Colocasia Black Magic Growing & Caring Guide

A popular species of the Araceae family known as Colocasia Black Magic Esculenta or Black Elephant Ear plant is grown as an excellent ornamental plant to maintain the beauty of your living spaces.

Colocasia Black Magic Overview

Botanical Name	Colocasia Esculenta Black Magic
Common Names	Black Magic Elephant ear, Black Elephant ear, Black taro
Origin	Asia
Family	Araceae
Plant Type	Perennials, Evergreen bulb
Full Size	3ft to 6ft
Sun Exposure	Best in shaded sunlight, can handle full sunlight
Soil Type	Well draining, organic soil mix
Toxicity	Could be harmful if eaten raw

Esculenta Black Magic Care

Although Colocasia Black Magic plants are moderately simple to care for, it does require having a solid understanding of all of their different needs and adhering to them.

In order to promote healthy growth and ensure the plant thrives, it would be helpful to comply with these requirements. What are these specifications?

Light

The Black Magic Plant, like other Asian Taro varieties, needs access to direct or shady light that is bright but indirect.

As exposure to full sunlight may bring out its deepest purple color, which is the primary reason people plant it, it is also recommended for proper plant growth. However, exposing a plant to direct sunlight for an extended period of time could be harmful.

Limit the Colocasia Black Magic plant's exposure to direct sunlight to no more than 4-6 hours per day; the remainder of the day should be spent providing it with sufficient filtered or partially shaded sunlight.

The Colocasia Black Magic should be kept in a room that has a window right next to it so that it can get all the sunlight it needs. Once the plant has received enough direct sunlight, you may need to use light curtains to shade it.

Water

As the lovely, dark plant loves water and thrives in it, watering your Colocasia Black Magic plant should be a regular occurrence.

This does not imply that you should leave the plant's roots wet, as doing so could expose the plant to root rot.

It is advised that you water your Colocasia Black Magic once or twice a week because of their average to high water needs (which vary depending on the season). On hotter days or in generally hotter climates, this figure should be higher.

Try to maintain constant moisture in the soil because the dark purple leaf Colocasia Black Magic could perish in dry soil.

Since the Colocasia Black Magic plant would go dormant in the winter, less watering would be needed.

Soil

The selection of the soil you use for the Colocasia Black Magic is an essential part of its maintenance. For the exotic plant to grow properly and healthily, you should make sure you use the right soul mixture.

The Black Magic Colocasia Esculenta would benefit most from well-draining soil. Make sure it has good drainage before choosing between sand, loam, or clay.

Use soil with a pH level that is slightly acidic, and you might try combining organic compost, peat, and mulch to promote and encourage healthy growth.

In order to keep the soil moist and avoid becoming soggy, the soil type should have little water-retention capacity.

Temperature

Cold climates are not conducive to the Colocasia Black Magic's growth. The black magic Colocasia might even perish if it is exposed to too much cold.

Therefore, to ensure the Colocasia Esculenta's success, it is advised that you create a highly humid environment or atmosphere.

A pond or aquarium would make a perfect location for your Colocasia Black Magic plant because they can provide the high levels of humidity it needs.

However, if you plan to grow your Colocasia Black Magic indoors, be sure to use a humidifier. Alternatively, you can group your plants together as long as you give them enough room to grow and water them frequently.

Your Colocasia Black Magic should be kept at a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.

Fertilizer

The more fertilizer you give your colocasia esculenta, the bigger it gets. Therefore, it is advised that you regularly fertilize your exotic, dark plant.

A water-soluble fertilizer or liquid fertilizer would be excellent to use on the Colocasia Black Magic.

The fertilizer could be diluted to about half its initial strength, and you should make sure to spray the fertilizer on the roots and not the leaves.

Since that is the time when it would be most useful, fertilizing the elephant plant black magic should take precedence during that growing season.

Pruning

Esculenta Colocasia Black Magic should be pruned, as with most plants, to promote the growth of new leaves and maintain a flourishing appearance.

Make sure to sterilize all preparing tools before pruning. Each dead leaf should be cut or snipped at the base closest to the stem, cutting at an angle that resembles the shape of a normal leaf.

You might need to prune the Colocasia Esculenta Black Magic frequently because of its rapid growth. Be careful not to damage or hurt the plant as you work, though.

Toxicity

The Asian Esculenta Colocasia Black Magic plant has been reported to be consumed by humans. The problem with this practice is that it might have a negative net effect.

The Colocasia Esculenta plant can be eaten when properly prepared and cooked, but it also contains poisonous oxalate crystals that, if consumed raw or only partially cooked, may cause irritations.

Keep children and pets out of the reach of the exotic plant. And if you see that a child or pet has consumed the plant, make sure to call an ambulance.

Propagating the Black Magic Colocasia Esculenta

The division method is the most effective way to spread Colocasia Black Magic. This can be done before the bulbs are overwintered. Put on gloves to start because the calcium oxalate crystals in the plant can irritate the skin. Distinguish the smaller tubers that are growing on the main tuber's sides. The separated tubers can be placed in a plant pot with soil or the ground when springtime comes. To keep the soil perpetually moist, water it. You will observe fresh stems emerging from the tuber in a few weeks.

How to Overwinter a Colocasia Black Magic

Since Colocasia Black Magic plant won't be receiving as much direct sunlight as it did when it was outside, the leaves will begin to turn back to green when the plant is indoors. In order to ensure that your plant receives enough light if you decide to bring it inside to overwinter, it is worthwhile to purchase some grow lights.

The plant's root system can grow quite large, so if you plan to overwinter it indoors, you'll need to consider how to handle watering and drainage from the pot. For instance, you could put a tray underneath the pot to catch any extra water.

Another of Jason's suggestions is to occasionally fertilize the plant with fish fertilizer because it thrives in ponds. Jason uses water from his pond, which the plant appears to enjoy and which aids in the growth of its glossy leaves.

Cutting off the entire top of the plant and digging out the corm and storing it somewhere dry in preparation for replanting the following year is another method for overwintering these plants.

Common Health Problems of the Black Magic Esculenta Colocasia

A few health issues that could arise from infestation and submersion are common in Colocasia esculenta. A few of these problems are;

• Bacteria Blight
• Soft Rot
• Root Rot
• Dasheen Mosaic Virus
• Spider Mites
• Whiteflies
• Aphids

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colocasia Black Magic Rare?

The Black Magic Colocasia Esculenta is regarded as a rare plant

How Big Does Colocasia Black Magic Get?

Black Magic Elephant plants can reach heights of three to six feet when they are fully grown.

Is Colocasia Poisonous to Humans?

When eaten raw, the Colocasia Esculenta is poisonous

Do Colocasia Black Magic Need a Lot of Sun?

The best conditions are indirect but bright sunlight because full sun is necessary for healthy growth but prolonged exposure may be harmful.

How Long Do Colocasia Black Magic Take to Grow to Full Size?

For the black ear Colocasia Esculenta to reach its full size, it would need an average of 2 years