For indoors, an unglazed pot with plenty of drainage holes will do just fine. This allows the plant to spread its stems outward where they quickly take root and enable the plant to survive. Sprinkle a thin layer of worm compost on top of the soil. apart (45-60 cm), tall Elephant Ear varieties (over 5 ft. or 150 cm) about 3-4 ft. apart (90-120 cm). It also prefers occasional water, especially during the hot, dry summer. Elephant Food. Elephant ears (Alocasia spp. However, you need to watch out for those sensitive and shallow roots. Portulacaria afra (Elephant Food) - An upright growing plant (8-12 feet tall) with reddish brown stems and 1/2 inch long emerald green succulent leaves. If you choose to feed your “elephant food plant/pork bush” with a fertilizer, dilute it to half of its recommended strength. It has small, circular, fleshy, bright green foliage on reddish-brown stems. Elephant bush succulents in the home interior should not have consistently wet feet. Elephant ear plants are fairly easy to grow once they’re established. Remove a stem from the main plant, and allow it to callous for several days before placing on well-draining soil. When a plant can handle dry soil so well, you might wonder, why would I need to worry about watering it? HORTICULTURE UNLIMITED IS NOT A NURSERY OR SUPPLIER. A must-see for residents of … *Our plant guide provides informational resources regarding plants that we commonly use. Light Requirements. Fill the hole with soil and pack it gently to make sure the succulent stands on its own. Learn how to grow and care for elephant ears, plus discover 7 great varieties By Jenny Andrews. We offer online meetings for your comfort. The single palm-like stem produces terminal tufts of strap-shaped, … To err on the side of caution, make sure your elephant bush is protected from direct sunlight. Portulacaria afra (known as elephant bush, dwarf jade plant, porkbush and spekboom in Afrikaans) is a small-leaved succulent plant found in South Africa.These succulents commonly have a reddish stem and leaves that are green, but also a variegated cultivar is often seen in cultivation. To grow a new plant out of the mature elephant bush, you can use stem cuttings for easy propagation. Although it’s recommended that you grow it indoors for all the benefits we just laid out. Wondering what this beautiful creature is and how to care for a ponytail palm plant? People know it as Miniature Jade, Elephant’s Food, and Spekboom in its native habitat in South Africa. Remove the outer wrap with care and place your elephant jade plant/tree; Fill the hole with your desired potting mixture, or sand, sprinkle water with love and care. Protect young plants … What Is This Beautiful Creature? The elephant jade plant is a favorite food source for elephants in southern Africa. Both are reasonably likely, given the origin of the plant. Bring the tropics indoors with a feature plant that really likes to listen! Other pests that attack the plant include whiteflies and spider mites. Outdoors, grow elephant … Ensure that the corm is well situated deep within the soil [source: Fischer]. Share: Elephant ears bring to mind lush, tropical forests, adding drama to both gardens and containers. Use this plant in containers, entryways, or patios. When watering these plants be sure not to overdo it, too frequently and the plants can rot. Use specially designed succulents and cacti mix fertilizer. In its native habitat, the plant is heavily browsed and eaten by elephants, wild game, and tortoises. We want to let all of our customers know that we have precautionary measures in place to ensure the safety and wellness of our customers and employees! All staff members are currently wearing face masks while in trucks, in the office, and on our property. It produces pink, star-shaped flowers in late winter to early spring, but rarely blooms the southwest desert. Fertilize your elephant ear plant with a liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. I’m going to break down the specific needs of the four elephant … As a native wetland plant, elephant ears like a lot of water. Succulents are the ideal houseplant, especially if you don’t have a green thumb. 