If you have big elephant ears plants in your garden, then you know just how much fertilizer is important for them to grow properly. They need the right amount of fertilizer to grow the large green leaves that match the shape of their namesake. These plants grow the best around the USDA hardiness zone 10 in California and Southern Florida and if you need the best fertilizer for elephant ears, then you have come to the right place! Here are my picks for the top 10 best ones that you can buy for your elephant ears plant!
- Top 10 Best Fertilizer For Elephant Ears
- 1. Best Overall – Wellspring Gardens Elephant Ear Fuel Fertilizer
- 2. Best Easy to Use – Monstera Plant Food for Monsteras and Philodendrons, Tropical Houseplant Liquid Fertilizer
- 3. Best Easy to Spread – Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
- 4. Best Reduce Waste – Easy Peasy Liquid All Purpose Indoor Plant Food
- 5. Best All Purpose Fertilizer – Jack's Classic All Purpose 20-20-20 Water Soluble Plant Food
- 6. Best Organic – Wiggle Worm 100% Pure Organic Worm Castings 15 Pounds
- 7. Best Quality Feed Grade Ingredients – Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK
- 8. Best People & Pet Safe – DR EARTH INC 756P Exotic Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm
- 9. Best Style – Jobe's Indoor Beautiful Houseplants Fertilizer Food Spikes
- 10. Best Value for Money – Neptune's Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 Ounce
- What Should I Look for When Buying Fertilizer For Elephant Ears?
- FAQs
- Final Thoughts
Top 10 Best Fertilizer For Elephant Ears
| Image | Product Name | Price On Amazon |
|---|---|---|
 | Best Overall Wellspring Fuel Fertilizer | Check Price |
 | Best Easy to Use Monstera Plant Food | Check Price |
 | Best Easy to Spread Miracle-Gro Plant Food | Check Price |
 | Best Reduce Waste Easy Peasy Indoor Plant Food | Check Price |
 | Best All Purpose Fertilizer Jack’s Classic All Purpose Plant Food | Check Price |
 | Best Organic Wiggle Pure Organic Worm Castings | Check Price |
 | Best Quality Feed Grade Ingredients Simple Lawn Solutions | Check Price |
 | Best People & Pet Safe Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm | Check Price |
 | Best Style Jobe’s Fertilizer Spikes | Check Price |
 | Best Value for Money Neptune’s Harvest Fertilizer | Check Price |
1. Best Overall – Wellspring Gardens Elephant Ear Fuel Fertilizer
Specification
- Brand: Wellspring Gardens
- Item Weight: 1 pound
- Item Form: Granules
- Coverage: Medium
- Specific Uses For Product: Plant Food
Description
Get some of the best overall growth for your elephant ears with the Wellspring Gardens Elephant Ear Fuel Fertilizer!
Features
- 20-10-20 Blend: perfectly blended for elephant ears.
- Water soluble granules: made to work with a watering can.
How to use
To use the Wellspring Gardens Elephant Ear Fuel Fertilizer, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions for the amount needed to be mixed into the water per gallon.
- Apply a bit of plain water on the topsoil so that it is slightly wet.
- Take the watering can with the fertilizer mixture and apply it directly to the soil as instructed.
- Spread it to the rest of the elephant ears around the garden as evenly as possible around the base of the plant.
Expert verdict
What can I say about the Wellspring Gardens Elephant Ear Fuel Fertilizer that already hasn’t been said! It is perfectly formulated for elephant ears so you know you are getting a product that is designed specifically for your plants. The perfect blend of NPK values also ensures that you get the right amount of nutrients for your elephant ears that you need for them to grow healthy and properly within a few weeks’ time. The concentration of the fertilizer also ensures that you do not burn the plant if you mix in the right amount of water and fertilizer as well. There is only one reason that it stands heads above the other fertilizers on this list: being specifically for elephant ears! You just can’t go wrong with this fertilizer and I have healthy elephant ears thanks to this, making it my best overall pick of the bunch.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Specifically made for elephant ears | |
| Perfect blend of NPK | |
| Concentration doesn’t burn plant roots or leaves if mixed properly |
2. Best Easy to Use – Monstera Plant Food for Monsteras and Philodendrons, Tropical Houseplant Liquid Fertilizer
Specification
- Brand: TPS Nutrients
- Item Weight: 8 ounces
- Item Form: Liquid
- Coverage: Medium
- Liquid Volume: 8 fl oz.
