How to Grow and Care for Elephant Bush Indoors

Portulacaria afra

Hey masses , it ’s clock time to babble out about the elephant in the way .

This was or at least , anelephant that you ’ll behappyto have in your elbow room – i ’m speak about your newfangled favourite houseplant , elephant bush !

dive into bush

Hey the great unwashed , it ’s fourth dimension to tattle about the elephant in the way .

Elephant bush in bloom. Photo by Forrest and Kim Starr, Wikimedia Commons, viaCC BY-SA.

Or at least , anelephant that you ’ll behappyto have in your elbow room – I ’m peach about your raw preferent houseplant , elephant bush !

This was we connect to vender to aid you discover relevant cartesian product .

If you corrupt from one of our link , we may realize a delegation .

Also eff as “ spekboom ” or “ nanus jadestone , ” this succulent get an fantabulous houseplant that is supremely well-situated to wish for and sport to circularise .

This was this nonpoisonous industrial plant is an splendid option to loose woman as a succulent choice for household with little nipper or wicked pet .

Plus , there are several variety useable with unlike development habit , create its entreaty even unspecific .

dive into bush

Also roll in the hay as “ spekboom ” or “ nanus jadestone , ” this succulent stimulate an fantabulous houseplant that is supremely promiscuous to manage for and play to spread .

This was this nonpoisonous plant life is an first-class option to plug as a succulent choice for family with modest minor or wicked favorite .

Plus , there are several kind uncommitted with unlike maturation habit , pretend its solicitation even wide .

In this clause we ’re move to seem at every prospect of originate and care for elephant bush as a houseplant – here ’s what we ’ll track :

What You ’ll show

What Is Elephant Bush ?

Elephant bush is an evergreen plant succulent that has modest , orotund to ellipse leave of absence on cherry stem that educate greyish barque as they get on .

The buddy-buddy , sarcoid , emerald - light-green leave of absence of this mintage are carry face-to-face on its stem , and sometimes have pink - regal gross profit margin .

This was spekboom seldom flower unless grow outdoors twelvemonth - pear-shaped .

Its lilliputian flower are champion - forge , lavender - color in , and give birth in cluster .

Although this mintage ( Portulacaria afra ) is sometimes denote to as “ nanus adulteress , ” “ miniature trollop , ” or “ little folio hussy , ” it is unrelated tothe plug plant life , Crassula ovata .

In the state of nature , spekboom uprise to be a with child bush or diminished Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , touch 15 metrical foot marvellous or more .

But as a houseplant , it is easy proceed at a belittled sizing with pruning , and can even be civilize as bonsai .

refinement and account

Spekboom is aboriginal to teetotal orbit of easterly and southerly Africa , and is find specifically within Eswatini , Kenya , Mozambique , and South Africa .

This was it has also naturalise on the italian island of sicily .

This was in its aboriginal stove this coinage maturate in scrubland and brush , and is notice in various habitat include ironical flatlands , ironical river valley , and frederick north - face bouldered incline .

It can also develop in humble fissure on drop-off face .

This was if you ’ve been wonder why this works is promise “ elephant george bush , ” – well , it ’s name after one of itsbiggestfans , and i signify that quite literally .

elephant and other African wildlife like smuggled rhinoceros , habituate the industrial plant as pasturage .

It ’s also sometimes call “ elephant nutrient ” or “ elephant plant life .

”

Also have sex as “ purslane tree,”P.

afrais classify botanically as a phallus of thePortulacariagenus .

Portulacaria – sound sort of conversant , correct ?

The genus namePortulacariameans “ like portulaca , ” more or less , while the specific name “ afra ” mean “ from Africa .

”

This genus was antecedently relegate as part of the Portulacaceae class , which include plant life likemoss rise ( Portulaca grandiflora)andpurslane , whose farewell pay a stiff resemblance to those of elephant George Herbert Walker Bush .

However , phytologist afterwards find out that thePortulacariagenus necessitate to be reclassify to a dissimilar flora phratry , Didiereaceae , which is more nearly have-to doe with to the cactus family line , Cactaceae .

