Tea Cup Colocasia Live Plant – Elephant Ear Taro – 5-9 Inch Tall – Easy Grow

Overview

Introduce an exotic flair to your living space or garden with the stunning Tea Cup Colocasia live plant. This unique variety of Colocasia Esculenta, often referred to as Elephant Ear Taro plant, is renowned for its distinctive, upward-facing leaves that resemble teacups, creating a dramatic and elegant display. Perfect for both seasoned gardeners and enthusiastic beginners, this plant offers lush, vibrant foliage that can transform any area into a tropical oasis. Our healthy specimens are shipped approximately 5-9 inches tall, ready to be potted and begin their journey in your care. The Tea Cup Colocasia live plant is a fantastic choice for those looking to add a rare and visually striking element to their plant collection, thriving in conditions that mimic its native warm, humid environments.

The Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ is a highly sought-after cultivar due to its architectural form and rich green leaves. Its common name, Elephant Ear, comes from the large, heart-shaped leaves characteristic of the Colocasia genus, though the ‘Tea Cup’ variety stands out with its unique leaf structure. This plant is versatile, performing beautifully as a focal point in a container on a patio, as part of a lush garden bed, or as an impressive indoor houseplant. With its relatively easy care requirements, even a novice can enjoy the grandeur of this magnificent tropical plant. Prepare to be captivated by the beauty and unique charm of your new rare Colocasia.

Key Benefits

The Tea Cup Colocasia live plant offers a multitude of benefits that make it a desirable addition to any plant enthusiast’s collection. Its striking appearance and adaptable nature are just a few reasons why this plant is so popular.

• Unique Ornamental Appeal: The most prominent feature of the Tea Cup Colocasia live plant is its extraordinary foliage. The deep green leaves are shaped like inverted cups, creating a visually stunning effect and adding an architectural element to your decor. This unique form makes it a conversation starter and a true garden showpiece.
• Versatile Placement: This Elephant Ear Taro plant is highly versatile, thriving both as an indoor houseplant and an outdoor specimen in warmer climates. Gardeners in cooler regions can enjoy it outdoors during the summer months and bring it inside to overwinter, making it a flexible choice for various environments.
• Tropical Ambiance: Instantly transform any space into a lush, tropical paradise with the vibrant green leaves and dramatic structure of this plant. It evokes feelings of warmth and exotic luxury, perfect for creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
• Relatively Easy Care: Despite its exotic appearance, caring for a Colocasia Esculenta care is straightforward. With consistent moisture, warmth, and appropriate light, this plant will flourish, rewarding you with spectacular growth and foliage.
• Fast Growing: Under optimal conditions, the Tea Cup Colocasia live plant can grow quite rapidly, quickly filling out its space and providing a substantial visual impact in a relatively short period. This quick growth is satisfying for those who enjoy seeing their plants develop.
• Air Purifying Qualities: Like many large-leaved plants, Colocasia contributes to improved indoor air quality by absorbing common household toxins and releasing oxygen, making your living environment healthier and fresher.
• Dramatic Focal Point: Whether placed in a large pot on a patio, integrated into a garden bed, or displayed as an indoor statement piece, the ‘Tea Cup’ Colocasia naturally draws the eye and becomes a captivating focal point. Its distinctive shape and size ensure it stands out.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Ensuring the health and vitality of your Tea Cup Colocasia live plant requires understanding its specific needs, particularly regarding light, water, and temperature. This tropical beauty thrives in conditions that mimic its natural habitat. For optimal growth, provide consistent warmth, high humidity, and a rich, consistently moist soil. Whether you’re growing it as an indoor outdoor elephant ear, paying attention to these factors will ensure a flourishing plant.

When it comes to light, the Tea Cup Colocasia live plant prefers bright, indirect light or partial shade. If growing outdoors, choose a location where it receives dappled sunlight, especially during the hottest parts of the day, to prevent leaf scorch. Indoors, place your plant near a window that offers bright, filtered light. Direct, harsh sunlight can damage the delicate leaves. Water is crucial for this plant; it prefers consistently moist, but not waterlogged, soil. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. During warmer months, you may need to water daily, while reducing frequency slightly in cooler periods. Maintaining high humidity around the plant is also beneficial, especially indoors. You can achieve this by misting the leaves regularly, placing the pot on a pebble tray with water, or using a humidifier.

