Elephant Bush Plant Care is not difficult; follow this post and learn how to grow this carbon sponge in your home.
The elephant bush or baby jade plant (Portulacaria afra) is native to South Africa; this perennial succulent shrub is also known as elephant food, dwarf jade, small leaf jade, or miniature jade, but it is not related to Crassula ovata. It is from the purslane plant family (Portulacaceae).
This succulent grows on dry, rocky slopes and outcrops. The red-brown woody stems grow upwards and reach up to 8-15 feet tall and carry small glossy green foliage though they stay small and grow only a few feet tall. Under favorable growing conditions, the plant produces clusters of blooms in pink, white, or purple shades.
Elephant Bush Propagation
Elephant Bush can be easily grown from a stem cutting; use a sterile knife or scissors and cut a stem from the plant. Once the cut callus is healed, plant it in a pot filled with well-draining cactus soil. The plant will take root in 4-6 weeks. Let the plant stay away from direct sunlight and keep the soil moist. In five to six weeks, the plant will take root and begin to develop new growth.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Elephant Bush Plant
Location
Elephant bush needs a lot of bright light; keep the plant near a sunny window as in the absence of adequate light, it tends to stretch towards it. This succulent does well in both filtered to partial sunlight, so it grows in an area that receives bright light.
Soil
Use well-draining potting soil like; sandy succulent soil or cactus mix. You can add some perlite for better drainage. Make sure the pot has drainage holes. Do not make the soil waterlogged, as overwatering can harm the plant.
Water
The elephant bush plant is drought-tolerant; it does not require much water and adapts well to dry and hot conditions. It grows well with regular waterings but doesn’t overdo that.
As a rule of thumb, water the plant when the top soil becomes dry before watering.
Temperature
Elephant bush is not cold hardy; if you live in a zone that becomes colder than 30 F, plant it in pots that can be moved indoors. It can tolerate mild frost and cold temperatures for a small period of time.
Elephant Bush Plant Care
Fertilizer
Feed the potted plants in late winter to early spring with indoor plant fertilizer diluted by half.
Repotting
Repot the plant every two years, so plants get adequate soil nutrients. Use fresh potting soil in the new planter.
Pests and Diseases
This succulent shrub is vulnerable to mealy bugs that are small, cottony spots on the green foliage. Get rid of them by wiping them with a cotton swap soaked in alcohol. Spider mites and whitefly can also affect your elephant bush.
Other issues that arise are leaf dropping and yellowing of foliage. It is caused due to over or under watering.
Uses Of Elephant Bush
It is an amazing ‘carbon sponge’ that soaks high levels of carbon from the air, making it a great choice for houseplants in home decor. As the common name sounds, this succulent is consumed by elephants, but goats and tortoises feed on it. In South African cuisines, it is added to soups, salads, and stews for a sour taste.