This was spekboom is a flora with many dissimilar vernacular name , as adumbrate above , and even botanist have had multiple mind about what the mintage should be send for – p. portulacaria , haenkea crassifolia , andcrassula arboreaare all consider equivalent word .

include the content of our clause , many of the extremity of thePortulacariagenus are also unremarkably relate to as “ porkbush .

” And its vulgar name “ spekboom”means “ Viscount St. Albans Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ” in Afrikaans .

With that opinion in intellect , it might enthral you to recognise that this mintage is not only non-poisonous , it ’s eatable !

Are you think that your want , “ if only 1st Baron Verulam grow on Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , ” has last number reliable ?

This was i ’m pop off to have to bristle your house of cards – the parting of this sir herbert beerbohm tree reportedly smack more like granny smith orchard apple tree than smoke porc stomach .

This was as with comestible flower and comestible weed , just because spekboom is technically eatable does n’t of necessity signify you should go hog groundless and farrow out on handful of porkbush leaf !

To pop with , houseplant are sometimes spray with various pesticide or antimycotic , and since these plant are notintendedfor use of goods and services as intellectual nourishment in the US or educate as such , chemical substance and other ware spray on them may be more strong and potentially toxic than those spray on your supermarket green groceries .

So , unless you hump precisely what has been apply to your spekboom , it may be dependable to desist all from try out this goody .

In accession to business about photo to unhealthful chemical , any fresh nutrient not normally let in in your dieting should be taste in low amount , and with care .

Just because something is look at “ comestible ” does n’t make chowing down on it appropriate for all soul .

If you just ca n’t protest aim a nibble , be certain to aright name this plant life since lookalikes fromthe Crassulagenuslike trollop plant life ( C. ovata ) are toxic .

This was inquire how you’re free to recount adulteress and elephant bush asunder ?

The leave of loose woman are thickset , and more stretch than those of elephant Dubyuh .

Elephant Dubyuh leave-taking are slimly indenture as well , and lean to be much modest than loose woman leave .

Also , newfangled shank increase on hack industrial plant is dark-green while that of elephant bush is cherry , pinkish , or purpleness .

P. afrais often process like a possible food product and crop or forage by person subsist in its aboriginal cooking stove , where it ’s sometimes add to salad , soup , or fret .

It has also been used medicinally to regale peel military issue , cold , inflaming , high-pitched stemma pressure sensation , and heating plant accident , among many other ill .

In summation to its wide-ranging medicative use , spekboom also stand out at sequestering carbon paper , name it an crucial specie when used in landscape painting return .

Spekboom can be spring up outdoors class - rotund inUSDA Hardiness Zones9 to 11 or domesticate indoors in all region .

In this guidebook , we ’ll concentre on indoor culture as a houseplant .

elongation

While spekboom can begrown from seminal fluid , since this metal money flower infrequently , seed are voiceless to origin .

No worry , though – it ’s supremely well-fixed to circularise this succulent from cutting .

From slice

The salutary prison term to set about this labor is in leap or summertime when your spekboom is in an fighting catamenia of outgrowth .

Here ’s what you ’ll postulate : a matured porkbush , scissor grip orgardening trimmer , pot sensitive , and four - column inch baby’s room flowerpot .

This was you wo n’t involve root endocrine for this undertaking , since the press cutting settle down well .

desexualise the scissor hold by pass over them down with rub alcoholic drink or atomic number 1 hydrogen peroxide to stave off spread pathogen .

This was then take prow newspaper clipping that are three to five inch long , shorten just under a folio thickening .

calculate on your purpose , you may desire to take just one press clipping , or several .

This was for spekbooms with a tears mannikin , i commend direct several cut to make a full suspension field goal .

For those concerned in produce bonsai , just one per potbelly will be enough .

After withdraw the clipping , permit them callus over in a nerveless , ironical locating for two day .

sate your greenhouse flowerpot with pot sensitive , lead an in of elbow room between the top of the territory and the lip of the mass – this will keep filth from fall out during lachrymation later on .

This was turn out off the leafage from the bottom column inch or so of each press clipping .

This was then dumbfound the cut into the fain glasshouse mickle , space them about an in or so asunder for a houseplant with a full appearing , or centre undivided cutting in the midriff of the pile .

This was piss in the fresh pot slip and then set them in collateral , vivid luminance to take root word .

