Taro / Elephant Ear
Colocasia esculenta
description
Taro is a moisture-loving corm plant with large heart-shaped elephant-ear leaves.
benefits
- Flowering
- Suitable for containers
warnings
- Toxic to cats
- Toxic to dogs
How to care for Taro
sunlight
Taro grows in bright, wet tropical clearings and along waterways, so it performs best near a very bright window or outdoors with plenty of sun. More light supports larger leaves, provided the soil never dries out.
Bright light with some direct sun
Place it close to an east, south, or west window. A few hours of morning or late-afternoon sun is ideal indoors. Variegated types benefit from especially bright light but can scorch more easily.
Full sun outdoors
Established plants can grow in full sun outdoors when their soil stays consistently moist. Acclimate gradually over about a week, especially after indoor growing, and provide afternoon shade in very hot, dry conditions.
watering
Keep taro soil consistently moist while it is actively growing. Water thoroughly when the surface just begins to dry, then let excess drain away.
Spring to early autumn
In warm, bright conditions, this is often about every 3-5 days. Check that the top 1-2 cm of mix is drying but the root ball still feels moist. Hot sun, small pots, porous terracotta, and active new growth mean more frequent watering.
Cooler or lower-light months
Growth slows in cooler, dimmer rooms, so water roughly every 7-14 days. Let the top 2-3 cm dry first, and check the pot weight or moisture deeper in the mix before watering. If leaves yellow while soil stays wet, wait longer between drinks.
humidity
Humidity
Taro comes from warm, humid tropical wetlands, so it grows best with consistently moist air. Average household humidity of 40-50% is usually manageable if watering is reliable, but higher humidity keeps the large leaves looking their best.
Dry air can cause crisp brown edges, curling, or leaf tips that brown before the rest of the leaf. Heating, air conditioning, and strong drafts often make this worse.
- Group plants together to create a slightly more humid pocket.
- Place it in a naturally humid room with bright light, such as a bathroom, if temperatures stay warm.
- Provide gentle air circulation so constantly damp air does not encourage leaf problems.
temperature
Preferred temperature
Winter minimum
Taro comes from warm, wet tropical climates and grows best with steady warmth. Growth slows below 18°C (65°F), so keep it indoors before cool autumn nights arrive.
nutrition
March - September
Feed every 2 weeks while taro is making new leaves, using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at about half strength. It is a hungry, fast-growing plant in warmth and bright light. Stop feeding when growth slows in cool, low-light months, or feed no more than monthly if it stays actively growing.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen supports taro's large leafy growth. A balanced fertilizer provides enough without pushing soft, weak growth.
Potassium
Potassium supports sturdy growth and helps the plant use water well, especially when it is growing quickly in warm conditions.
soil
Rich, moisture-retentive, airy soil
Taro grows best in fertile soil that stays consistently moist without becoming dense and airless around the corm. Use a peat-free potting mix enriched with compost or coir, plus perlite or fine bark for airflow. Choose a pot with drainage holes, even if you water often.
pH 5,5 - 6,5
This is slightly acidic soil, which helps taro take up nutrients well. Most quality houseplant or vegetable mixes fall close to this range. If your water is very hard, refresh the potting mix yearly to prevent minerals from building up.