Plant guide:ðŋ Colocasia (Taro / Elephant Ear)
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Growth
Small Leaves and Stunted Growth in Colocasia
Commonly affects: Colocasia esculenta (Taro / Elephant Ear)
The plant produces noticeably smaller leaves than expected for its variety, falling short of its typical dramatic size.
Potential Causes
- 1Insufficient pot size restricting the corm and root system's ability to support large leaf growth in container-grown plants
- 2Inadequate feeding for this heavy-feeding, fast-growing plant
- 3Insufficient light or warmth limiting overall vigour
- 4Being grown from an immature or small corm still establishing itself
Solution Steps
- 1Repot into a larger container if roots or the corm seem constrained in container-grown plants
- 2Feed generously with a balanced fertiliser during the growing season
- 3Ensure adequate light and warmth to support vigorous growth
- 4Be patient with a young or recently-planted corm, since leaf size typically increases in subsequent seasons as it establishes
Prevention Tip
A young or recently-divided Colocasia corm often produces smaller leaves in its first season before reaching its typical dramatic size in following years.