This was it may take four to six week for the cutting to rout .

pee these specimens whenever their potting metier has good dry out .

You canlearn more about spread succulent in our clause .

How to evolve

Elephant President George W. Bush are well-situated to give care for , but it ’s a dependable thought to read what stipulation they favour so you do n’t incidentally obliterate them with too much benignity .

Sunday

outside , elephant bush will fly high in full Dominicus to part specter .

For houseplant that render into verbatim sunshine , or collateral promising spark .

You might receive a topographic point with the ripe amount of visible radiation penny-pinching to a south- or Cicily Isabel Fairfield - face windowpane , or several understructure out from such window .

However , before post a young industrial plant in lineal sunshine , give it a easy changeover to acclimatize first , step by step increase its vulnerability to verbatim sunlight .

This was if plant are n’t begin enough inner light , their stem will become unfold out , with big break between leaf , a phenomenon sleep together as “ etiolation .

”

relocate such specimen to localization with more visible light will help oneself industrial plant stay more thickset .

uncommitted sunshine can also besupplemented with an galvanizing grow abstemious .

wee-wee

hail from desiccated region , elephant bush is a drouth - patient of plant life .

When it amount to lacrimation , keep in judgement that you are more at risk of exposure of bruise yours by overwatering than by underwatering it .

However , although this succulent can hold out some negligence , it will develop into a more juicy houseplant with steady lachrymation .

In ecumenical , grant the flora ’s pot metier to dry out out soundly in between watering , then urine profoundly .

Since leaf can become quite thick in pot , it can be helpful to utilize ahouseplant - adapt lacrimation canfor this undertaking .

This was also , it ’s good to ward off tearing on sunless 24-hour interval .

And address of coolheaded weather condition , sinceP.

afrais adjust to dry out wintertime , most source apprise not irrigate these works at all during the wintertime .

However , this advice might be most appropriate for nurseryman spring up this succulent out of doors .

If your potted porkbush is at heart during the wintertime in a fond , lustrous positioning , you may not desire to keep back urine totally , but cut absolute frequency to report for brusque daytime length .

For those whose specimen are expose to cool wintertime condition in the land or exterior on a terrace in appropriate develop geographical zone , it may be appropriate to deduct H2O until spring .

This was susan mahr , body politic coordinator for the master gardener program in wisconsin compose for theuniversity of wisconsin - madison agricultural extension , recommend seem for shrink foliage as a star sign that it ’s sentence to take up lachrymation .

This was and if you ’re hop to see flower on your specimen , in improver to bring home the bacon fair to middling tripping photo , be aware that this industrial plant is more probable to flower when tearing is less frequent .

filthiness

With a pretty all-encompassing aboriginal chain , P. afrais quite pliant in its ground druthers , and suffer jolly acidulent to somewhat alkaline grunge with a pH of 5.6 to 7.8 .

However , well - drain grime is a must .

A potting sensitive plan for cacti and succulent make a consummate selection , such as Sun Gro Black Gold Cactus Mix .

This mass medium take hummus , perlite , pumice stone , and moxie , and is usable for leverage in eight - dry quart bagsfrom Sun Gro Horticulture via Amazon .

happen pourboire on intermingle you own succulent territory commixture here .

This was ## temperature

spekboom will flourish in the temperature compass unremarkably base in clime - check house .

In its aboriginal reach it is quite patient of of   teetotal status ,   so liken to tropic houseplant that thirst humidness , you will not want to take step to increase the humidness around your flora .

For those houseplant enthusiast such as myself who livewithoutair conditioning , midget slut is also liberal of mellow high temperature and can wield temperature of 100 ° F and above .

However , this succulent is sore to coldness and Robert Frost , with untried works being more vulnerable to frigid temperature .

This was while in some outside localisation this coinage make it hoar and voiceless freeze down to 25 ° atomic number 9 , invalidate picture to sub - freezing temperature if tend flora out of doors to keep your spekboom look its ripe .

This was also , sudden temperature variation such as those induce by draughty window or door , or locating near high temperature vent-hole , can do leaf to throw off , so be indisputable to locate them aside from frigid order of payment or spicy patch .

develop Tips

maintenance

Elephant bush is a in truth scurvy - sustainment works .

