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. The Elephant Bush is a versatile plant that thrives in many different climates, so growing and propagating it is quite easy. 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. We are a free resource for well-researched and unbiased plant information and product reviews. It is best placed next to a bookshelf or tall mantle so that the foliage can climb up up up! I love spending my free time in my garden planting and taking care of my plants. Leave the stem out for several days, so the end can callous. The bush has thick succulent brown stems with small tender green leaves that resemble a diminutive jade plant. How to propagate the Elephant bush Because of its long stem, this plant is a great plant to propagate. Although a popular name for this succulent is “Miniature Jade,” it is not related to Crassula ovata. The drought and soak method is the best way to make sure you’re not overwatering your plant. Elephant rose bush houseplants (Portulacaria Afra) thrive in intense light in a warm, draft totally free space. Clusters of small, lavender-pink blooms may appear at branch tips. Overly bright sunlight can char the leaves and cause them to drop off. The more practical method of propagating this caudiciform is to break off a piece of its winding, tuberous root. The elephant bush does best when it lives in hot weather, just like in its home on the African plains. 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. The plant starts as a tiny bush and can reach 8-15 feet (2.5-4.5 meters). Can you tell me the size of the spread? The soil should be moist. Slowly increase the time you leave the bush out in the sun over a couple of weeks. 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. A south-facing window is an ideal location to provide your plant with adequate light. Portulacaria care requires warm temperatures and bright light. Plant the stem into the … Propagation: Elephant Bush can easily be propagated from cuttings. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! If you love tropical plants, we have the perfect one for you. Hobby Plants is a blog created for all flower and garden lovers. Rocky soil always works as well. All you need to do is plant a cutting that has been dried out and calloused. The stems are bright red. South Africa is where the elephant bush comes from. For starters, leaves can indicate whether the plant is getting too much water or if it’s getting too little water. And for the inside potted plants, basic potting soil or cactus soil would suffice as the soil mix. The most common mistake made in succulent plants is watering. Propagation of Elephant Bush Succulents Like most succulents, elephant bush is easy to reproduce from cuttings. Take the leaves off the bottom so you have a clean inch of stem to plant in the soil. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Fertilize in late winter to early spring with an indoor plant fertilizer diluted by half. It is rare for Elephant Portulacaria to bloom in cultivation. The elephant bust itself can stand hot weather and humid climate, but it’s flowers cannot. Propagate Elephant Bush easily using stem cuttings. To water the elephant bush correctly, you must use the soak and dry method. Elephant Tree can be grown from cuttings or seeds. They mostly grow along the brown stem of the plant. During the winter, you may only have to water the bush once a month. Choose a stem with many leaves and trim it away from the main plant with a sterilized cutting utensil. After a dormant period in winter, the bush produces small pink flowers grouped in clusters at the ends of the branches. The leaves are used as homeopathic medicine, as it is thought to cure aches and pains. Elephant bush leaves falling off could similarly have a faded and flat look. The elephant bush is a mighty plant, just like the animal it was named after. They are drought tolerant but do require watering from April to October. Plus, it grows the taro root, which is actually one of the top staple foods around the world! 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, or elephant bush, is a small succulent shrub native to Eastern South Africa. This is important to prevent the stem from rotting when you plant it. Elephant bush plant may get 6- to 20-feet (2-6 m.) tall in habitat where it is a favorite food of elephants. Illumination and Temperature. Home; Plants Guide; Problems & Solutions; Categories. 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. Sign up for our newsletter. It is used in soups and as topping in salads. But the elephant bush’s leaves can get a sunburn if the sun is too intense, like during the height of summer. Set the stem aside for a few days in the shade until the cut is covered with callous. 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. Planted in the ground and allowed to grow to its full height, Portulacaria will tower up to 15 feet high. Alocasia. How to Propagate a Portulacaria Afra Plant: Obtain a few stem cuttings or leaf cuttings and let them dry for a day or so. 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. This plant should not be outside if it drops lower than 30F. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Portulacaria afra Plant, From Amazon. Elephant Bush Propagation. The width it can cover is over two feet in diameter, depending on the size of the leaves. It is not meant to have amounts of water around its roots, as well as its stem and leaves. 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. 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. I want to put it on my patio and am trying to decide how big it will become…. Care and Propagation Information Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” Portulacaria afra is a perfect addition to your indoor or outdoor succulent garden. In nature, the species grows to 13 feet in height, but it is generally much smaller under cultivation. The following are the related genera in the Araceae family. Drill extra holes if you need to. The bush can stand a few cold spells but not prolonged periods of cold. https://worldofsucculents.com/how-to-propagate-a-elephant-bush 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. Portulacaria Afra “elephant bush/porkbush” Propagation. The elephant bush loves sunlight and can be in full sun for several hours at a time. 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