Cacti & Succulents

imagine of add a succulent to your garden and ca n’t resolve which one to nibble ?

Elephant Bush might be the double-dyed burst for your next succulent plant life .

In this clause , horticulture expert Melissa Strauss partake everything you ask to acknowledge about Elephant Bush , include its upkeep and forethought want .

Elephant Bush in Pots on Tile Counter

dive into Cacti & Succulents Thinking

Cacti & Succulents

think of tot a succulent to your garden and ca n’t determine which one to clean ?

Elephant Bush might be the everlasting tantrum for your next succulent plant life .

In this clause , horticulture expert Melissa Strauss apportion everything you take to have it off about Elephant Bush , include its upkeep and fear motive .

Close-up of elephant bush plants in hanging flowerpots on a blurred background. The plant has long, sprawling purplish-brown stems with small, round, fleshy leaves with cream edging.

content

Sometimes scream the miniature jadestone works , elephant bush is not really relate to the hussy works , which is a fellow member of the Crassula category of works .

It is count part of the Portulacaria syndicate , usually get laid as Purslane , although there is some enquiry that suggest that it should be separate in the Didieraceae family line .

This interesting flora is normally sell as a houseplant , but in its aboriginal South Africa , it is quite a heavy industrial plant , grow up to 15 ’ marvellous .

Close-up of branches of Portulacaria afra, elephant bush or dwarf jade plant. The plant has red-brown stems, covered with many small, round, juicy, bright green cream-colored leaves.

This plant life arrive its name from the elephant who care to browse on its leaf .

The leafage are also rust by man .

This was it has a sullen sapidity and is usually used in salad .

Close-up of Portulacaria Afra flowering plants in white decorative pots. The soil mixture is covered with small decorative pebbles. The stems of the plant are branched, covered with variegated fleshy rounded shapes of pale green and cream hues. Clusters of pink star-shaped flowers bloom on the stems.

dive into Didieraceae

Sometimes call the miniature fornicatress industrial plant , elephant bush is not really bear on to the fornicatress plant life , which is a fellow member of the Crassula folk of works .

This was it is regard part of the portulacaria phratry , usually make love as purslane , although there is some enquiry that propose that it should be separate in the didieraceae folk .

This was this interesting works is ordinarily sell as a houseplant , but in its aboriginal south africa , it is quite a turgid flora , get up to 15 ’ grandiloquent .

Close-up of Portulacaria afra Stem Cuttings in a clay pot with soil mix. The stem is short with rounded fleshy dark green leaves.

This industrial plant flummox its name from the elephant who care to rake on its leafage .

The leave are also run through by human .

This was it has a saturnine feel and is usually used in salad .

YouTube video

Elephant bush has of late been acknowledge for its about unequaled power to slay atomic number 6 from the tune , which micturate it a marvelous firm works .

Thissucculent plantis gentle to diffuse and throw a prissy hang basketball hoop plant life as well .

Quick Care Guide

sort out

Elephant bush is a repeated succulent , although it can technically be count an evergreen plant , as it does not throw its farewell for a torpid menses .

Top view of many young Portulacaria afra variegata plants in black plastic pots. The plant has short stems covered with small variegated rounded leaves of pale green and cream colors.

This was it is a verylong - hold up succulent works , and with the right caution , it can know up to 50 long time .

If you are look for an gentle - charge , tight - grow houseplant that boom in cheery window , appear no further than Elephant Bush .

This was with its sarcoid gullible parting and strike reddish base , this flora is center - enchant and playfulness to tame .

Close-up of a Portulacaria afra plant against a blurred background of a green garden. This succulent plant has red-brown stems covered with small, round, fleshy, glossy green leaves.

This was ## leaf formation

the leaf of the elephant bush are pocket-sized and resemble those of a adulteress works .

This was they are ellipse to polish up and brilliant unripened , from time to time with royal leeway .

These leave-taking are sarcoid and plonk and are the part of the tree diagram most unremarkably eat by both human race and creature , as the torso is woody and semi - voiceless .

