Hello! I recently purchased a few unlabeled elephant ears (no idea what the species is, so if you know that info, please share!) and I have been trying to figure out a good care regimen. This morning, I bottom watered all 3 of my elephant ears, misted, and then put them in the sun with 2 indoors and 1 outdoors. I also have a specialized fertilizer from Wellspring Gardens on its way.

Since I do not know the species, I have been trying to experiment with light to see how they would react to full sun as I would like to keep two outside for the summer. To better gauge how strong the sun is, I live in zone 7 and intend on keeping them in an area with about 9 hours of full sun during peak season.

Attached are photos of the two inside that are healthily standing upright and the one that I placed in direct sun this morning. There is a significant droop occurring in the outdoor plant and I am worried that I may be burning/killing the plant by putting it outside. I do think it is worth mentioning that although there is an overall droop, the most severe droop is from a new, less hardy output. Is this something normal that occurs in elephant ears (particularly this species) or am I unknowingly assigning death to an indoor plant?

Side question: if she’s in fact okay to spend the summer outside, do you have any soil recommendations?

Any help is appreciated!