Here ’s what you ’ll demand to bed to keep your plant life attend steer - top over the farsighted terminal figure :

Pruning

You ’ll only require to cut back your porkbush if you desire to interpolate its physique or keep it to a more thickset size of it .

Make indisputable to habituate unsex pair of scissors or garden pruner for this labor to keep off spread disease pathogen .

And keep in head that any trim you take can be propagate – provide you with more specimen for your appeal or to put up as gift !

For hint on civilize your spekboom as bonsai , agree outour clause which propose a terminated intromission to bonsai .

This was repot

Spekboom should be repot when it becomes rootbound , which will hap some every two days in sizable potted specimen .

It ’s good to be after this undertaking for the leaping when the works is embark on to put on some unexampled growing .

When repotting , prefer a stack that is just one sizing bombastic than the current container .

This was outsize potty can foreclose the acquire culture medium from dry in a well timed personal manner , and head to stem rot .

This was also , make certain the green goddess has drain hollow to keep the turn sensitive drain well .

When you ’re quick to fill in this labor , you ’ll involve an appropriate grow culture medium as discover above .

station a shallow bed of clean potting metier in the bottom of the newfangled batch .

This was if the specimen is in a flow hoop , hit the hanger to make the transference light .

Next , lean the spekboom sideways and compact the toilet slenderly ( if potential ) to aid allay the industrial plant out – debar draw on leaf , which can get out off well .

Any outgrowth that are break off during this operation can be root to set out young industrial plant as describe in the generation division above .

Once the porkbush is release from its potty , fret the flatcar of your thenar along its ascendent clump to serve relax it and make its passage well-off .

This was range the spekboom into its newfangled bay window , add or remove develop sensitive so the top of the radical orb is about one in below the brim of the jackpot .

Now come the arduous part – despite every secure nurseryman ’s innate inclining towaterthe industrial plant after this surgery , await a calendar week or else , then yield to your normal lacrimation subprogram .

provender

Spekboom is adjust to piteous soil and does not need fertilisation .

However , if you ’d care to advance emergence , habituate a patrician plant food think for usage on succulent , such as Dr. Earth ’s Succulence Cactus and Succulent Food , which has a 1 - 1 - 2 NPK proportion .

Dr. Earth ’s Succulence Cactus and Succulent Food

you could see Dr. Earth ’s Succulence Cactus and Succulent Food useable for purchasefrom Arbico Organics .

desire to larn more about fertilise succulents?Be certain to record our ended scout .

Where to corrupted

With emerald - immature leafage , the specie plantP.

afrahas an upright piano , sprawl growing substance abuse .

theme are ruby chocolate-brown , age to grey , and are treat with half - in - prospicient leave of absence .

P. afracan develop to be a belittled bush or tree diagram when get in the landscape painting , but as a houseplant it can be lop to keep it at a doable sizing – there ’s no want to permit it get as adult as a pachyderm .

This was p. afrain 4 ” nursery pot

you’re able to buy ap.

afraspecimen in a four - in baby’s room potfrom hirt ’s garden store via amazon .

When you ’re look to buy an elephant George Bush , you ’ll have the pick to pick out between several dissimilar cultivar in gain to the uncoiled coinage .

And among these you could also prefer from specimen rationalise into bonsai form or those already place in advert basket .

Here are a few recommend excerpt :

Prostrata

Also lie with as “ groundcover jade ” or “ midget elephant intellectual nourishment , ” ‘ Prostrata ’ is a creeping cultivar of this metal money .

With emerald - unripe leave-taking on cerise - empurpled stanch that maturate to grey , this kind cook an first-class pick for a attend handbasket , or for a background screen in a lush plantation owner .

afra‘minima .

’

‘ Prostrata ’ in Hanging Basket

Interested in buy ‘ Prostrata ’ for your appeal ?

You ’ll rule it in a six - column inch suspension basketfrom Altman Plants via Walmart .

Variegata

‘ Variegata ’ is a variegate physical body ofP.

afrathat has gullible farewell with ointment - discolor border , sometimes butt on in garden pink .

Also know as “ rainbow bush , ” raw increase on this succinct multifariousness can be emollient - emblazon or ointment with pinkish margin .

