I got one of these on sale at HD 2 years ago. First winter, I simply brought it in to a back bedroom that gets west window sun. It did fine. Last winter, I brought it in to my basement growing area and it did fine. In both cases I only watered minimally and both times it stayed green but was in a holding pattern. No major loss of leaves.

It has not been repotted and this is its third season. I keep it on a semi shaded area of my deck.

Couple of questions.

Should I unpot the tuber this winter and give it a rest?

Either way - repotting next year is likely in order?

Thanks. Other than the Giant EE (which I will dig up and store), this is my only plant of this type - alo or colo-casia

Elephant Ear (Colocasia 'Coffee Cups') is a pretty one! It will slow down as usual if you over-winter it in the container in the basement but I'd think you could also remove it from the pot and store the tuber ... should be fine as long as it stays dry and then you could re-pot the tuber in the spring. Hopefully some of our knowledgeable Colocasia growers will pop in with some advice.

I think that is what I will do Lin. It has to be horribly pot bound. Maybe time for the sawz-all again.

I was hoping someone more knowledgeable about over-wintering Colocasia would pop in with some advice. I've never had to over-winter one so don't go by my post.

The reason_s I do not store any of mine dry is because it takes to long to wake them up. Also I lost some storing the bulb

Soo. I want my plants big early so I keep them alnost alive and I killed them storing them dry.

Not an expert but I usually stored my tubers in a cool dry place. Last season I overwintered a few as houseplants. I stored 7 dry tubers and 4 in their pots that never went completely dormant. I did not lose any plants that were kept in their pots, but lost 2 that I stored dry. One of those lost was my favorite, Dragonheart. This year I am storing my favorites in pots and the ones I am less enamored of dry.

Well - it seems that storing in pots is the best way to go.

However - I know my plant needs to be divided cause it has been in the same pot since summer 14. So .... when to do the dividing? Suggestions from the experts? My hunch is that I could separate it into at least 2 and maybe as many as 4.

I would wait until spring. You are not going to get much growth during the winter even if it is indoors (unless you have a humid, warm greenhouse,) I would repot the bulbs around March and stand back while they take off.

I agree. I would not disturb it until Spring.

March or so it is.

Hi David im late on this post but i have only lost a few plants over a 10 year period storing them dry in a pot. I put them under the house in crawl space. It's dark and stays above freezing. Granted some are a little stubborn to wake up in spring but I've learned to put them in greenhouse and warm them up Heat gets them going. Coffee cups are great growers and some of mine produce short runners.

Mine did not like the recent lows in lower 40s. Comes in tomorrow. I am definitely gonna split it up - likely in early Spring - maybe sooner. It is soooooooo potbound. My guess is I can split it into 3 or 4 separate pots.

Next year I would like to sink the pot in the ground in my Tropical area. But. It seems to not appreciate much sun, so that may not work.

@papa - "Coffee cups are great growers and some of mine produce short runners." Short runners?

Maybe not correct term but this is what I call a short runner

OIC. Yep that appears to be a runner. I was not thinking about it being in the ground. You pot those up and they grow then?

David that is in a pot and if you look close it's forming roots now

I am gonna un-pot, split up and store til Feb or so. Then pot up and start under lights. I have a feeling though that I am gonna have way too many plants. Will let you know in a few days.