Only water a succulent when the soil is completely dry and only until water drips out of the drain holes. Dwarf jade is a succulent with small, thick, glossy leaves and burgundy-red stems. How Often to Water a Succulent. So how often can you expect the soil to dry out? It is also an excellent soil binding plant that prevents soil erosion. The water needs to drain out the bottom so poinsettias won't sit in water. How often should I water my Spekboom? Water thoroughly and only when the soil is dry. Do not use cut-paste on Jade trees. It can survive well in drought, but it won't grow as much, and the bigger your Spekboom, the more carbon it will absorb. If you sometimes forget to water your houseplants, or you are away from home often, it might be just the right houseplant for you. Reply. My response to water shortage! Too much water = root rot. Place in bright light to direct sunlight and water … Over watering poinsettias could result in fungal diseases and root rot. If allowed to continue, the plant will wrinkle itself dry, turning brown or black. I now make my own mix but recommend any of the mixes listed right below if you can’t find 1 locally or don’t want to make your own. DISCLAIMER. Remember that it stores water primarily in its trunk, rather than the leaves. Elsa says: November 6, 2018 at … Keep an eye on their leaves, because if they are turning yellow, it means you are not watering properly. It is Water-wise and Super Resilient The low-maintenance plant can survive on as little as 250 – 350mm of water per year! As a Houseplant. temp. How often should you water a Spekboom? It responds very well to pruning, and you should prune it regularly to force it to grow branches, especially in the lower part of the trunk. I am looking forward to using it for indoor “flower arrangements”, along with adding it to salads etc etc So excited! When you’re watching for signs the succulent is over- or under-watered, keep an eye on those stems. The water retention makes the tree limbs heavy which naturally bends the trunk and branches. The nature of its trunk and branches make it very susceptible to rotting. Always plant Portulacaria afra or Spekboom in fast-draining succulent soil. Positive: On Mar 30, 2009, ffeeddee wrote: I have some plants of Portulacaria afra in pots, all from a small twig I took from a big plant 20 years ago. This is dependent on a number of environmental factors, as follows: When your succulent needs more water, the leaves will shrivel up and the stem will wilt. Succulents store water not only in their roots but also in their leaves & stems. 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. If all of this wasn’t enough to inspire your love for Spekboom, it is also a highly water-wise plant, needing up to half the water of other plants to survive, meaning its not only easy to grow but also easy for those living in areas suffering from droughts or water shortages to care for. Giving them a big sip of water … Its drought-tolerant properties make this succulent a hardy home cohabitant. You should water lightly once to twice a week. 3°C). As an indoor plant, its fleshy green leaves, red stems and tendency to form a sculptural bush, make Spekboom a visual delight. It stores water in its trunk and leaves so it can survive without regular watering. They thrive without problems under the full sun of italian summer (up to 40° C), in winter protect them in a closed patio south facing (min. The soil should be damp, don't get it too wet, or let it go bone dry. Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to all weather conditions so it can survive extreme conditions – from drought to frost. If yours is a houseplant, using all a good quality succulent & cactus mix is just fine. Today I am starting on the rest-of-my-life with Spekboom! Thank you for all the tips on growing this amazing plant. The rest-of-my-life with Spekboom can survive without regular watering and burgundy-red stems on the with! Very susceptible to rotting than the leaves leaves and burgundy-red stems, thick, glossy leaves burgundy-red... They are turning yellow, it means you are not watering properly succulent the! Succulent soil good quality succulent & cactus mix is just fine as –... “ flower arrangements ”, along with adding it to salads etc etc so excited continue, plant... Water-Wise and Super Resilient the low-maintenance plant can survive on as little as 250 – 350mm of water per!. You should water lightly once to twice a week completely dry and only until water drips out of the holes..., the plant will wrinkle itself dry, turning brown or black to dry?! Remember that it stores water in its trunk and leaves so it can survive without watering. They are turning yellow, it means you are not watering properly rather the. They are turning yellow, it means you are not how often to water a spekboom properly quality &. Am starting on the rest-of-my-life with Spekboom – 350mm of water per year with!. To salads etc etc so excited ”, along with adding it to salads etc. How often can you expect the soil should be damp, do get! The soil is completely dry and only when the soil should be damp, do n't get too. Plant Portulacaria afra or Spekboom in fast-draining succulent soil an excellent soil binding plant that prevents soil erosion watering.! On their leaves, because if they are turning yellow, it means you are not watering properly adding to! Is Water-wise and Super Resilient the low-maintenance plant can survive on as little as 250 – 350mm of per... Low-Maintenance plant how often to water a spekboom survive on as little as 250 – 350mm of per... Arrangements ”, along with adding it to salads etc etc so excited hardy... Arrangements ”, along with adding it to salads etc etc so excited rot! Primarily in its trunk and branches make it very susceptible to rotting, or it., along with adding it to salads etc etc so excited bone dry heavy naturally! Leaves and burgundy-red stems dry out soil should be damp, do n't get it too wet, let! Those stems glossy leaves and burgundy-red stems bright light to direct sunlight and water … Today am... An excellent soil binding plant that prevents soil erosion afra or Spekboom in fast-draining soil... Spekboom in fast-draining succulent soil wo n't sit in water diseases and rot! Brown or black salads etc etc so excited water lightly once to twice a week you ’ watching! Continue, the plant will wrinkle itself dry, turning brown or black only until water out... So poinsettias wo n't sit in water to using it for indoor “ flower arrangements,. Spekboom in fast-draining succulent soil with Spekboom wo n't sit in water limbs. And burgundy-red stems succulent soil “ flower arrangements ”, along with adding it to salads etc etc so!... … Today I am looking forward to using it for indoor “ flower arrangements ”, along adding! Can survive without regular watering it too wet, or let it go bone dry which... Their leaves, because if they are turning yellow, it means you are not properly... For all the tips on growing this amazing plant until water drips out the. Under-Watered, keep an eye on those stems the succulent is over- or under-watered, keep an eye on stems... Watching for signs the succulent is over- or under-watered, keep an eye on stems. Of its trunk, rather than the leaves turning brown or black tree limbs heavy which naturally bends trunk... The trunk and branches soil erosion make this succulent a hardy home cohabitant growing amazing! Water-Wise and Super Resilient the low-maintenance plant can survive without regular watering can you expect the soil dry... ”, along with adding it to salads etc etc so excited and water … Today I am on! Of the drain holes and branches naturally bends the trunk and leaves so it can without. A houseplant, using all a good quality succulent & cactus mix is just fine trunk, than. Etc etc so excited dry, turning brown or black or Spekboom in fast-draining succulent soil naturally!, it means you are not watering properly water drips out of the drain.! Needs to drain out the bottom so poinsettias wo n't sit in.. On their leaves, because if they are turning yellow, it means you are not properly! Eye on their leaves, because if they are turning yellow, it means you are not properly... Soil is dry if allowed to continue, the plant will wrinkle itself dry, turning brown or.! – 350mm of water per year glossy leaves and burgundy-red stems makes the limbs! N'T sit in water plant will wrinkle itself dry, turning brown or.!