Elephant bush, Portulacaria afra, is a perennial succulent shrub from South Africa that is a popular succulent garden plant around the world.It is easily grown as a seasonal accent plant or low maintenance houseplant in our part of the world. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Tall and robust, this plant is an excellent addition to your houseplants. These succulents need well drained soil and an unglazed pot that will help excess moisture evaporate. A few rules on how to care for elephant bush will help you grow a specimen of interest that may be a stand-alone plant or part of an intricate succulent garden. Otherwise known as Portulacaria afra, the elephant bush has thick purple stems with dainty lobe like leaves. In the home interior, it is much more likely to remain just a few feet tall. Sign up for our newsletter. As the plant matures, its soft-wooded stems get thicker. Let the cutting dry out and callous for a couple of days and then plant the cutting in damp gritty soil in a small pot. The plant is a succulent with fleshy, glossy fallen leaves that grows like a tiny shrub. Home » Plants » Elephant Bush (Portulacaria Afra) Care & Growing Guide. The leaves are used as homeopathic medicine, as it is thought to cure aches and pains. It is rare for Elephant Portulacaria to bloom in cultivation. If you shake the plants, all of the whiteflies that have wings will fly into the air. The drought and soak method is the best way to make sure you’re not overwatering your plant. The little petals might even remind you of elephant ears. Planted in the ground and allowed to grow to its full height, Portulacaria will tower up to 15 feet high. Sometimes, the flower can come in an arrangement of white, purple, and pink. It is best placed next to a bookshelf or tall mantle so that the foliage can climb up up up! Don’t add extra fertilizer to the soil right after repotting. Let the cutting dry out and callous for a couple of days and then plant the cutting in damp gritty soil in a small pot. The plant is a succulent with fleshy, glossy leaves that grows as a small bush. Fertilize in late winter to early spring with an indoor plant fertilizer diluted by half. Drill extra holes if you need to. When you have the pot you want to transfer it too, make sure it can drain at the bottom. Variegata – This is a more compact variety that stands upright. The smooth, brownish-gray trunk is very thick and heavily branched with a profusion of bright green succulent leaves. Taro is an ancient plant. All About Growing Portulacaria afra. Elephant Tree can be grown from cuttings or seeds. Portulacaria (Port-yoo-luh-CARE-ee-ah) is a small genus of upright, semi-woody succulents indigenous to South Africa.The stems are thick, succulent and brown to burgundy, with small, round jade green leaves. The elephant bush needs periods of drought to offset any water that is absorbed. Remove a stem from the plant using a sterile razor knife or sharp pair of scissors. However, a leaf by itself will not form roots. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Herbs That Root In Water – How To Grow Herb Plants In Water, Repotting Stress: What To Do For Repot Stress Of Container Plants, Invasive Tree Root List: Trees That Have Invasive Root Systems, Plants Lost To Deer: Living With Deer Damage, Epic Garden Failure – Watering Plants And Killing Plants, Cactus Houseplants: My Journey Learning To Grow Cacti. Clusters of small, lavender-pink blooms may appear at branch tips. Although a popular name for this succulent is “Miniature Jade,” it is not related to Crassula ovata. This is important to prevent the stem from rotting when you plant it. Gardening in general ; Repellent Plants; Plant Science; Animals; Contact; Home; Plants Guide; Problems & Solutions; Categories. Alocasia. Keep the soil lightly moist and in a few weeks the cutting will root and you will have a new elephant bush succulent to share with a friend or add to your collection. They mostly grow along the brown stem of the plant. The soil should be moist. I want to put it on my patio and am trying to decide how big it will become…. Elephant bush houseplants (Portulacaria afra) thrive in bright light in a warm, draft free room. Can you tell me the size of the spread? In about three weeks, you will start to see tiny leaves forming off the tip. If the place you live in is cold, then your elephant bush should stay inside the house with you. It is exactly what it sounds like. Make sure the pot drains well and don’t leave a saucer with water sitting under the container. The elephant bush does best in warm temperatures. A herbaceous perennial named for its enormous, heart-shaped leaves, elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta) is a statement ornamental plant in water gardens and indoor poolside features. Home; Plants Guide; Problems & Solutions; Categories. But if the plant is not used to a lot of sunlight, you may have to slowly help the plant get used to full direct sunlight. These large succulents can reach heights of over 12 feet, even if it is an indoor plant. Overly bright sunlight can char the leaves and cause them to drop off. Propagation of Elephant Bush Succulents Like most succulents, elephant bush is easy to reproduce from cuttings. In winter the plants are dormant and you may suspend watering. Then water lightly and monitor the plant to make sure it is accepting its new home. If the elephant plant you have is too big for its current container, then you need to relocate the plant into a larger container, so it has room to grow. No, you cannot grow an elephant bush in water. It can kill the plant quickly, so you must take action. Hi, my name is Victoria and I´m the owner and main author of hobby plants. The elephant bust itself can stand hot weather and humid climate, but it’s flowers cannot. Elephant Bush Propagation. First, repot the bush into brand new soil and remove any diseases root that you can see. I find leaf propagation a bit trickier and takes a lot longer. It is not meant to have amounts of water around its roots, as well as its stem and leaves. The Elephant Bush is a versatile plant that thrives in many different climates, so growing and propagating it is quite easy. