Giant Taro - Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant' (Updated June 2022)

CHARACTERISTICS:

This particular one have been identified with many names:

Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant' 

Colocasia gigantea Thailand Giant Strain
Colocasia gigantea 'Giant Thailand Strain'
Colocasia esculenta 'Gigantea'
Colocasia gigantea 'Thai Giant'
Giant Taro
Thai Giant Elephant Ear

I find this one is a bit sensitive compared to other Taro species.

Once uprooted and replanted, the leaves becomes limp and almost withering - the whole plant will collapse unless a support is tied to them. Often a mature leaf will wither away - the new leaf growth will form better strength in support and so patience is necessary to see a better formation for this one when it comes to replanting this one.

The Leaves are thin and sensitive unlike other types - care is necessary when handling this one as they can easily tear or bruise.

As I mentioned in my earlier post on Taro, their varieties and cultivars are so vast that to identify a specific ID will be challenging and therefore I'm not pursuing in that ID hunt rather more focus on Care & Cultivation in keeping this plant alive and thriving in the garden.

Basically these are common native plants that grows wildly along the roadside with weeds and grassy areas.

APPEARANCE:

The foliage appears to have a waterproof surface - in a means, water droplets don't seems to stay on the leaf surface.

As for the Foliage colorations - these appears to have a softer green tones very much like a lime green colorations, unlike most common Colocasia where their leaves are sturdy, strong and firm - this one is very much fragile and thin. The leaf stem does not have any features - having light green color tones similar like the foliage colors.

Another note, these can also able to tolerate in swamp conditions, their leaves tend grow larger and spans greatly as they age. Given the right condition of optimum sunlight and good balance medium they can grow into giant sizes. 

PLANT CARE:

Light: Bright Indirect Sun Area to Semi Shade Area.

They can be grown on direct sun but requires a swampy condition - loves wet feet areas.

Watering - They love over watering and can also tolerate dry conditions but won't grow bigger than usual in dry conditions.

Feeding: General Plant Feeding Care - not too particular as this is not a sensitive plant

Pest: Spider mites at underside of leaves.

Propagation: By Tuber Division.

When the tuber grows big, cut into several pieces and let it totally dry out for few days and plant it in a rich potting medium and observe for new growth. Once the plant-let sprout out 2-3 new leaves, transfer into a separate pot and let it allow to grow more freely with root space.

Also this plant do give out new plant sprouting from it side which can be easily removed and replanted separately.

NOTES:

PLANT PRICE:

These are not highly sought after and considered very common and easily available and rarely cultivated are rare plants. Unless it has a strong stable variegated feature - I doubt these are sold in any nurseries.

WARNING ON EDIBLES:

Another deadly factor that I may need to mentioned are the identity factor where it had been mistaken as an edible plant and was not cooked properly which had caused grave danger to health - as food poisoning is concerned it's much more painful to consume as the crystal oxalate seems to have a choking and burning sensation when consumed. 

The poor victim had horrible burning sensation when these were not cooked properly. I can't really tell the details of what went wrong except for the consumer who had end up in the hospital having this for his meal.

What I can say is do take great caution in consuming such plants as these as these can be deadly if mis-identified as edibles.

(Deadly mistake on using Leaf stem accidentally used for cooking)

PICTURES BELOW:

This particular one was found along the roadside, growing by the drain-side - most likely the seeds may have been propagated by bird dropping which may have been introduced in this area. However the plant is very resilient and able to grow well with limited watering and poor soil condition.

The downside is the appearance where almost all the foliage are badly damaged.

I must say that it may appear big and strong looking in the wild abandoned areas, when planted in the garden, it is very well behaved as the leaves looks tender and soft, even the colors are very graceful appearing and soothing.

Another factor is that, it still a sensitive plant and struggled a lot to survive in the shaded area. I had repositioned it in the open area of direct sun and rain and it started to do very well in those conditions.

Also do check out the Rest of the Collection of all 

the Other Types of Colocasia and Taro that I have in Collection:
Different Types of Taro - Names & Images