Overwintering Elephant Ear Corms: Digging, Storing, and Replanting

Protecting Colocasia and Alocasia Through Winter

Elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta and some Alocasia) is not reliably hardy in Atlanta. Two options:

In-Ground Protection

• Cut stems to 6 inches (sap is caustic—avoid eyes/skin).
• Cover with overturned gallon pot and thick pine straw.

Indoor Storage

1. Remove stems, dig corm, dry 1 week in cool spot (brush off loose dirt).
2. Half-fill large plastic box with perlite, dry peat moss, or crumpled newspaper.
3. Set corm in, cover completely, close lid.
4. Store in cool closet (~65°F).

Replant outdoors when night temperatures stay above 60°F (usually May).

elephant ear corm

elephant ear