Description
Get one of the easiest-to-use liquid fertilizers for your elephant ears with the Monstera Plant Food for Monsteras and Philodendrons, Tropical houseplant Liquid Fertilizer!
Features
- Seaweed + minerals: for all that your elephant ears need.
- 3-1-2 nutrient ratio: for healthy growing plants.
How to use
To use the Monstera Plant Food for Monsteras and Philodendrons, Tropical houseplant Liquid Fertilizer, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions for the amount needed to be mixed into the water per gallon.
- Apply a bit of plain water on the topsoil so that it is slightly wet.
- Take the watering can with the fertilizer mixture and apply it directly to the soil as instructed.
- Spread it to the rest of the elephant ears around the garden as evenly as possible around the base of the plant.
Expert verdict
Don’t be fooled by the Monstera Plant Food for Monsteras and Philodendrons, Tropical houseplant Liquid Fertilizer is only for monstera plants because it will work just as well for your elephant ears as well! The liquid formula is easy to mix with water and does not cause a chemical burn. Not to mention that it is so easy to use this since it is mixing liquid into liquid! Not to mention the seaweed probably has some properties that help the elephant ears to grow new shoots rather quickly as well! However, I would say this wouldn’t work too well in an outside environment and the fertilizer is more suited for a single pot of indoor elephant ears instead.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy-to-mix formula | Not that good for an outdoor garden |
| Does not cause chemical burns on plant | |
| Seaweed good for new sprouts |
3. Best Easy to Spread – Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food
Specification
- Brand: Miracle-Gro
- Item Weight: 3 pounds
- Item Form: Solid
- Coverage: Full
- Specific Uses For Product: Plant food
Description
Rest easy for your garden of elephant ears with the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food!
Features
- Spreads easy: with the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder
- 24-8-16 Fertilizer analysis: to be accessible to a wide range of plants
How to use
To use the Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions for the amount needed to be mixed into the water per gallon.
- Apply a bit of plain water on the topsoil so that it is slightly wet.
- Take the watering can with the fertilizer mixture and apply it directly to the soil as instructed.
- Spread it to the rest of the elephant ears around the garden as evenly as possible around the base of the plant.
You could also use the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder for this product. Here is how you will need to use it for that:
- Fill the Garden Feeder with the appropriate amount of fertilizer.
- Turn on the hose to fill the container with water.
- Shake the Garden Feeder to mix well and then spray by pressing down on the button on the handle.
Expert verdict
The Miracle-Gro Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food is really one of the more easier to spread fertilizers for your garden thanks in part to the Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder. However, even if you don’t have it, it is still a great fertilizer that contributes to healthy plant growth and more lush foliage for your elephant ears! Even the ones that are on the verge of wilting and collapsing can be revitalized with this fertilizer which is what makes this extraordinary! If you want the Garden Feeder, however, you will need to purchase it separately.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Lush green foliage | The easy spread comes with the Garden Feeder that you need to purchase separately |
| Can revitalize dying plants back to life | |
| Works great for a wide variety of plants |
4. Best Reduce Waste – Easy Peasy Liquid All Purpose Indoor Plant Food
Specification
- Brand: Easy Peasy
- Item Weight: 8 ounces
- Item Form: Liquid
- Coverage: Full
- Liquid Volume: 1 quarts
Description
Grow more and waste less with the Easy Peasy Liquid All Purpose Indoor Plant Food and its plentiful use for indoor elephant ears!
Features
- 4-3-4 Nutrient Fertilizer: for indoor plants
- Twice as long: lasts more than your regular fertilizer
How to use
To use the Easy Peasy Liquid All Purpose Indoor Plant Food, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions for the amount needed to be mixed into the water per gallon.
- Apply a bit of plain water on the topsoil so that it is slightly wet.
- Take the watering can with the fertilizer mixture and apply it directly to the soil as instructed.
- Spread it to the rest of the elephant ears around the pots as evenly as possible around the base of the plant.