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. Grow elephant ears in slightly acidic soil in partial shade. Either the plant is not getting water often enough, or it does not have enough roots to take up the water it does get. This genus gets its name from its yellow tissues, xanthos being Greek for “yellow.” There are at least 75 species of Xanthosoma, from acutum to yucatanense. Whether you grow it as a houseplant or out in the garden, there’s nothing more exotic or fabulous than the elephant bush. Other common names for this plant include the bottle palm tree or the elephant foot tree. Elephant food looks like Jade Plant with smaller more compact leaves. When you look at the elephant ear plant, it is obvious why are they named so. DIYs.com is an up-and-coming community of people specialized in high-quality and on-trend DIY projects and tutorials in home design, fashion, and crafts. • Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth 1 x per week to keep the "plant pores" or "stomata" open. To grow these stunning plants, plant the bulbs in the early spring with the right soil conditions. Staff is eligible to use their available paid sick time for any such occurrence of illness. RELATED: Most elephant's ears are perennials and will come back every summer in the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South. Required fields are marked *, Check out these beautiful projects and get a lot more ideas for your DIY project. But few landscaping succulents can be eaten let alone those that clean up the air in your house. Learn how to care for them and keep your plants alive and thriving. Water the plant often to maintain the moist soil. apart (45-60 cm), tall Elephant Ear varieties (over … Do not over-water this plant, as it will immediately defoliate. Elephant's Food (Portulacaria afra), an Easy-Care Succulent (3:50) Filmed during Debra's presentation at the 2013 Succulent Celebration. • Full strength is too strong a dose for a houseplant and may cause rampant growth before it's ready for it. Portulacaria Afra-’Elephant Bush’ is native to South Africa. Small and medium sized Elephant Ears should be spaced 18-24 in. The elephants consume the plant from the top downward. Well, for the same reason you grow it indoors in the first place. We have regular staff meetings, all with the above safety measures in place, to continue working together as a team to ensure your safety and ours. I'm guessing the grow light caused a lot of evaporation from the soil, and that had something to do with what you're observing. Much like elephant ear plants and banana plants, ponytail palm plants are beautiful tropical-looking plants that can help you bring a touch of the jungle to your otherwise boring and lifeless suburban home. 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! It is hardy to thirty degrees Fahrenheit. It is hardy to thirty degrees Fahrenheit. Daisy Bush Care: How To Grow An African Bush Daisy, 5 Best Potting Soil Brands: How To Choose The Right Mix For Your Garden, Alocasia Plant Care: How to Grow the African Mask Plant, Echeveria Succulent Plant – How To Grow And Care For Echeveria, Chinese Evergreen Plant – How to Care and Grow the Aglaonema Plants, Jade Plant Propagation – How to Plant and Care for Jade Plants. ), which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11 with some variation within species, depends on your climate.In frost-free tropical and sub-tropical areas, these lush foliage plants grow year-round with minimal winter care. What this means is that you can grow it outdoors in full light without problems. In the winter, you need to scale back irrigation. Make a hole in the soil deeper and wider than the rootball of the plant and place it in it. Their huge leaves certainly grabs everyone’s attention, thus making them a great ornamental plant. are perfect for you!Not to be outdone by their larger relatives, caladiums shine all on their own with their wide array of colours from green leaves with speckles of white, and green with … ). It is native to rocky slopes and dry river valleys of the eastern Cape of South Africa, and north into KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, and the Limpopo Province. Many animals including elephants and goats feed on its crunchy leaves and stalks. As a succulent, it can grow in just about any environment. Negative: On Jun 14, 2013, cactusmother from Scottsdale, AZ wrote: Help! The Elephant Ear (Colocasia) is a tropical plant that grows up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and sprouts large, arrow-shaped leaves that resemble the ears on an elephant. Elephant Bush Plant Care Size and Growth. Elephant Ears needs room to grow. Variegated Elephant Food is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Before jumping … Like most succulents, elephant bush … The elephant bush makes an excellent bonsai since its roots are suited to shallow bonsai containers. Portulacaria afra – the name might sound like a mouthful, so it might be easier to refer to this plant by another name. Make sure the pot drains well and don’t leave a saucer with water sitting under the container. It seems the drier it is, the more it blooms. Recognizing the value of the do-it-yourself movement of the last several years, DIYs.com is inspired by unique yet replicable ideas. These plants have big appetites, so feed regularly with Dynamite Organic All-Purpose (10-2-8) or Espoma Plant-tone (5-3-3). • Full strength is too strong a dose for a houseplant and may cause rampant growth before it's ready for it.