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. This is important to prevent the stem from rotting when you plant it. It is exactly what it sounds like. Elephant Bush Propagation. The leaves of the Elephant Bush are glossy green and its stems are reddish-brown. Portulacaria Afra “elephant bush/porkbush” Propagation. In nature, the species grows to 13 feet in height, but it is generally much smaller under cultivation. I love spending my free time in my garden planting and taking care of my plants. When growing Elephant Bushes indoors, they prefer bright light. The Elephant foot plant (Beaucarnea recurvata, also know as ponytail plant) can be started from an offshoot of the plant. The elephant bust itself can stand hot weather and humid climate, but it’s flowers cannot. Set the stem aside for a few days in the shade until the cut is covered with callous. Propagate Elephant Bush easily using stem cuttings. They are just durable in USDA plant strength zones 10 and 11. Don’t add extra fertilizer to the soil right after repotting. Fertilize in late winter to early spring with an indoor plant fertilizer diluted by half. The little petals might even remind you of elephant ears. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! This succulent can grow from 6 to 15 feet (2 to 4.5m) tall in its native Southern Africa where elephants and humans alike enjoy eating its tender leaves. 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. The elephant bush does best when it lives in hot weather, just like in its home on the African plains. If you grow it the right way, the leaves of the elephant plant can be a tasty ingredient. Rocky soil always works as well. The bush can stand a few cold spells but not prolonged periods of cold. It is best placed next to a bookshelf or tall mantle so that the foliage can climb up up up! The elephant bush is a mighty plant, just like the animal it was named after. South Africa is where the elephant bush comes from. 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. Pick a healthy stem and cut it using sterile scissors. However, when these elephant bush acquire the appropriate sustaining conditions, they will establish flowers in clusters and in shades of white, pink or purple. Portulacaria afra Plant, From Amazon. Take a pair of sharp garden shears and obtain a cutting that is about 3 to 4 inches long and has plenty of leaves. The width it can cover is over two feet in diameter, depending on the size of the leaves. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Give it a few weeks before you change the composition of the soil. All About Growing Portulacaria afra. The most common mistake made in succulent plants is watering. The elephant bush needs periods of drought to offset any water that is absorbed. I found a couple of rooted leaves when repotting a Variegated Elephant Bush plant. This plant should not be outside if it drops lower than 30F. This succulent is a popular treat among elephants. 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. Elephant bush succulents in the home interior should not have consistently wet feet. Elephant bush leaves falling off could similarly have a faded and flat look. Flaming Katy (Kalanchoe Blossfeldiana) Care & Growing Guide, Peace Lily Plant (Spathiphyllum) Care & Growing Guide, African Bush Daisy (Euryops Chrysanthemoides) Care &…. Sign up for our newsletter. 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. If you try to plant this bush in water, you will never see it again because it will wither and die at the bottom of the water. When you have the pot you want to transfer it too, make sure it can drain at the bottom. The easiest and fastest elephant bush propagation method is by stem cuttings. Alocasia. Portulacaria Afra “mini jade succulent” is one of the easiest plants to propagate from stem cutting. In the home interior, it is much more likely to remain just a few feet tall. Remove a stem from the plant using a sterile razor knife or sharp pair of scissors. Elephant rose bush houseplants (Portulacaria Afra) thrive in intense light in a warm, draft totally free space. Drill extra holes if you need to. Cut off a healthy section of stem that has lush foliage. Because of its long stem, this plant is a great plant to propagate. Sometimes, the flower can come in an arrangement of white, purple, and pink. To grow your own Elephant Bush, propagation can give excellent results. Elephant bush plant may get 6- to 20-feet (2-6 m.) tall in habitat where it is a favorite food of elephants. The soil should be moist. Thankfully, this isn’t a terminal problem; the leaves are going to recover very quickly once you fix the watering schedule. They are drought tolerant but do require watering from April to October. 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. Illumination and Temperature. And for the inside potted plants, basic potting soil or cactus soil would suffice as the soil mix. Wrinkled Elephant bush leaves are most likely due to improper watering (either too much or too little) or excess sunlight. 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. Elephant bush houseplants (Portulacaria afra) thrive in bright light in a warm, draft free room. 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. Portulacaria care is similar to other succulent plants. At the point when contacted, the leaves will probably feel level and drained as it keeps on losing its own water supply. Portulacaria care requires warm temperatures and bright light. Fertilizer. Ensure that the container you choose has wide drainage holes. To water the elephant bush correctly, you must use the soak and dry method. Plant the stem into the … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Allow the stem to dry for a few days so that the “wound” can heal. More importantly, if you are going to propagate the plants, you need to make sure that you add fertilizer. Soak the bush in a lot of water, and then let it dry out over several weeks. Take cuttings in spring or summer for best results. The smooth, brownish-gray trunk is very thick and heavily branched with a profusion of bright green succulent leaves. Take the leaves off the bottom so you have a clean inch of stem to plant in the soil. First, repot the bush into brand new soil and remove any diseases root that you can see. Variegata – This is a more compact variety that stands upright. I hope you enjoy the content here! If you love tropical plants, we have the perfect one for you. What you need is a true sucker from the plant. Elephant bush can be propagated via stem cuttings. The Elephant Bush is a versatile plant that thrives in many different climates, so growing and propagating it is quite easy. 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