Expert verdict
The Easy Peasy Liquid All Purpose Indoor Plant Food is really one of those fertilizers that will last you a whole season without much trouble at all! You get a lot of use out of this one than most other fertilizers out there, helping to reduce the amount of waste being produced. The nutrients are perfectly mixed for indoor plants but that is where this one also reaches its downfall. This will mostly work for indoor plants and not for an outdoor garden environment.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Plentiful use | Produced for indoor fertilizing; not much coverage |
| Lasts a long time in the soil for indoor plants | |
| Reduces the amount of waste |
5. Best All Purpose Fertilizer – Jack’s Classic All Purpose 20-20-20 Water Soluble Plant Food
Specification
- Brand: Jack’s Classic
- Item Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Item Form: Water-soluble granules
- Coverage: Full
- Specific Uses For Product: Plant food
Description
Get one of the best fertilizers for all kinds of plants in your garden, even certain trees, with Jack’s Classic All Purpose 20-20-20 Water Soluble Plant Food!
Features
- 20-20-20 blend: perfect for your elephant ears’ growth over time
- Measuring spoon: included with the purchase
How to use
To use the Jack’s Classic All Purpose 20-20-20 Water Soluble Plant Food, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions for the amount needed to be mixed into the water per gallon.
- Apply a bit of plain water on the topsoil so that it is slightly wet.
- Take the watering can with the fertilizer mixture and apply it directly to the soil as instructed.
- Spread it to the rest of the elephant ears around the pots as evenly as possible around the base of the plant.
Expert verdict
I really liked Jack’s Classic All Purpose 20-20-20 Water Soluble Plant Food and its wide range of plants that it can cover and not just elephants or other alocasia variants! It will cover it all, you name it, even trees! It gives just the right amount of nutrients that are needed for your elephant ears to grow lovely leaves. But what I found best about this fertilizer is the measuring spoon that was included in the tub. It helps a lot to know exactly how much fertilizer to mix with the water so having that was fantastic in this one! However, do be careful because this fertilizer has a tendency to stain most things blue.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| For all types of plants | Can cause blue stains |
| The right amount of nutrients for elephant ears | |
| Included measuring spoon |
6. Best Organic – Wiggle Worm 100% Pure Organic Worm Castings 15 Pounds
Specification
- Brand: Wiggle Worm
- Item Weight: 15 pounds
- Item Form: Solid
- Coverage: Full
- Specific Uses For Product: Plant food
Description
Get the best organic fertilizer for your elephant ears with the Wiggle Worm 100% Pure Organic Worm Castings 15 Pounds and its worm castings doing all the work for you!
Features
- Worm castings: completely organic, not vermicomposting
- Soil builder: helps to create a soil structure that is perfect for plant growth
How to use
The Wiggle Worm 100% Pure Organic Worm Castings 15 Pounds is a bit different to use from the rest of the fertilizers on the list. Here is how you will need to apply it:
- Refer to the instruction on the back of the bag for how much you need. For elephant ears, you need about half a handful.
- At the base of your elephant ears, apply the worm castings all around it.
- Use a mini-rake to scratch the surface of the soil to allow the fertilizer to get into the soil.
- Pat the soil down and then pour the usual amount of water over it.
Expert Verdict
If you can get over the horrible smell of the Wiggle Worm 100% Pure Organic Worm Castings 15, then this is one of the best, if not the best, organic fertilizers out there! The worm castings help to give the soil structure to enable the growth of plants like elephant ears. It is also a natural insect repellent so you don’t have to worry about pests getting into your elephant ears. It is pure organic fertilizer so you don’t have to worry about any chemicals creating an imbalance of nutrients in the soil.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Completely organic | Smells horrible |
| Good for soil structure | |
| Natural insect repellent |
7. Best Quality Feed Grade Ingredients – Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK
Specification
- Brand: Simple Lawn Solutions
- Item Weight: 3 pounds
- Item Form: Liquid
- Coverage: Full
- Liquid Volume: 1 liter
Description
Get high-quality feed-grade ingredients with the Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK for your elephant ears!
Features
- High nitrogen: perfect for elephant ear growth.
- Built-in spray bottle: need to attach a hose to spread it.
How to use
To use the Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK here is what you need to do:
- Attach the hose to the back of the spray in the nozzle attachment spot.
- Make sure to have the valve turned to water off as you start the hose to allow the water to flow through.
- When you are about to fertilize your garden, turn the valve to allow the water to flow through with the fertilizer.
- Once you are done, turn the valve to the off position and then detach the hose from the spray.