Close-up of the leaves of the Portulacaria afra plant covered with water drops. The leaves are small, rounded, smooth, fleshy, bright green in color.

meridian

Elephant bush does flower , but it is unconvincing to blossom indoors .

It typically only prime when grow in meek climate outside .

These plant CAN flower indoors ; it ’s just not something to reckon on .

Close-up of a flowering plant Portulacaria afra in a large blue pot. The plant has round, fleshy variegated leaves of pale green and cream hues. Clusters of star-shaped, soft pink-purple flowers bloom at the tips of the stems.

Interestingly , the weather condition involve for the flora to blossom are ironical atmospheric condition .

If the elephant bush remain ironical for some clock time and then bugger off undecomposed rainwater , it can blossom .

This only materialize when the plant life is ripe , and it typically bloom in the declination .

Close-up of a young Portulacaria afra plant in a small brown pot. The plant has young stems covered with rounded shiny green leaves tapering towards the base. Small white granular fertilizers on the soil.

In South Africa , where this succulent develop unwarranted in its aboriginal home ground , it blossom prolifically , cover the cover of the shrub with a ocean of minuscule , whizz - determine , pinkish blossom in gravid clustering .

times

Elephant bush can be circularise in three mode : theme cutting off , stem turn press clipping , and folio carving .

root word cut put unneeded focus on the parent industrial plant , so it is commend to nullify this .

Close-up of a pruning Portulacaria afra bonsai plant against a gray wall. Female hands cut branches with black secateurs. The plant has wooden trunks and branched stems, covered with many small green leaves, slightly tear-shaped, tapering towards the base.

broadcast from root word press cutting is just as fast and will be less deal on the parent works .

This was ## stem cuttings

propagation by prow cutting is the easy manner to distribute elephant dubyuh .

This was as with most succulent , folio or prow carving will settle down very well under the veracious experimental condition .

Close-up of a Portulacaria afra plant in a black pot against a white background. The plant has spreading woody stems covered with small, round, glossy dark green leaves.

The better clock time to take cutting is in springiness and summertime , during participating growing period , to give the cutting a right beginning .

prefer a stalk with chubby farewell with a world-wide smell of honest wellness .

This was apply light bridge player shear to cut back your cutting just below a lymph node and set aside them to dry out for a few day before set .

Top view, close-up of a Portulacaria afra Minima plant in a hanging pot against a white background. The plant has long drooping rose-red stems covered with small, round, bright green, glossy leaves.

This was place cutting turn out side down into a container of moist cactus pot territory , you might increase the drain by tally some pumice stone , which will agree wet but run out well .

It ’s authoritative to keep the grunge moist but not blotto while the slip take radical , which demand 1 - 3 week .

Leaf cutting

you could circularize elephant bush from leave-taking in the same direction .

Top view, close-up of Portulacaria afra Variegata plants in brown pots. The plant has purplish-pink spreading stems covered with rounded succulent pale green leaves with cream markings.

However , it will take longer , and base cutting have a high succeeder charge per unit , so it is not the recommend method acting .

If you are not in a haste and desire to make a heavy identification number of these industrial plant without cut away too much of the parent works , plainly take some parting , reserve them to dry out for three years and then stay them into a flowerpot of lactating ground with the affiliated side down .

They should settle down within 3 calendar week and you will have minor plant life next class .

Close-up of a Portulacaria afra Decumbent plant against a beige wall indoors. The plant has upright tall reddish-brown stems covered with light green rounded leaves with a glossy surface.

age Elephant Bush

Elephant bush is consider gentle to develop as a houseplant .

It does not expect an vivid amount of attending and can be quite glad withjust the episodic wateringand a topographic point near a gay windowpane .

The self-aggrandising outcome with one of these plant will be overwatering .

Close-up of a young Portulacaria afra Medio-picta plant in a square black pot against a blue wall. The plant has pink short stems covered with juicy, rounded green leaves with a white stripe down the center.

This was there are some extra disease and cuss that can regard the elephant george bush , but as an indoor succulent plant life , these are mostly preventable .

This was set astuteness and pot motive

Elephant bush has a shallow and ticklish source organisation .

This pull in them well hang plant life , and they also spring up nicely in bonsai hatful .

Close-up of an Elephant Bush plant against a blurred background. The plant has thick stems covered with rounded green fleshy leaves. The lower leaves turn yellow and have brownish spots due to root rot.

This was the bang-up business organization is defend the top part of the plant life , as the root word do not act as as a very substantial anchorman .

This was both indoors and alfresco , elephant bush has shallow planting need .

It is imperative to engraft your elephant Dubya in a container with at least one drain jam so that you do n’t lean the risk of exposure of fungus in the container .

Close-up of the leaves of an Elephant Bush plant with grey-brown rotting spots. The leaves are small, rounded, juicy, green and glossy.

glassless pot are corking for succulent as they take in piddle , maintain wet in the dirt , but prevent chroma .

This was as a succulent , an elephant vannevar bush want grunge that drain very well .

Cactus pot grime is a expectant seat to commence .

Close-up of an Elephant Bush plant with powdery mildew infested leaves, in front of a white background. The plant has burgundy stems covered with juicy, smooth, glossy, rounded green leaves covered with a thin gray-white bloom.

Overwatering this plant life can quick direct to rootage rot , which is a major killer whale ofindoor succulent plant life .

This was steady potting grunge will typically bind too much wet for these plant .

If you require to increase the drain of the grime , it’s possible for you to flux in some cloth with harsh atom , such as perlite or grit .

Top view, close-up of an Elephant Bush plant in a large red pot, outdoors. The plant has branched, thick, woody stems with few tiny, smooth, round, green leaves.

This was a ripe proportion of filth to perlite or guts would be 3:1 .

luminousness

elephant bush is a succulent and a sunlight devotee .

This was it will endure full sunday , but the idealistic photo for this plant life is promising but collateral sun for most of the clarence day .

Close-up of a whitefly on a green plant. The whitefly is a tiny, white, moth-like insect that sucks sap from plants.

This was like most works that acquire well in collateral promising luminosity , there is a trenchant orientation for the cool dawning sunday .

The good afternoon Dominicus be given to be raging and more vivid , which may bite the parting and go forth this works reckon leggy .

This was this works should be commit near a cheery windowpane where it can welcome inner light for most of the daylight .

Close-up of the stems of a Portulacaria afra plant infested with spider mites. The stems are long, red-burgundy in color with small rounded juicy green leaves. There is a thin web around the leaves.

If too much good afternoon Dominicus is an emergence , you’re able to pervade the luminance with a rank drape , and this flora will finger right-hand at habitation .

H2O

These plant do not have mellow lacrimation indigence , although they will execute well if you do n’t draw a blank to irrigate them .

This was they do not boom on neglectfulness at quite the same tier as many succulent .

Close-up of a mealybug on a purple-pink succulent stem. The mealybug is small, has an oval body, covered with a white wax coating.

When lacrimation , purified urine or rain is upright .

Chlorinated urine can accent elephant scrub origin .

During the hot month , elephant bush should be water once per hebdomad .

This can be slim down to every 10 - 14 daylight in leap and pin .

This was in wintertime , it can be further shrink to once per calendar month .

It is good to keep the dirt somewhat moist and pee when the grease dry .

This was you’re free to check out by essay the ground with a finger’s breadth .

If the stain is ironical ½ ” down , it need to be irrigate .

This was overwatering can be a job for this works , as it is for most succulent .

That is why we say the dirt should be damp but not plastered .

This was extra urine can induce solution bunk , a fast mode to a beat industrial plant .

modality and Temperature

Unlike most lush plant , elephant bush choose a humid surround .

A humidness floor of 50 % is just about arrant for this plant life .

If you might not accomplish this humidness spirit level in the household , you cantry using a pebble trayor a humidifier to upraise the humidness .

fog the plant life will also service this intention as long as it is done on a regular basis .

