Elephan Ears

I am a fairly new gardner when it comes to house plants and definitely elephant ears. Any information on growing them, transplanting them, can I dig some up right now in Florida and put them in pots until Spring or what. I have absolutely no knowledge of the plant other than it likes water. Sweetsue

Elephant ears come in two basic types, those with leaves that point upward (Alocasia) or downward (Colocasia). Both are often called 'taro' and both are hardy in Panama City, FL, as well as anywhere in Zones 9-11, and protected parts of Zone 8 (just north of you). This means you can plant them outside, but spring is a better time to do that because wet, cold soils are about the only thing they dislike severely. You're right that they need plenty of water, though they don't like to sit in it. Provide some shade and mulch especially in dry summers, and fertilize when the first new leaves appear in spring and again if they ever look pale or get smaller. You can dig and pot them up now, and yes, you can grow elephant ears indoors in pots. They need lots of humidity and without it, the leaves will dry up when they're grown as houseplants.