Tea Cup Colocasia Live Plant – Rare Elephant Ear Taro, 5-9″ Tall, No Pot

Overview

The tea cup colocasia live plant is a truly captivating addition to any plant collection, known for its dramatically cupped leaves that resemble a tea cup, hence its whimsical name. This striking foliage plant, scientifically known as rare Colocasia esculenta, is also commonly referred to as Elephant Ear or Taro. Originating from tropical and subtropical regions, this particular variety stands out with its unique leaf shape and vibrant green hues. It’s a fantastic choice for adding a touch of exotic beauty to your home as an indoor plant or creating a lush, tropical feel in your outdoor garden during warmer months. Its relatively easy care makes it appealing to both novice and experienced gardeners looking to cultivate an indoor elephant ear plant or an impressive outdoor specimen.

This particular tea cup colocasia live plant is shipped as a bare root plant, meaning it arrives without a pot, allowing you to choose the perfect container or garden spot for its new home. Growing between 5-9 inches tall upon arrival, these young plants are ready to establish themselves and quickly grow into larger, more majestic specimens. With its impressive foliage and unique form, the elephant ear taro plant is an excellent focal point, drawing attention and admiration wherever it is placed. Its adaptability to both indoor and outdoor environments, combined with its stunning appearance, makes it a highly sought-after plant for those looking to enhance their living spaces with a touch of the extraordinary.

Key Benefits

Cultivating a tea cup colocasia live plant offers a multitude of benefits, from enhancing aesthetic appeal to providing a unique gardening experience. This plant is not just a visual delight but also a conversation starter, making it a valuable addition to your home or garden. Here are some of the key advantages of growing this remarkable plant:

• Unique Ornamental Appeal: The most striking feature of this plant is its cupped leaves, which collect water, creating a beautiful and intriguing display. This distinctive shape sets it apart from other foliage plants, making your elephant ear taro plant a true standout.
• Tropical Ambiance: With its large, lush leaves, the tea cup colocasia live plant instantly transforms any space into a tropical paradise, whether it’s an indoor corner or an outdoor patio. It brings a sense of warmth and exotic beauty.
• Versatile Placement: This plant thrives as an indoor elephant ear plant in bright, indirect light or can be moved outdoors to partial shade during the summer in cooler climates, offering flexibility in its display.
• Fast Growth Rate: Under optimal conditions, the rare Colocasia esculenta can grow quite rapidly, quickly filling out a space and providing a lush, full appearance in a relatively short amount of time.
• Air Purification: Like many large-leaved plants, Colocasia can contribute to improving indoor air quality by absorbing certain airborne toxins, making your home environment healthier.
• Easy to Grow: Despite its exotic appearance, this tea cup colocasia live plant is relatively easy to care for, requiring consistent moisture and warmth, making it suitable for gardeners of varying skill levels.
• Dramatic Focal Point: The impressive size and unique form of the leaves make the elephant ear taro plant an excellent focal point in any garden bed or large container, drawing the eye and creating visual interest.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper care is essential for a thriving tea cup colocasia live plant. These tropical beauties flourish with consistent warmth, humidity, and adequate moisture. When planting outdoors, select a location that receives partial shade or dappled sun, especially in regions with intense afternoon heat. If you’re growing it as an indoor elephant ear plant, place it in a spot that receives bright, indirect light to prevent leaf scorching. Wait until the soil has warmed to at least 70°F before planting tubers outdoors. Plant the tubers approximately 4 inches deep, ensuring smaller varieties are spaced at least 2 feet apart and larger varieties about 4 feet apart to allow for proper growth and air circulation.

Watering is crucial for the rare Colocasia esculenta; it prefers consistently moist, rich soil. Never allow the soil to dry out completely, as this can stress the plant. During warmer months, you may need to water daily, especially if grown outdoors in containers. For indoor plants, maintain a consistent temperature of at least 70°F during the day and no less than 60°F at night. High humidity is also beneficial, which can be achieved indoors with a humidifier or by misting the leaves regularly. Feed your elephant ear taro plant regularly with a high-nitrogen fertilizer during the growing season to support its vigorous leaf production. Protect outdoor plants from frost by bringing them indoors or digging up the tubers for winter storage. Understanding these specific needs is key to successful colocasia plant care and ensuring your plant grows into a magnificent specimen.

Size & Details

This tea cup colocasia live plant is shipped as a young, actively growing specimen, typically ranging from 5-9 inches tall. It arrives without a pot, as a bare root plant, which is ideal for minimizing transplant shock and allowing you to plant it directly into your chosen garden bed or container. While the initial size is modest, these plants are known for their vigorous growth when provided with the correct conditions. Expect your elephant ear taro plant to quickly develop larger leaves and increase in height, potentially reaching several feet tall and wide in a single growing season in optimal climates.

The mature size of the rare Colocasia esculenta can vary depending on growing conditions and climate, but it typically grows to be a substantial plant, making a dramatic statement. The leaves themselves can become quite large, showcasing their distinctive cup-like form. When planting, consider providing ample space for its future growth. If grown in a container, select a pot that is at least 10-12 inches in diameter initially, and be prepared to repot into a larger container as the plant grows to accommodate its expanding root system. This tea cup colocasia live plant is ready to establish itself and bring its unique beauty to your garden or home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This tea cup colocasia live plant is shipped at 5-9 inches tall. With proper care, it can grow significantly larger, often reaching several feet in height and width in a single growing season, making it a dramatic focal point.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The elephant ear taro plant is versatile. It can be grown as an indoor elephant ear plant in bright, indirect light year-round, or outdoors in partial shade during the warmer months, especially in cooler climates where it can be brought inside for winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This rare Colocasia esculenta prefers partial shade or dappled sun outdoors. Indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct, intense sunlight, which can scorch its leaves.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, with consistent warmth, high humidity, and perpetually moist soil, this tea cup colocasia live plant is relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for various skill levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your elephant ear taro plant will arrive as a bare root plant, meaning it is shipped without a pot. This method helps reduce transplant shock and allows you to choose its first home.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: For outdoor planting, wait until soil temperatures consistently reach at least 70°F. Indoor planting can be done year-round, provided suitable light and temperature conditions are met for optimal colocasia plant care.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: This plant thrives in rich, consistently moist, and well-draining soil. A high-quality potting mix with added organic matter is ideal for container growing.
• Q: How often should I water my Colocasia? A: The tea cup colocasia live plant requires regular watering to keep its soil consistently moist. Avoid letting the soil dry out, especially during warm weather.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: In USDA zones with frost, the elephant ear taro plant should be brought indoors or its tubers dug up and stored for winter. It is typically grown as an annual or overwintered indoors in cooler climates.
• Q: Can I use it in water features? A: While Colocasia loves moisture, this specific variety is generally grown in consistently moist soil, not fully submerged in water. However, some Colocasia varieties are indeed aquatic.