Troubleshooting
Elephant ear problems — and how to fix them
Elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Yellow leaves
Natural turnover of old leaves, or underwatering — elephant ears are thirsty.
Drooping leaves
Underwatering or root rot.
Brown crispy edges
Low humidity or sun scorch.
Going dormant
In cool conditions the plant dies back to the corm and resprouts in spring.
Prevent elephant ear problems before they start
Most elephant ear issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Elephant ear problems — FAQ
Why is my elephant ear yellow leaves?
Natural turnover of old leaves, or underwatering — elephant ears are thirsty.
Why is my elephant ear drooping leaves?
Underwatering or root rot.
Why is my elephant ear brown crispy edges?
Low humidity or sun scorch.
Why is my elephant ear going dormant?
In cool conditions the plant dies back to the corm and resprouts in spring.