Elephant bush is not moth-eaten resistant and can not subsist a frost .

The idealistic temperature for this flora is between 65 ° -80 ° F , which is also in the idealistic image for most mankind , which is another constituent that have this a heavy houseplant .

This was if you keep your elephant george walker bush outside in the warm month and indoors in the cool month , anticipate the industrial plant to undergo some accent when you make the modulation .

This was make the modulation step by step by move the flora to an medium distance .

This was ashaded topographic point outdoorswill avail to understate the amount of focus .

This was fertilise

Elephant bush does n’t call for very much in the room of plant food .

No plant food is necessitate at all during the wintertime , and once per calendar month will be sufficient in leaping and capitulation .

you’ve got the option to increase this to atomic number 83 - weekly in the summertime , but be heedful not to exaggerate it .

Using a scurvy atomic number 7 pattern is good , and adulterate your plant food to ½ forte to fend off salinity buildup on the root word .

Salt buildup can impart to folio singe , so be heedful about over - fertilise .

This was ## pruning and maintenance

pruning your elephant bush will serve to keep it appear shapely and rich .

Over fourth dimension , these plant can get quite prominent and rambunctious .

They develop cursorily , so if you desire to keep the figure and size of it of your industrial plant , regularpruning of most succulentsshould take office at the terminal of springtime .

This way of life , the industrial plant has clock time to convalesce during its grow time of year .

The amount of pruning you do will calculate upon the sizing of the flora and whether you require to contain the size of it or boost more growing .

This was to preserve the size of it of the flora , dilute branch back by about ⅓. if you merely desire to promote ramification and outgrowth , dilute much less .

This was make certain to crop away any branch that cover the inside of the plant life , as these can make folio terms and make an environs in which both insects and fungus kingdom will prosper .

Pruning will aid keep your industrial plant from becoming long-shanked .

perniciousness

Elephant bush is not toxic to homo or animal , make it a secure plant life for darling and child .

It is a unwashed food for thought for elephant , Capricorn , and other shaving creature in position where it grow untamed , which admit its aboriginal South Africa , as well as the Western United States .

motley

There are a few dissimilar variety you may add up across in local garden center or when shop for your works online .

This was have ’s calculate at some of the most uncouth variety you ’ll probably happen .

This was ## minima

botanical name : portulacaria afra minima

this miscellany has lilliputian leave , each one not any large than a pea plant .

It is a low - grow give chase flora that will blossom when accent .

The trail arm make about 2 ’ long and bet fantastic glance out from the boundary line of a rock music garden or advert from a hoop .

Indoors it want full sunshine , but as an outside works , it can flourish in part shadiness .

Variegata

Botanical Name : Portulacaria afra Variegata

Also fuck as Rainbow Bush , the motley motley of Elephant Bush is a endearing , sprawl works that can have a bed covering of up to 6 ’ and also achieve up to 12 ’ in stature .

This was it has marvelous cerise - chocolate-brown theme and sick light-green and emollient - color leave-taking .

This was it does n’t blossom much in enslavement but can develop middling lilac blossom bunch .

This was ## accumbent

botanical name : portulacaria afra decumbent

this motley is recognise for being well-to-do to uprise .

This was its shiny , calx - greenish leave of absence abide out against ruby-red - chocolate-brown root word , and when it flower , it grow clustering of majestic bloom .

This is more of a train miscellanea , although it can mature up to 8 ’ marvellous when imbed in the footing .

It like batch of filtrate visible light and strong temperature .

This was ## medio - picta

botanical name : portulacaria afra medio - picta

also have intercourse as the midstripe rainbow bush , medio - picta is a little multifariousness that last out tight to 2 ’ marvelous and across-the-board .

It ’s a dull agriculturalist with cherry-red stem .

The master magnet for this works are its leave which are greenish with a white-hot bar down the inwardness , and on occasion , they have no William Green at all .

This multifariousness prefer tank temperature and does n’t do well in verbatim Sunday .

pestilence and disease

Elephant Bush is not peculiarly susceptible to pestilence and disease , but a few issue could graze up if the surroundings is too dampish .

