Taro Plants

[Ron C]

Hi,

Year before last a friend gave me a black Taro to put in the pond. Well it is now time to split it before it goes back in the pond. My question is what do you all use to plant them in? For my water lilies I use clay dirt with rocks on top, but don't have a clue what to use on these guys.

[Jackie Ramo]

The only taro did well for mme was when Iplanted it in the bog garden. The leaves grew to be as large as I am. In the pond it barely grows at all for me.

[tucker]

I have my taro planted in a mixture kitty litter, clay soil and small pebbles. I got it late last summer and just started to grow when I had to bring it in the house for the winter. I have kept it growing all winter, it usually has 2 leaves on it at a time, and I will transplant it soon into a larger pot, just before getting it back outside for the summer.
Karyl

[Jackie Ramo]

Tucker, that's what mine do, two three leaves at a time but the one in the bog was as tall as I am and had 10 to 15 leaves, it was huge!! no bulb though and it rotted when I brought it in....

[Busy B]

So what's the dif between Taro and Elephant Ears? I've managed to save my Ears :shock: in the ghouse. I've already cut them back a few times. Did have a good article in one of the garden pub's I get that talked about the right temp to overwinter without rotting.

[Jackie Ramo]

As far as I know Elephant ears and Taro are the same plant. Taro is a hawian plant that they make poi out of. Poi nasty tasting stuff!! :shock:

[Jackie Ramo]

I spoke to the friend who gave me my original taro and she says she just pops them into paper bags and stores them in the cold room all winter. Come March she wraps them in damp newspaper for a week or so to let them know spring is here. Then she pots them up. no rotting no problems, she doesn't even cut them down until the leaves are all dried or March whenever she gets the time.

[Terri]

Well, wish I'd known that a few weeks ago LOL

I divided my taro late October... one plant split into 8,... I potted them up into three's and the 'mommy' plant went back into to her original pot. By March or April the bloody things look like they will need re-potting/dividing again... :rolleyes:

I have found good success with using black earth with a sand/clay mix and some compost soil for potting these plants up.. the bigger the pot the better they seem to do - 2 gallon pots work well for the divisions I've found and in two weeks or so they are growing like mad!

[Jackie Ramo]

Oh good, so if Caroline's method doesn't work I can beg plants from you :lol: