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What 's making EE's flop...added photos
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Posted by dissmith z8b SC (My Page) on Sat, Sep 2, 06 at 13:06
I posted this question earlier but thought perhaps a photo would help. 1st is a Colocasia Illustris which is in bright shade most of the day with about 90 minutes midday sun. it's been putting out new growth but I'm concerned about the flopped over stems and it just looks a bit "pekid'. I've been watering it daily. 2nd is Black Magic in almost full shade. Looks great but for the floppy bottom stems. Is this normal?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What 's making EE's flop...added photos
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| At first I was hoping someone would answer your question because I was thinking I had the same problem. However after seeing the photos I would say, IMHO, that your plants look just fine and the bottom 'floppies' are normal. I just cut them off when they start looking ragged. I have an EE that the entire plant was flopping and I thought it was getting plenty of water. I dug around a bit in the soil and determined that it was not - the water there had been draining too fast. I have amended, watered, and the plant popped right back. I cannot remember the name of the first EE in your picture but I had both that one and the Black Magic in the shade. This year I moved them both into the sun and the improvement in color is amazing. I do have to remember to keep them well watered though. |
RE: What 's making EE's flop...added photos
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| Thanks for the reassuring reply! Someone else suggested ferilizer, which I admit, I haven't done yet. I do have one Black Magic that's in sun and the difference in the color to the one that's in shade is amazing. Love 'em both. |
RE: What 's making EE's flop...added photos
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| As new EE leaves come up in the center, the stem thickens. The bases of the outside leaves can split, or otherwise have the flow of water and nutrients cut off. This can cause them to flop, at which time they can be trimmed away. |
RE: What 's making EE's flop...added photos
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Thanks, Rachel: This EE has done well since I 1st posted the question. Sounds like the "flopping" was not something to be alarmed about?. Anyway, here 'tis just this week.
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RE: What 's making EE's flop...added photos
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| A gentleman who sells quite a bit of elephant ears on ebay suggested epsom salts to help strengthen stems. It seems to work, but I've also observed that colocasias that are in more dense shade tend to have the floppy stems. |
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