Avoid growing in rich soil but amend a poor soil area if needed to improve drainage. This plant gets its name from being an actual food source for Elephants in South Africa as it’s stored with fresh tasting mineral water. Dwarf Jade is hardy to droughts and can handle overwatering that is why elephant bush bonsai is popular in the west as it can be grown full year with awesome fleshy and round leaves. Portulacaria care is similar to other succulent plants. Elephant Cactus Care. This plant finds its place in various ways as it can be used in making terrariums, dish gardening, Miniature gardening, Fairy gardens and last but not the least it finds its place in a hanging planter keeping its spectacular spilling capability in mind. Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’, common names: rainbow bush, mini jade, or elephant bush, has cream-colored and green variegated leaves. Elephant bush is a drought-tolerant plant, ideally suited to growing in arid, desert-like environments.. How to Care for Elephant Bush. Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” Portulacaria afra is a perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor succulent garden. The home interior is an excellent place to grow Elephant Bush houseplants. The plant's leaves and stems contain oxalic acid, which can cause serious illness in children or pets. It was very early spring so I didn’t have to worry about this newly planted fleshy succulent burning. It is a nice addition to your outside garden! Like most succulents, elephant bush is easy to reproduce from cuttings. I have had good results mixing this soil with perlite in a 70:30 ratio. Elephant Bushes are incredibly easy to care for and make both excellent houseplants as well as outdoor landscaping plants if the climate permits. Elephant Bush Soil . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Scientific name: Portulacaria afra Synonyms: Spekboom, Bacon Tree, Pork Bush, Elephant’s Food, Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade Plant. This plant finds its place in various ways as it can be used in making terrariums, dish gardening, Miniature gardening, Fairy gardens and last but not the least it finds its place in a hanging planter keeping its spectacular spilling capability in mind. Elephant Bush or Portulacaria afra (pronounced por-tew-luh-KAR-ee-uh AF-ruh) is a bushy succulent shrub belonging to the Didiereaceae family.. The Portulacaria Afra or the Elephant Bush is a perennial succulent shrub native to South Africa. Portulacaria Afra “Elephant Bush” is a ragged succulent bush having a place with the Didiereaceae family. “Elephant Bush” also comes in miniature and variegated forms. Elephant bush has a somewhat sprawling/cascading habit, making it well suited to growing in a hanging basket. The non-variegated form is more heat tolerant. Elephant ear plants are poisonous if ingested in large quantities. Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is a semi-evergreen shrubby flowering succulent native to South Africa.In the wild, elephant bush grows in dry, sunny locations. The elephant bush has succulent brown stems and tender leaves that are very small. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. I suggest that this plant does good at a place that gets morning sun light for about 2-3 hours and the area is well lit and ventilated over the rest of the day. Elephant bush is a drought-tolerant plant, ideally suited to growing in arid, desert-like environments.. Overly bright sunlight can char the leaves and cause them to drop off. In the home interior, it is much more likely to remain just a few feet tall. Elephant Bush Succulent A favorite food of elephants in its native habitat, this plant is identified by its small, glossy leaves and bush like shape. How to Care for Elephant Bush. This is natively to South Africa. 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. Rainbow Bush Care. Portulacaria care is similar to other succulent plants. In general, Portulacaria are easy to care for and look great in arrangements. Luckily, it’s a bonsai plant that has plenty of alternatives (elephant bush, porkbush, dwarf jade plant, and spekboom, in Afrikaans, just to name a few! The treatment that I used as explained in the post took care of them, and since I isolated it across the room, I have not seen any evidence of any infestation on anything else. 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. I get asked more questions about my Portulacaria Afra than any other plant on my balcony. The elephant bush loves sunlight and can be in full sun for several hours at a time. Hold the watering can! Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is a semi-evergreen shrubby flowering succulent native to South Africa.In the wild, elephant bush grows in dry, sunny locations. After a dormant period in winter, the bush produces small pink flowers grouped in clusters at the ends of the branches. Learn how to care for them and keep your plants alive and thriving. Elephant bush succulents work well as part of a succulent display with plants that require similar care and situations. This plant can be trained even by a beginners. Spekboom. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Portulacaria care requires warm temperatures and bright light. Portulacaria Afra plant is among the best elephant bush plants that will be great for home decorations. A eastern window sill or balcony is opt and idle place for this plant, I have seen in many blogs terming this plant to be indoor and can grow in less lighting but as per my knowledge I will surely not suggest that. Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” Portulacaria afra is a perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor succulent garden. After a dormant period in winter, the bush produces small pink flowers grouped in clusters at the branches' ends. They serve as food for elephants and other wildlife in their native habitat and can grow up to 20 feet tall. Care for an Elephant Bush After Repotting. Alocasia Plants stand out in any indoor environment. But I am happy to say that, weeks later, I feel that it has recovered very well. The Portulacaria Afra or the Elephant Bush is a perennial succulent shrub native to South Africa. ( Log Out / Visit my resource page for suggestions on where to find a Portulacaria Afra plant and other succulents online. Elephant Bush Care. 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. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. When grown in the ground it can slowly attain a height of several feet, and its evergreen nature makes it useful as a screen or hedge. Care for an Elephant Bush After Repotting. Given the proper nourishment and care this is a show stunner. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. These succulents need well drained soil and an unglazed pot that will help excess moisture evaporate. Make sure the pot drains well and don’t leave a saucer with water sitting under the container. Growing elephant ears is actually pretty easy, even in winter. this plant grows fast and is a bushing type succulent with woody stems. ( Log Out / To support its size it needs space to accommodate the root system. For proper Elephant Bush care, ensure it is planted in a well-draining soil. The spot should offer shelter from the wind, which could rip the plant's enormous leaves in a strong gust. it’s discovered developing in dry, rough inclines. this plant grows fast and is a bushing type succulent with woody stems. Elephant bush succulents work well as part of a succulent display with plants that require similar care and situations. Place the cutting in a moderately lit area where temperatures are at least 65 F (18 C). 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, Bishop’s Cap Cactus Info – Learn About Growing A Bishop’s Cap Cactus, Silver Torch Cactus Facts – Learn About Silver Torch Cactus Plants, Are Succulents And Cacti The Same: Learn About Cactus And Succulent Differences. Elephant Bush may get 6 to 20 feet (15 to 50 cm) tall in the habitat where it is a favorite food of elephants. Hold the watering can! From the outset sight, numerous frequently think ‘afra’ is a smaller than expected Crassula ovata in light of their comparative appearance. If planted outdoors in warm climates, dig in 3 inches of … Change ). This is a succulent and the watering care for this plant is just like other succulents and does not tolerate excess watering and is more susceptible to root rot when over watered, which is one of the major problem with the Elephant bush plant. ). Other elephant cactus care includes providing a full sun environment. The elephant bush is a succulent with a woody stem and small, round leaves. A Guide Explaining How to Plant Jade Bonsai Tree from Cuttings : Create, Care & Grow Elephant Bush Bonsai Plant Guide - Portulacaria Afra. Take cuttings in spring or summer for best results. Elephant Bush Care. Elephant Bush or Portulacaria afra (pronounced por-tew-luh-KAR-ee-uh AF-ruh) is a bushy succulent shrub belonging to the Didiereaceae family.. In the wild, it can grow to sizes of 6-20 feet tall, though it also thrives as a house plant. Elephant Bush Care – Detailed Guide. If planted outdoors in warm climates, dig in 3 inches of sand or gritty material to provide well drained soil. Portulacaria care requires warm temperatures and bright light. This page contains affiliate links. Elephant Bush Care – Detailed Guide. 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. The elephant bush is a bush-like succulent plant that grows in a variety of sizes depending on its environment. However, cooking renders the toxins harmless and many cultures have safely eaten them for years (specifically taro root, or Colocasia esculenta ). 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. Elephant’s Foot plants are slow-growing succulents that can live for decades if provided with ideal growing conditions and can be passed down between generations. This succulent does well in dry environments and is more resistant than most plants. Ensure that the container you choose has wide drainage holes. They have reddish-brown stems with glossy green leaves. Another weird and unique fact about Elephant’s Foot plant is that it is dioecious, meaning that the male and female flowers appear on different plants. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. They’ve been made a very popular house plant due to their unusual, large, heart-shaped leaves and on occasion, they're even known to bloom, however, this is more common when grown as outdoor plants in warmer regions. In its native habitat in the eastern part of South Africa and the Limpopo Province from the Eastern Cape northward it’s found growing in dry, rocky slopes. This means it favors warm weather and plenty of light. You can control the size even further by growing rainbow elephant bush in a small container. Use these helpful tips to ensure your elephant bush … Portulacaria afra is an easy going succulent that has an attractive growth habit, with small green succulent leaves on a red coloured stem. Growing Portulacaria afra in your home interior will be appealing since it will give your compound that green scenic beauty. 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