Colocasia Burgundy Stem (Burgundy Stem taro) care

Light

Colocasia Burgundy Stem needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Thrives in full sun to part shade outdoors, which intensifies the burgundy stems; indoors give the brightest light possible, including some direct sun. Too little light produces leggy growth and washed-out colouring. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water colocasia burgundy stem keep constantly moist to wet; water whenever the surface starts to dry. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. A true bog plant that loves abundant water and can even sit in shallow standing water or a saucer. Never let it dry out in active growth; in winter dormancy keep stored corms barely moist and cool.

Soil and pot

Colocasia Burgundy Stem grows best in rich, heavy, moisture-retentive soil. Unlike airy aroid mixes, Colocasia wants a fertile, water-holding loam high in organic matter. Heavy soil that stays wet is ideal; it tolerates poor drainage far better than any Alocasia. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Colocasia Burgundy Stem sits happiest at around 50-80% humidity and 20-30C (68-86F). Enjoys warm, humid air, which keeps the big leaves lush, but its main demand is wet roots rather than air moisture. Outdoors it handles a range of humidity as long as the soil stays saturated. If you keep the room above 20 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed colocasia burgundy stem sparingly. A heavy feeder; fertilise every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced or nitrogen-rich liquid feed to fuel the large leaves. Reduce and stop feeding as growth slows in autumn and the plant heads into dormancy. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on colocasia burgundy stem in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Wilting / drying leaves — Almost always underwatering; this bog plant must stay wet, so increase water or sit it in a saucer.
• Winter dieback — Normal in cool climates; the corm goes dormant, so lift and store it frost-free or keep it warm and barely moist indoors.
• Faded stem colour — Insufficient light; give more sun to deepen the signature burgundy petioles.
• Spider mites indoors — Dry indoor air invites mites on the big leaves; raise humidity and rinse or treat the foliage early.

Propagation

Propagate by dividing the corm clump or separating offset corms in spring. Pot in rich, wet soil and keep warm; corms sprout quickly once temperatures rise above about 20C. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Colocasia Burgundy Stem is toxic to pets. ASPCA lists Colocasia (elephant's ear) as toxic to cats and dogs. All parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; chewing causes oral burning, intense drooling, swelling of the mouth and tongue, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Raw corms are also unsafe; keep away from pets and children. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Colocasia Burgundy Stem deep-dive guides

Every aspect of colocasia burgundy stem care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Colocasia Burgundy Stem watering schedule
• Colocasia Burgundy Stem light requirements
• Best soil mix for colocasia burgundy stem
• Colocasia Burgundy Stem fertilizing guide
• When to repot colocasia burgundy stem
• How to propagate colocasia burgundy stem
• Colocasia Burgundy Stem growth rate & size
• Colocasia Burgundy Stem cold hardiness
• Colocasia Burgundy Stem temperature & humidity
• Is colocasia burgundy stem toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is colocasia burgundy stem toxic to cats?
• Is colocasia burgundy stem toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Colocasia Burgundy Stem qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Colocasia Burgundy Stem is also commonly called Burgundy Stem taro or burgundy elephant ear.

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• All 2464 plant care guides in the Growli library