Soil composition and temperature are also vital for successful Colocasia Esculenta care. Plant your Colocasia in rich, well-draining soil that retains moisture effectively. A good quality potting mix amended with compost or peat moss is ideal. If planting outdoors, wait until the soil temperature reaches at least 70°F. Plant tubers about 4 inches deep, spacing smaller varieties at least 2 feet apart and larger ones at least 4 feet apart to allow for proper growth. Indoors, maintain a temperature of at least 70°F during the day and no lower than 60°F at night. Fertilize your Elephant Ear Taro plant regularly during the growing season (spring and summer) with a high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer to support its vigorous foliage production. Reduce fertilization in fall and winter. Watch out for common pests like spider mites and mealybugs, and treat promptly with an appropriate horticultural spray.

Size & Details

This Tea Cup Colocasia live plant is shipped as a healthy, vibrant specimen, typically ranging from 5 to 9 inches in height from the base of the plant to the tip of its tallest leaf. It is carefully prepared for shipment without a pot to ensure safe transit and minimize waste, allowing you to choose the perfect container for its new home upon arrival. The plant is easy to grow and will rapidly establish itself once planted in appropriate conditions. While its initial size is modest, with proper Colocasia Esculenta care, this plant can grow substantially, reaching mature heights of 3 to 6 feet or more in optimal outdoor conditions, and a slightly more compact size when grown indoors.

Expect a moderate to fast growth rate, especially during the warmer months when it receives ample light, water, and nutrients. The distinctive ‘teacup’ shaped leaves will become more pronounced as the plant matures, adding to its unique charm. When selecting a pot, choose one that is at least 6-8 inches in diameter initially, ensuring it has good drainage. As the plant grows, it will require larger pots to accommodate its expanding root system and overall size. This rare Colocasia offers a rewarding growing experience, gradually transforming into a magnificent tropical specimen with its lush, dramatic foliage.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Tea Cup Colocasia live plant get? A: While shipped at 5-9 inches tall, with proper care, this plant can grow significantly. Outdoors in ideal conditions, it can reach 3 to 6 feet in height, potentially even taller. Indoors, it typically remains a bit more compact but can still become a sizable statement plant.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Elephant Ear Taro plant is highly versatile. It can be grown as an indoor houseplant year-round in all climates. In warmer climates (USDA zones 8-11), it thrives outdoors. Gardeners in cooler regions can enjoy it outdoors during summer and bring it inside before the first frost.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This plant prefers bright, indirect light or partial shade. If growing outdoors, protect it from intense, direct afternoon sun which can scorch its leaves. Indoors, place it near a window with filtered light, avoiding harsh, unshaded sun exposure.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Colocasia Esculenta care is considered relatively easy, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced plant enthusiasts. Its main requirements are consistent moisture, warmth, and bright, indirect light.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Tea Cup Colocasia live plant will arrive bare-root, meaning it is shipped without a pot and with minimal soil around its roots. This method ensures the plant’s health during transit and reduces shipping weight. Upon arrival, you’ll need to pot it promptly.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this Colocasia? A: For outdoor planting, the best time is in spring or early summer, once all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have reached at least 70°F. Indoor planting can be done year-round.
• Q: What kind of soil does this rare Colocasia prefer? A: It thrives in rich, consistently moist, and well-draining soil. A good quality potting mix amended with organic matter like compost or peat moss is ideal for both potted plants and garden beds.
• Q: Is the indoor outdoor elephant ear plant toxic to pets? A: Yes, like other plants in the Araceae family, Colocasia Esculenta contains calcium oxalates, which can be irritating if ingested. It’s best to keep it out of reach of pets and small children.
• Q: How often should I fertilize my Tea Cup Colocasia? A: During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilize every 2-4 weeks with a balanced, high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer. Reduce or stop fertilizing during the fall and winter months when growth slows.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone if grown outdoors? A: In USDA zones 8 and below, the ‘Tea Cup’ Colocasia will not survive winter outdoors. You can dig up the corms (bulbs) after the first light frost, allow them to dry, and store them in a cool, dry, dark place until spring. In zones 9 and warmer, they can typically remain in the ground year-round.