black elephant ear

[gone_tropical]

I am wondering about my elephant ears, I have them in serveral different locations throughout the yard (more sun, more shade) and all where doing great all year, with big juicy leaves. Sadly, in the last few weeks they decline dramatically, leaves get brown and turn to mush. They do get water from the sprinkler system and I fertilize regular.
Does anyone have an idea what the problem may be? Is it just too hot? I don't see aphids/bugs, etc.

thanks

gone tropical

[zuzu's petals]

YIKES!

If you don't see any insects on them,
you might try digging into the soil surrounding one of your ailing plants,
there are some grub-like, wormy critters that sometimes attack the bulbs,
I don't know what they're called, but I've caught those nasties chomping away!

If that doesn't turn anything up, then it could be disease,
there are a number of diseases that can affect elephant ear plants,
including:
Alternaria - Botrytis Blight - Anthractnose - Phytophthora/Pythium Rot - Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot.

I don't know how to tell one from another, to tell you the truth,
but, if it is disease, and you find rotted matter where healthy bulbs should be,
then about all you can do is get rid of the "sickies" and NOT in your compost heap.

[gone_tropical]

oh no, that doesn't sound good :*(
I will do as you suggested, first thing tomorrow I will dig one up. *sniff*

thanks zuzu

gone tropical

[zuzu's petals]

Maybe it's not too serious
If you dig around, and find nice firm bulbs and no bugs,
then maybe it is just the extreme heat,
and the plants might recover when the weather breaks.
*fingers crossed* Let's hope that's the case.

[addicted2plumeria]

It could be that they are getting over watered.My neighbor had the same problem and that was what it was.

[zuzu's petals]

I certainly won't say that over-watering is impossible,
. . . but . . . I grow both Colocasia and Alocasia elephant ears
in pots actually submerged along the edges of my pond.
I've never had any problems with those
(though I do take them out of the water in the winter months,
when they are dormant here in North Carolina).

If there are disease issues, the roots and bulbs will often rot.

[addicted2plumeria]

I certainly won't say that over-watering is impossible,
. . . but . . . I grow both Colocasia and Alocasia elephant ears
in pots actually submerged along the edges of my pond.
I've never had any problems with those
(though I do take them out of the water in the winter months,
when they are dormant here in North Carolina).

If there are disease issues, the roots and bulbs will often rot.

When Plants are in the yard for example and they are allowed to dry then are watered with large amounts of water then allowed to dry again and then large amounts of water added again this cycle causes fungus's, molds and other biological matter to form in the soil around the plant and in the plants root system and cause rotting and virus type problems. Just my experiance.

[zuzu's petals]

Yes, I can see just what you mean, Rod
and the stress of cycling from wet-to-dry-to-wet
could also make a plant more vulnerable to whatever it may be exposed.

[gone_tropical]

I dug one up, or part of it. The tuber looks healthy, firm, brown and the inside a clean white. No visible negatives in the soil around the plant. I take it, the stress of the summer heat is too much. Since the tubers look ok, I should not be too worried about the plants, they will come back, what do you think?

here is the picture of the plant as it is 'normal':


and here it is as it looks right now:

[addicted2plumeria]

I dug one up, or part of it. The tuber looks healthy, firm, brown and the inside a clean white. No visible negatives in the soil around the plant. I take it, the stress of the summer heat is too much. Since the tubers look ok, I should not be too worried about the plants, they will come back, what do you think?

here is the picture of the plant as it is 'normal':


and here it is as it looks right now:

From the pictures and what you stated it appears the heat may be the problem.I use Magnesium Phosphate (Epsom salts) on my plants it helps them deal with the heat.You may want to check into that.

[gone_tropical]

do I just sprinkle the epsom salt around the plant, or is it to be desolved in water? and how much do you use?

[addicted2plumeria]

do I just sprinkle the epsom salt around the plant, or is it to be desolved in water? and how much do you use?

I use 1/4 cup around my plants.You may want to research the nutrient requirements of your plants to determine the proper amount.

[gone_tropical]

thanks addicted2plumis, I will see what I find out about the epson salt.