Sondra,
The big Ears are heavy feeders and will decline gradually if not provided with ample nutrients. Unless your soil is very rich, the plant will exhaust the available nutrients to the point where it cannot sustain that big growth you saw at the beginning. The way to rejuvenate them is to replant in new soil rich in composted matter, such as composted cow manure, and supplement with feeds of Miracle Gro solution at a rate of 1 tsp per 4 gallons water. You can use that mix several times per week. The old trunk must be completely buried except for the growing point. You can also bury the trunk longwise and slanted slightly upward in the direction of the growing point. The trunk should have at least 6 inches of soil on top of it for best results.
Hope this helps,
LariAnn