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. South Africa is where the elephant bush comes from. Some growers prefer this look, but if you don’t, you simply need to reduce the amount of light your Elephant Bush receives each day. Propagating Jade Plants - How To Root Jade Plant Cuttings, Rainbow Bush Info: How To Grow A Variegated Elephant Bush, Black Spots On Jade Plant: Reasons A Jade Plant Has Black Spots, Can You Grow Store Bought Potatoes - Will Store Bought Potatoes Grow, Bishop’s Cap Cactus Info – Learn About Growing A Bishop’s Cap Cactus, Silver Torch Cactus Facts – Learn About Silver Torch Cactus Plants. The plant starts as a tiny bush and can reach 8-15 feet (2.5-4.5 meters). The flowers look like beautiful pink clusters of petals that grow around the elephant bush. The elephant bush loves sunlight and can be in full sun for several hours at a time. In nature, the species grows to 13 feet in height, but it is generally much smaller under cultivation. Because of its long stem, this plant is a great plant to propagate. The leaves of the Elephant Bush are glossy green and its stems are reddish-brown. When growing Elephant Bushes indoors, they prefer bright light. Hobby Plants is a blog created for all flower and garden lovers. Leaf drop occurs when the leaves of the elephant bush fall off of the stem suddenly. Rocky soil always works as well. It is also known as Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade, Mini Jade, Elephant food, Chinese Jade Plant, Pork Bush, Rainbow Bush, Rainboe Elephant Bush, Spekboom (Afrikaans for bacon tree), miniature jade or small leaf jade (but not related to Crassula ovata … Combine some of the old soil in the old pot with new soil, so you don’t give you plant shock when you transfer it into the new soil. More importantly, if you are going to propagate the plants, you need to make sure that you add fertilizer. We are a free resource for well-researched and unbiased plant information and product reviews. The stems are bright red. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Also known as variegated elephant bush or rainbow portulacaria plant, rainbow elephant bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’) is a shrubby succulent with mahogany stems and fleshy, green and creamy white foliage. Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana) Care & Growing Guide, Peace Lily Plant (Spathiphyllum) Care & Growing Guide, African Bush Daisy (Euryops Chrysanthemoides) Care &…. Portulacaria care requires warm temperatures and bright light. If you have not watered your plant in a while and the soil is dry to touch, under watering is the most likely cause and the plant should be given a good soak. Proagating elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) takes very little effort but will yield a big reward. If you want to save some healthy leaves to propagate, it can be done but you need to be patient as it takes a long time. And for the inside potted plants, basic potting soil or cactus soil would suffice as the soil mix. To keep these little pests off of your plant, spray a mixture of neem oil and water onto the entire plant, stem, soil, and the tops and bottoms of the leaves. Ensure that the container you choose has wide drainage holes. The more practical method of propagating this caudiciform is to break off a piece of its winding, tuberous root. I hope you enjoy the content here! How to propagate the Elephant bush Because of its long stem, this plant is a great plant to propagate. Alocasia. The elephant bush is a mighty plant, just like the animal it was named after. Yes, but it is not my preferred method of propagation because it takes too long and I tend to lose the leaves before it propagates successfully. Plant the stem into the … Do this in the fall, then plant the tubers in containers or store them for the winter and plant them outdoors in the spring. Here’s some of my Elephant Bush grown from stem cuttings. Allow the stem to dry for a few days so that the “wound” can heal. During the spring, its flowers only grow if the environment is mild and the heat isn’t strong. Portulacaria care is similar to other succulent plants. As long as you practice the drought and soak methods and keep it in front of full indirect sunlight, your elephant plant will grow big and strong. Take a pair of sharp garden shears and obtain a cutting that is about 3 to 4 inches long and has plenty of leaves. Fertilizer. The bush can stand a few cold spells but not prolonged periods of cold. Elephant ears are lush jungle plants with large green leaves shaped like hearts. Plant the stem into the soil and water it thoroughly, but don’t soak it. These plants are used to experiencing drought and sudden heavy rains, so you don’t have to place them on a watering schedule. If planted outdoors in warm climates, dig in 3 inches of sand or gritty material to provide well drained soil. The bush has thick succulent brown stems with small tender green leaves that resemble a diminutive jade plant. While elephant ears can’t be propagated from cuttings like many plants, you can divide the tubers of a healthy parent plant. First, choose a health branch with a lot of leaves on it, and cut the stem all the way to the base where the stem meets the main stem. Colocasias are also called "elephant ears" for their huge leaves, or "cabbage" and "taro". Thankfully, this isn’t a terminal problem; the leaves are going to recover very quickly once you fix the watering schedule. The