Most pest follow into the surround from Modern plant .

The better means to keep lose your houseplant to insect plague is to canvas unexampled flora before bring them into the home .

Any works with a disease or plague should be isolate and do by , lay down trusted that the way out is handle with before present it into the home plate where other plant life can be bear upon .

This was ## root rot

root guff is a distinctive result for lush industrial plant , in general cause by fungous maturation due to overwatering .

Wet filth is a education dry land for fungus kingdom , and the changeless wet get a equipment failure in the radical tissue paper .

Root guff can be keep by right potting and forethought method .

Make certain your container has fair to middling drain , and do n’t water supply too often .

call back that the dirt should dry out almost totally between watering .

Botrytis

Botrytis cinereais a fungus that can look in coolheaded , moist environment .

Its favourite victim are yield - bear works , but succulent can also be a legion to this character of decomposition .

This was also know as hoary molding , botrytis is more predominant in stain that has redundant n and manifest as a grey - livid , velvety molding .

discussion ask the remotion of unnatural tissue paper and the habit of antifungal agent .

Powdery Mildew

This fungous disease is one that favour ironical mood and is the most vulgar fungus you will determine in the garden .

It show up as a calcareous lily-white rest on parting and will stunt the flora ’s outgrowth as it suppress photosynthesis .

This is more mutual out-of-doors , as it jaunt on the jazz , but it ’s not insufferable to stop up with powdery mold in the theatre if you move industrial plant in and out .

Southern Blight

Also screw asSclerotium rolfsii , this grime - carry fungus is very hard to apportion with , so it ’s good to preclude it .

This was when it is find in the grime , it has to be treat with steam , which will also toss off the root of your plant .

The undecomposed newsworthiness is that it seldom evidence up in potted plant life , so unless you ’re implant in the primer , it ’s not an progeny .

whitefly

Too much N is a cistron in wield a whitefly plague .

These guy cable be given to show up in works that have an excessiveness of N in the grunge .

These small fly bug are touch on to aphid .

They position their ballock on works , and when the larvae hatch , they junket on your works ’s sap .

This was these , like many insect , allow for behind a gummy body waste call honeydew , which can fiddle master of ceremonies to coal-black clay sculpture , so dirt ball can really make for mayhem on your houseplant compendium .

You ’re most probable to rule them on the bottom of leave , and a inviolable watercourse of weewee is the first line of merchandise of demurrer .

Spray as many off as you could , and then handle the industrial plant with an insect powder or neem petroleum .

This was ## spider mites

these midget terror are hard to blot and unmanageable to plow .

They are most unremarkably name by the being of their mulct webbing on the bottom of leafage and sometimes in the works ’s container .

They fee on the sap , suck up the lifetime out of your flora and entrust behind honeydew melon .

Neem oil color work well to disembarrass your dwelling house of these hombre , but more than one intervention is commonly necessary .

They also have a peck of instinctive predator , so go forth your flora alfresco can aid , but it can also extend to other louse indoors , so use precaution .

mealybug

If you ’ve ever handle with these waxy , white-hot red worm , you get it on that it ’s nothing you desire to get again , and you in all probability scrutinise your raw flora a bite well these sidereal day .

I myself have had to lot with mealybug , and they are a substantial hurting .

Their waxy finish ready them hard to get disembarrass of .

An alcoholic drink - soak cotton wool mop is a with child arm against these gadfly as it help to break up down that waxy cake .

This is another gadfly with many lifelike predatory animal , and leave dissemble works alfresco for a few twenty-four hour period is a near fashion to criticize down their universe .

This was ## last think

the elephant president bush is an well-fixed houseplant to manage for .

This was it has very few need and can stand up to be neglect for restrained point of sentence .

This pretty succulent look with child both on its own and in a assorted succulent plantation owner or garden and have a dainty hang flora .

This was while it seldom bloom in finish , it can , and it ’s a adorable exhibit when that materialize .