Expert verdict
What I liked about the Simple Lawn Solutions Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK is the high amount of nitrogen concentration, which is perfect for growing elephant ears! It provides high-quality feed-grade ingredients that your elephant ears need in the spring to grow well. It also has just the right amount of phosphorus to both not burn your leaves and enough to help root growth. Sadly, you will need a hose to apply it as opening it and applying it directly will cause damage to your elephant ears.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| High nitrogen for growth | Need a hose to apply it |
| Low phosphorus to not burn the leaves | |
| Easy to apply all over your garden |
8. Best People & Pet Safe – DR EARTH INC 756P Exotic Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm
Specification
- Brand: Dr. Earth
- Item Weight: 3.75 pounds
- Item Form: Powder
- Coverage: Full
- Liquid Volume: 135 fl oz. (4 liters)
Description
Get a natural fertilizer that is both pet-safe and people-safe with the DR EARTH INC 756P Exotic Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm
Features
- Enriched ingredients: multi-minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and trace elements that promote healthy growth for tropical plants.
- Organic transparency: OMRI (organic material review Institute), OIM (organic input materials), CCOF (California certified organic farmers), NOP (national organic program), and non-GMO projects verified the highest level of purity and transparency.
How to use
Since the DR EARTH INC 756P Exotic Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm works as a soil-fertilizer mixture, the way you use this fertilizer will be different. Here is how:
- New planting of elephant ear: Before you plant, add 1 cup to the soil that will be used to fill the planting hole. Once planting is completed, add an additional cup around the plant and work into the soil gently. Next, make sure to water thoroughly.
- Established elephant ears plants: Use 1/2 cup for every foot of plant height. Work into the soil gently inside of the drip line and water thoroughly.
You need to reapply this fertilizer every 2 months throughout the growing seasons (early April to late August).
Expert verdict
The DR EARTH INC 756P Exotic Dr. Earth Exotic Blend Palm is pet and children-safe for very good reasons! It is applied directly around the base of the elephant ears so you wouldn’t have to worry about getting any of the ingredients on the skin at all! It is also harmless when you get it on your skin, it just needs to be washed away with cold water. However, you might not need to worry about your children or pets around this fertilizer because it will reek a lot to deter them anyways! My advice is to not use this indoors since the smell can be overpowering for those with a sensitive nose.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Safe for pets and children. | Smells a lot, not recommended for indoors |
| Can be washed away easily. | |
| Creates a good base for the plants to grow. |
9. Best Style – Jobe’s Indoor Beautiful Houseplants Fertilizer Food Spikes
Specification
- Brand: Easy Gardener
- Item Weight: 40g
- Item Form: Stick
- Coverage: Low
- Specific Uses For Product: Food spikes
Description
Get the best in style fertilizer with the fertilizer sticks for your elephant ears with the Jobe’s Indoor Beautiful Houseplants Fertilizer Food Spikes!
Features
- Stick fertilizer: placed in the soil that helps to release nutrients over time
- Nutrient blend: 13-4-5
- Each pack contains: 30 spikes
How to use
Since the Jobe’s Indoor Beautiful Houseplants Fertilizer Food Spikes are fertilizer sticks, here is how you need to use them:
- Place the stick somewhere around the halfway mark between the stem and the rim of the pot.
- Push it down until it is completely in the soil.
- Water as usual after placing the stick in the soil.
- After 2 months, remove the stick and replace it with a new one.
Expert verdict
The Jobe’s Indoor Beautiful Houseplants Fertilizer Food Spikes is a nifty little fertilizer that is perfect for your elephant ears indoors in pots! The style is great because the application is very easy to do and you won’t have to do anything for about 2 months as your elephant ears will get the nutrients over time. While this is great for house plants, it is not suitable for outdoor use at all because it will not be able to cover the ground needed. But it has a high nitrogen quantity that is great for the growth phase of your elephant ears.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| High nitrogen quantity for growth | Can only be indoors |
| Great style | |
| Easy to use and lasts two months |
10. Best Value for Money – Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 Ounce
Specification
- Brand: Neptune’s Harvest
- Item Weight: 1.13 pounds
- Item Form: Liquid
- Coverage: Medium
- Liquid Volume: 18 fl oz.
Description
Get value for your money with the large container of Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 Ounces!
Features
- Fertilizer from the sea: made with fish and seaweed extracts.
- Multiple ways of application: either through a hose, sprinklers, drip line, or watering can.
How to use
To use Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 Ounce, here is what you need to do:
- Follow the instructions for the amount needed to be mixed into the water per gallon.
- Apply a bit of plain water on the topsoil so that it is slightly wet.
- Take the watering can with the fertilizer mixture and apply it directly to the soil as instructed.
- Spread it to the rest of the elephant ears around the pots as evenly as possible around the base of the plant.