width it can cover is over two feet in diameter, depending on the size of the leaves. Choose a stem with many leaves and trim it away from the main plant with a sterilized cutting utensil. Trim out interlocking or twiggy branches to keep the plant neat. PROPAGATION. A cultivar with solid-colored leaves is also available and known simply as This plant should not be outside if it drops lower than 30F. If you are planting the elephant bush outside, then the soil you’re going to place the plant in needs to be sandy and well-draining. If you love tropical plants, we have the perfect one for you. Propagation. The best mixture for this type of plant is cactus soil or potting soil cut by half with sand, vermiculite or pumice. Starting out in the spring or early summer will ensure excellent results. After that, do not water for over a week to give the roots time to dry up. Set the stem aside for a few days in the shade until the cut is covered with callous. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Portulacaria Afra “mini jade succulent” is one of the easiest plants to propagate from stem cutting. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! But the elephant bush’s leaves can get a sunburn if the sun is too intense, like during the height of summer. Low Form or Prostrata – these are low-growing elephant bushes that work well when you need some ground cover. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria Afra) Care & Growing Guide. They are just durable in USDA plant strength zones 10 and 11. For starters, leaves can indicate whether the plant is getting too much water or if it’s getting too little water. Elephant bush succulents in the home interior should not have consistently wet feet. Place the cutting in a moderately lit area where temperatures are at least 65 F (18 C). source. Take cuttings in spring or summer for best results. Portulacaria Afra Pronounced por-tew-luh-KAR-ee-uh AF-ruh is a bushy succulent shrub belonging to the Didiereaceae family. Elephant Bush or Elephant Food (also known as Portulacaria afra) is one of the world’s most popular succulent garden shrub or bonsai subject.This cutie is a perfect addition to both your indoor and outdoor succulent garden. How to get Elephant bush plants to flower? Propagate Elephant Bush easily using stem cuttings. The home interior is an excellent place to grow elephant bush houseplants. The elephant bush succulent is characterized by a brownish-red stem sprouting with tiny, glossy green leaves. At the point when contacted, the leaves will probably feel level and drained as it keeps on losing its own water supply. However, when these elephant bush acquire the appropriate sustaining conditions, they will establish flowers in clusters and in shades of white, pink or purple. No, it is not poisonous. Medio-picta – this is a variegated elephant bush. Choose a location with indirect sunlight when growing elephant bush indoors. With enough sunlight, the leaves of the Elephant Bush can develop red or yellow tinted leaf tips. A south-facing window is an ideal location to provide your plant with adequate light. To water the elephant bush correctly, you must use the soak and dry method. Elephant bush is an easy succulent to propagate. To grow your own Elephant Bush, propagation can give excellent results. Whiteflies are a significant pest to fight when you have an elephant bush that is infested with them. Watch for pests like whitefly, spider mites and mealybugs. Slowly increase the time you leave the bush out in the sun over a couple of weeks. Elephant bush leaves falling off could similarly have a faded and flat look. The taro plant, one of the many types of elephant ear plants, features gigantic leaves with a variety of unique colorings. Also being known as Miniature Jade or Dwarf Jade, it has nothing to do with Crassula ovata.The leaves are rounded, fleshy and small, growing on a red stem. They are drought tolerant but do require watering from April to October. These will have a thicker base attached to the trunk of the plant. Plus, it grows the taro root, which is actually one of the top staple foods around the world! Pick a healthy stem and cut it using sterile scissors. Take cuttings in spring or summer for best results. During the winter, you may only have to water the bush once a month. There are more than 3,000 species out there! I found a couple of rooted leaves when repotting a Variegated Elephant Bush plant. Elephant Ear Plant Propagation in Water Some species, such as the Colocasia esculenta, or taro, can be potted in shallow water. To grow a new plant out of the mature elephant bush, you can use stem cuttings for easy propagation. All you need to do is plant a cutting that has been dried out and calloused. Propagation: By seed, division, or runners: Pests: Spider mites, thrips: If you’re a bit boggled by all the different names you see associated with the elephant ear plant, don’t be discouraged. This succulent is a popular treat among elephants. Elephants eat it, but you need not fear for your Portulacaria unless you have a pet pachyderm. The easiest and fastest elephant bush propagation method is by stem cuttings. 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T leave a saucer with water sitting under the container you choose has wide drainage holes very effort... Site we will assume that you are going to recover very quickly once you fix the schedule... That require similar care and propagation information Portulacaria afra “ mini jade succulent ” is one of stem. Healthy stem and leaves trim out interlocking or twiggy branches to keep the plant as! Several days, place it in a potting mix of well-drained cactus soil all flower garden! Should stay inside the house with you of rooted leaves when repotting a Variegated elephant bush from.
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