Waterlily Taro (Floating Taro) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Waterlily Taro burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Thrives in bright, indirect to partial direct light — reflecting its open, marshy natural habitat. Full outdoor sun is tolerated when roots are permanently in water. Indoors, a bright windowsill or conservatory with several hours of gentle sun suits it well. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering waterlily taro: permanently submerged roots or standing water; substrate must remain waterlogged. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. An aquatic species that grows with roots and lower stems submerged. Best planted in a pond container or aquatic basket set in shallow water (5–15 cm above the crown). Soil should never dry out; this plant will not survive drought conditions.

Soil and pot

Waterlily Taro grows best in heavy loam-based aquatic compost or pond planting basket mix. Use a dense, loam-based aquatic compost or purpose-made pond plant basket mix. Avoid light, peaty mixes that float loose. Top-dress with a layer of grit or pea gravel to prevent soil clouding the water. 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

Waterlily Taro sits happiest at around 70–100% humidity and 22–32°C (72–90°F). As an aquatic species, humidity requirements are very high in enclosed environments. In outdoor water features in warm climates, ambient humidity is naturally sufficient. Indoors, a conservatory or enclosed paludarium setting with very high humidity is needed. If you keep the room above 22–32°C 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 waterlily taro sparingly. Apply aquatic slow-release fertiliser tablets or sachets into the planting basket at the start of the growing season and again mid-summer. Avoid loose granular fertilisers that dissolve freely into pond water and promote algae. 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 waterlily taro in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Leaf yellowing — Nutrient depletion in the aquatic basket causes pale yellow leaves. Replenish aquatic fertiliser tablets and repot into fresh aquatic compost annually.
• Rhizome rot in cold water — Temperatures below 18°C slow growth and cold, stagnant water can cause rhizome rot. Move containers indoors or to a heated greenhouse before temperatures drop.
• Algae competition — In open water features, algae competes for nutrients and light. Maintain balanced aquatic planting (including oxygenators) and avoid excessive fertilisation.
• Aphid or spider mite attack on emergent leaves — Emergent foliage is susceptible to typical foliar pests. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth or use an insecticidal soap spray, taking care to avoid contaminating the pond water.
• Failure to produce floating leaves — Too deep planting prevents leaves from reaching the surface. Raise the planting basket so the crown sits 5–15 cm below the water surface.

Companion plants

Waterlily Taro pairs well with Nymphaea (waterlily), Thalia dealbata, Eichhornia crassipes, and Pontederia cordata. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Divide rhizomes in spring when growth resumes. Each division should include at least one growing point and some roots. Replant in fresh aquatic compost in a planting basket and set back in the water feature. 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

Waterlily Taro is toxic to pets. Colocasia species contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals in all raw plant parts. Ingestion causes intense oral burning, excessive salivation, and GI distress in cats, dogs, and humans. ASPCA lists Elephant Ear (Colocasia) as toxic to pets. Thorough cooking destroys the crystals in edible taro varieties, but raw plant material should always be kept away from pets. 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.

Waterlily Taro deep-dive guides

Every aspect of waterlily taro care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common waterlily taro problems & fixes
• Waterlily Taro watering schedule
• Waterlily Taro light requirements
• Best soil mix for waterlily taro
• Waterlily Taro fertilizing guide
• When to repot waterlily taro
• How to propagate waterlily taro
• How to prune waterlily taro
• What's eating my waterlily taro?
• Waterlily Taro growth rate & size
• Waterlily Taro cold hardiness
• Waterlily Taro temperature & humidity
• Is waterlily taro toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is waterlily taro toxic to cats?
• Is waterlily taro toxic to dogs?
• All 24 Colocasia varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

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

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• 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.
• Browse all 30 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Waterlily Taro is also known as Waterlily Taro, Floating Taro, and Aquatic Elephant Ear.

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