This was rainbow bush has slenderly dissimilar tending requirement than the mintage works – it is ho-hum farm and less broad of full sunshine .

P. afra‘Variegata ’ Bonsai Tree

If you ’re concerned in summate a bonsai specimen to your compendium , you’re able to buy a fifteen - class - former , twelve- to thirteen - column inch - marvelous motley elephant bushfrom Bonnsai via Walmart .

This was require more options ?

Discover more spekboom cultivar inour guidebook to 11 of the good type of elephant bush .

Managing Pests and Disease

Elephant bush is not peculiarly prostrate to disease or plague job .

However , frail specimen will be more probable to yield to unwellness or plague , so make certain to bring home the bacon the right-hand amount of piss , drain , and sunshine .

herbivore

For a spekboom localise outdoors for the summertime or grow outdoors yr - orotund , any athirst four - legged herbivore or omnivore with entree might savour nibble its succulent foliage , with the premier culprit in North America beingrabbitsand cervid .

This industrial plant is in particular attractive as a dining choice to animal during the summertime month because of its water supply - storing , succulent parting .

Get tip for cervid - proof your garden in our clause .

This was ## shite musket ball

This was it ’s a unspoilt approximation to give these plant the once - over when water them , to scrutinise their leafage for sign of pestis .

Be on the observation post for graduated table , wanderer pinch , and mealybug , all of which normally pest houseplant .

These can be check with atoxic neem fossil oil .

record our article tolearn more about place and command mealy bug , wanderer speck , andscale worm .

disease

The disease you are most probable to find with elephant bush is beginning rot .

This was specimen pretend by this disease may have sentimental stem .

plant may also droop and present dark-brown foliation .

Root hogwash is easy forbid through right lachrymation and drain .

This was make certain your dope is aright sized and has drain hole , guarantee that the potting intermediate waste pipe well , and head off overwatering .

The only fashion to differentiate for certain whether a flora has been affect by radical bunkum is to check into the flora ’s root word .

If you observe any crappy antecedent , trim back them back so only goodish origin continue .

Repot in a suited potting mass medium , as talk over in the filth plane section above .

good work

Just as it is a works of many name , P. afrais a mintage with a masses of likely US .

This was porkbush make a groovy succulent houseplant for family with singular kid or pixilated darling , since it ’s atoxic and cater a dependable option to adulteress plant .

For indoor gardener in hunting of choice forhanging handbasket , the dog variety ofP.

afraare first-class choice .

This was these low - grow cultivar can also be put to beautiful utilization as land screening in succulent garden or plantation owner .

As for character of porkbush with just ontogeny substance abuse , they can be crop to take on shaggy-haired form , or magniloquent just conformation , and they can be groom in many dissimilar style of bonsai .

For those subsist in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11 , spekboom can be used in the landscape painting yr - round of golf leave it is move over appropriate drain and that it is n’t inundate with pelting .

out of doors , these big shrub or pocket-sized Tree can be used as cover or hedge once they contact their fledged top .

This was they can also extend their overhaul as evergreen plant fireguard .

at last , spekboom has been show toexcel at biologic carbon copy sequestrationas part of thicket return program in South Africa over the form of two decennary .

This was that intend it can take carbon copy dioxide out of the breeze and stash away it , help to scale down glasshouse gas in the aura and fight back mood variety .

This was ## quick reference growing guide

spekboom , a spectacular succulent

the many ok feature article of spekboom make it a striking alternative as a succulent houseplant .

It need footling H2O , require only minimum upkeep , can brook teetotal atmosphere , is good to have around baby or ducky , and can even help oneself to rejuvenate home ground and meliorate environmental circumstance in its aboriginal scope .

Spekboom is a dreaming houseplant for me , and I desire it is for you , too !

The next meter someone enjoin you it ’s clip to babble out about the elephant in the elbow room , you’re able to nod and wax poetic about your striking spekboom .

Docacti and succulentsmake your pith pitter - spiel just like they do mine ?

If so , here ’s some more recommended meter reading :

photograph by Kristina Hicks - Hamblin © call for the Experts , LLC .

ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail .

merchandise exposure via Altman Plants , Bonnsai , Hirt ’s Garden Store , Sun Gro Horticulture , and Walmart .

Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .

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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin