elephant tree succulent

How do you care for an elephant succulent plant?

Elephant Bush Care

Hold the watering can! Like most succulents, elephant bush thrives on neglect. Just plant it in full sun in sandy soil so it dries quickly and the roots don't rot. If you are growing it in a pot, be sure the container has a drainage hole at the bottom so the water drains out.

How often do you water an elephant succulent?

In the summer months, I water my Elephant Bush as often as every 7-10 days, sometimes more during a heatwave, giving the plant a good drink. I cut back on watering to about 10-14 days when the weather cools down. If you live in a humid location, you won't need to water as much.

How do you care for a Spekboom plant?

Water: Through Spring and Summer, this succulent plant likes to be watered well using water at room temperature, then allowed to almost dry out before its next drink. Over winter, if temperatures are cool enough, the bacon tree will have a rest period which will be signalled by slower growth.

Can a Spekboom grow indoors?

As an indoor plant, its fleshy green leaves, red stems and tendency to form a sculptural bush, make Spekboom a visual delight. Its drought-tolerant properties make this succulent a hardy home cohabitant. Place in bright light to direct sunlight and water once every two weeks.

Does elephant Bush need direct sunlight?

Growing Elephant Bush Houseplants

These succulents need well drained soil and an unglazed pot that will help excess moisture evaporate. ... Choose a location with indirect sunlight when growing elephant bush indoors. Overly bright sunlight can char the leaves and cause them to drop off.

Why are the leaves falling off my elephant Bush?

Overwatering is the primary cause of failure in Elephant Bush because it invites fungal rot disease. The leaves of the overwatered plant become swollen and discolored. ... Not enough water causes the leaves to dry up and sometimes drop off. This succulent should be watered more often in summer and less in the winter.

How much sun does an elephant Bush need?

It does well in full to partial sun. Plant in an area of your garden that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day. If planting indoors, place it in a sunny window. This succulent tends to stretch easily if not given enough sunlight, however the stretching isn't as noticeable as other succulents.

Does elephant bush bloom?

Elephant bush generally only flowers when grown in the ground in mild climates (L), with very tiny pink flowers (R) on the ends of the succulent stems (LC and RC).

How do I thicken my jade trunk?

You can help the Jade plant to grow a thicker trunk by pruning back the plant. You may leave a few leaves on it, but prune back the plant as much as you can. To the first pair of leaves on each branch for example. This way you can keep it shorter and it will focus more on making its trunk thicker.

Will Spekboom grow in shade?

The spekboom is an attractive evergreen succulent with its small round emerald-green leaves, borne on startling-red stems. ... It is an easy to grow succulent that is heat, drought and fire resistant, and can be grown in full sun or semi-shade.

Is Spekboom the same as jade plant?

Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush and spekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa. These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen in cultivation.

Does a Spekboom flower?

Spekboom also responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy hedge. In late winter and spring, this plant flowers bloom in beautiful pink. The flowers are rich in nectar, bringing beautiful birds to your garden.

Is through a window direct sunlight?

If the sun's rays directly hit the plant – such as through a south-facing window – this is considered direct sunlight. If the sun is bright but the rays don't directly hit the plant, this is considered indirect light. ... Let's take a deeper look at how light works when it's filtered through windows.

Why is the Spekboom referred to as the miracle plant?

“Planted in the correct area, spekboom is indeed a miracle plant. It can root from cuttings even in degraded soils which reach 70°C in summer and which receive no rain for several months on end. These rooted cuttings can then grow into mature plants over 10 to 20 years, allowing the spekboom thicket to regenerate.”

Can you grow Spekboom from cuttings?

Spekboom is easily propagated, which is great news for budget gardeners. Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Give it a little water every few days and you'll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own.

Is Elephant Bush toxic to cats?

The Elephant Bush/Plant (Portulacaria afra) is a nontoxic pet safe houseplant you can have around your cats and dogs without worry.

When should I repot my elephant Bush?

Best Time for Repotting Portulacaria Afra. Spring through summer. I like to wait until the temperatures have warmed & the days have gotten a bit longer. In more temperate climates, you can repot from late winter through early fall.

What is indirect sunlight?

Indirect light is sunlight that either passes through a medium—a window shade or the leaves of a tree—or reflects off another surface before reaching a plant. ... Indirect sunlight ranges from the bright indirect light of east-facing windows to the fainter, indirect light of north-facing windows.

Can elephant bush grow in shade?

Elephant bush portulacaria afra requires plenty of bright light and a warm environment to grow and thrive. Plant in full sun or partial shade. However, if plants are moved from indoors to direct sunlight the leaves will burn and shed. This is why filtered or partially shaded bright light is ideal.

What is the best soil for succulents?

Succulents grow best in a porous sandy potting soil, so amending your potting soil with sand is super important. You could use any type of sand, but to ensure fast drainage for succulents, I recommend buying a coarse sand rather than the really fine stuff.

How do I know when to water my succulents?

Succulents should be watered only when the soil has dried out completely. There is no universal watering schedule that works for every succulent in every climate. Many indoor succulent growers find that watering 14-21 days is a good frequency to keep their succulents alive.