While you could use it in other methods, this is the easiest method to apply since the amount of liquid can be controlled.
Expert verdict
With the current sale going on for the Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Fertilizer 2-3-1, 18 Ounces, the value for money that you get for this fertilizer is just fantastic! This is especially good if your garden is big. The fish extracts give the elephant ears just the right amount of micronutrients it needs to grow robust leaves over the growing period. With a drop in price recently, I just had to recommend it but I would advise against using it for your indoor elephant ears since it might cause the leaves to turn orange after applying in such a small area.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great value | Not for indoors |
| Nutrients from the sea | |
| Robust looking leaves |
What Should I Look for When Buying Fertilizer For Elephant Ears?
If you are growing elephant ears for the first time, then you must know that it needs fertilizer to grow. They are a very nutrient-hungry plant and need loads of it to grow properly which is why the addition of fertilizers is needed to see them grow large leaves. Here are some things that you need to keep an eye out for when you are looking to buy fertilizer for elephant ears:
1. NPK ratio
If you have been hearing the term NPK ratio when people are talking about fertilizer and don’t know what it means, it’s basically the three main chemicals and their respective ratios. N stands for nitrogen, P stands for phosphorus, and K stands for potassium, all of which are their respective periodic table element symbol. For elephant ears, the right amount of NPK ratio you need for the growing period is 20-10-20 NPK ratio.
2. Well-drained soil
Another thing to note for elephant ears is the type of soil you need to fertilize. These plants grow the best when they have well-drained soil which is perfect for liquid fertilizers to seep into the soil to allow for absorption through the roots.
3. Granular vs liquid fertilizer
Since liquid fertilizers are the best for elephant ears, what about granular fertilizers? These are good for some plants but not really all that good for elephant ears. They might cause chemical burns on the leaves and also dry out the soil. That is why if you are buying granule fertilizers, make sure they are water soluble so you can apply them without harming the plant.
4. Liquid fertilizer for elephant ears plants
A liquid fertilizer at a 20-10-20 NPK ratio is the best for elephant ear plants. However, the problem might be that you applied too much liquid fertilizer on the plant and there are too many nutrients that can shock the plant. That is why people often opt for lower concentrations of NPK to allow a wide spread of the fertilizer which does not harm the plants.
5. Slow-release fertilizer
Slow-release fertilizers are another way to give nutrients to the elephant ears so that the plant gets the right amount of nutrients over a long period. However, these are not that good for outdoor elephant ears because of the competition for nutrients. That is why slow-release fertilizers are best for single-pot elephant ears.
6. Synthetic vs organic fertilizers
The debate between synthetic and organic fertilizers will divide the gardening community forever! Where synthetic fertilizers break down quicker, organic needs bacteria and worms to help them break down the nutrients so that the plants can absorb them. Even though organic needs time to work, they are much safer as synthetic fertilizers might cause damage to the plant leaves if it is not applied properly.
7. Plant specific fertilizers
There are some fertilizers that work well for a certain type of plant. The nutrients are balanced in such a way that it will be the best for that plant. That in turn makes the fertilizer ineffective on other plants since the nutrient requirements are different from plant to plant. So watch out for these things when you are out looking for fertilizers for elephant ears and other plants!
FAQs
Yes, elephant ears do require a lot of fertilizers to be able to grow properly. This is because they have large leaves that need plenty of nitrogen and potassium for healthy growth.
The NPK ratio will be different for the different types of fertilizers. Liquid or water-soluble fertilizers will require 20-10-20 while granules will require 20-20-20 ratios.
Keeping the soil moist and giving them the appropriate amount of fertilizer will help elephant ears grow bigger. This is especially the case with high nitrogen which helps the plant in photosynthesis.
Epsom salt helps to really bring out the colors of the foliage of the elephant ears. It gives the leaves of the plant a dark color so you may apply a tablespoon of Epsom salt to a gallon of water and spray it on the plant.
It is not necessarily good or bad for the elephant ears. It provides magnesium ions for the plant which gives the leaves a darker color, but it does not do much in terms of growth and root structure.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the 10 best fertilizers that you can find for elephant ears! In this list, there are fertilizers that work well for both elephant ears plant and other plants as well. But I would have to say that the Wellspring Gardens Elephant Ear Fuel Fertilizer is the best out of them all since it was made with elephant ears in mind. Hopefully, you find the fertilizer for your elephant ears, whether it be indoors or outdoors. Happy gardening!