

Colocasia Gigantea ‘Thailand Giant’:  Colocasia gigantea is also nicknamed as Giant elephant ear because of the big bold blue-green foliage that sits on top of sturdy leaf stalks. The leaves are 4-6 feet long, 3-5 feet wide and point down towards the ground.

The bold foliage of the hassle-free plant creates a distinctive architectural view that creates a tropical landscape. Additionally, it is a fast-growing plant that thrives in water and grows bigger as it is fed.

FAQ

How do you grow colocasia black magic?

Colocasia black magic is propagated from the tubers. It thrives in organically rich and constantly moist soil and requires lots of fertilisers.

How do you care for colocasia esculenta?

This species of colocasia like most others love water, especially in dry summer seasons. They need organically rich and constantly moist soil to thrive. The plant loves warmth, it is best grown in partial shade with filtered sunlight. Lastly, don’t forget to protect it from the winter frost and winds.

Can colocasia grow indoors?

They can be grown indoors in large pots as stand-alone plants.

How do you grow colocasia at home?

Colocasia thrives in a humid and warm environment with organically rich and moist soil. When growing indoors, maintain these weather conditions and place it where it gets sufficient but indirect sunlight.

How do you grow colocasia gigantea?

Colocasia gigantea thrives in the humid summer heat. It loves moist to wet soil, particularly in a boggy environment. The solid should not be allowed to dry out so that the size of the tubers and plant will not be affected.

How do you grow colocasia leaves?

The leaves of a colocasia plant will grow healthily once the growth conditions are met. Moist, organically rich soil and a partially shaded environment to protect the leaves from scorching.