The ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) website provides valuable information and a comprehensive list of toxic and nontoxic plants for cats, dogs, and other house pets. I do not use exact measurements but eyeball it to about 2:1 solution of cactus mix and perlite. Mealy Bugs on Portulacaria Afra Hi all, I've got a big Portulacaria Afra that's dropping leaves because of a visible mealy bug problem. Cut back on watering and allow the plant to dry out. Check out my resource page for recommendations on where to purchase these and other succulent plants online. Your email will never be shared nor sold. Home » Plants » Elephant Bush (Portulacaria Afra) Care & Growing Guide. Just like with other succulent plants, Portulacaria Afra ‘Elephant Bush’ needs a well draining soil. They produce clusters of tiny white, pink or purple flowers. Dwarf Jade (Portulacaria afra) Care guide for the Jade Bonsai tree. Here are some of my, recommendations for sunshades and sun protection, For further details and information on outdoor sunlight requirements, please visit my post, “How Much Sunlight Do Succulents Need Outdoors?”, If for whatever reason you cannot bring the plants in, there are ways to protect them from frost or freezing temperatures. This usually happens when the plant has been overwatered and/or the soil medium does not dry out fast enough, or both. All from stem cuttings. Along with proper lighting and the right environmental conditions, they also need to go through a wintering period. Other names of Portulacaria Afra include porkbush and spekboom. Slowly increase the amount of sunlight it receives until it is fully acclimated to the sun. Portulacaria afra. Pay attention to how your plant looks and you can adjust watering accordingly. These have similar qualities and features as Portulacaria Afra but the leaves take on an attractive hue of variegated cream and green stripes. Bought it about a month ago I realised when it arrived that it had mealybugs on it so gave it a wash with some water and then sprayed it with some bug spray. Portulacaria afra or Porkbush is a popular succulent garden plant in use around the world and is often used for bonsai. They mostly grow along the brown stem of the plant. When touched, the leaves will feel flat and deflated as it continues to lose its water supply. Rinse with plain water. Description of Dwarf Jade Plant, Portulacaria afra. I do leave the fallen leaves alone when they land in the pot and let them do their own thing. This site is owned and operated by LeadCamp, Inc. LeadCamp, Inc is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Elephant bush care is like most other succulents and care should be taken to not over water. Elephant Bush Care- Portulacaria Afra. You do not have to overcompensate by watering excessively. I wrote about how I have grown my succulent collection through stem cuttings here “Easiest Way To Propagate Succulents”. Do check out these moisture meter tools if you need help in gauging your watering needs. Keep away from direct sunlight. For more information on this topic, do visit my post on “Optimal Temperatures for Succulents to Thrive”. Spekboom. If kept outdoors, place in a bright sunny location. I do not really find the need to use a rooting hormone but some people prefer using it to speed up the process and also guarantee success. The scale can be very destructive to a Portulacaria. Use 20online coupon for 20% discount only for the first 20 customers. I have all of mines growing in containers outdoors. Underwatering and overwatering can both cause leaves to drop. I have also given a lot away to friends. If planted outdoors in warm climates, dig in 3 inches of sand or gritty material to provide well drained soil. Each tiny pink blossom is star-shaped and made up of 5 pointed petals. During the winter, you may only have to water the bush once a month. “Elephant Bush” also comes in miniature and variegated forms. The elephant bush does best when it lives in hot weather, just like in its home on the African plains. The most common reason for yellow leaves is cultural problems. They have reddish-brown stems with glossy green leaves. The reddish-brown stems sustain upward reaching up to be 8’ to 15’ feet tall. I would really like to try and prune it so that the outer branches grow into “pads” or groupings of sprouted leaves that form a level growing from the side of the main trunk. Leaves can also turn yellow from lack of nutrients. How to get Elephant bush plants to flower? The reddish-brown stems grow upward reaching up to be 8’ to 15’ feet tall. These tools are pretty affordable and can come in handy especially if you are unsure of when to water your plant next. Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is a semi-evergreen shrubby flowering succulent native to South Africa.In the wild, elephant bush grows in dry, sunny locations. They have reddish-brown stems with glossy green leaves. If you do not wish to repot at this time, you can feed the plant. Portulacaria Afra, commonly known as Elephant Bush, are often mistaken for Crassula Ovata ‘Jade Plants’ because they resemble each other in a lot of ways. Decorating with these living treasures offers a wealth of possibilities for your outdoor and indoor spaces. Tips are in quantity on the Portulacaria Afra Facebook group, but I'd hate to divert traffic to another site. July 6, 2020 April 27, 2020 by Victoria Wilson. I find leaf propagation a bit trickier and takes a lot longer. There you have it. Posted by Jenn Slim | All, featured succulents. If the place you live in is cold, then your elephant bush should stay inside the house with you. Can you tell me the size of the spread? What is the worst pest and disease that I will encounter when I have an elephant bush? Slowly increase the time you leave the bush out in the sun over a couple of weeks. And it has as many names as it has uses. And for the inside potted plants, basic potting soil or cactus soil would suffice as the soil mix. You may need to move the plant a few times until you find the right spot. If you need further help with watering techniques, consider using tools like hygrometers or moisture meters to check for moisture in the soil and air. LeadCamp, Inc is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. They grow upright horizontally but can also spread out laterally and sprawl or hang, which makes them a great choice for hanging baskets. The bush can stand a few cold spells but not prolonged periods of cold. In all honesty, I have yet to see my Portulacaria Afra bloom. If the elephant plant you have is too big for its current container, then you need to relocate the plant into a larger container, so it has room to grow. The reddish-brown stems in these are also more pronounced. Keep in mind that even when the plant is already acclimated to full sun, it can still get sunburned during a heatwave or intense heat. Like Like. Underwatering and overwatering can both cause leaves to drop. As a succulent, it can grow in just about any environment. Reply. Visit my post. A mistaken identity led me to this awesome plant, and it has become one of my all-time favorites ever since. If your area does not receive adequate sunlight or you have poor lighting at home, consider using a growlight so your plants can meet their lighting needs to grow properly, especially during those dark winter months. Elephant Bush (Portulacaria Afra) Care & Growing Guide. Portulacaria afra Bonsai Pruning Since this particular succulent plant grows so quickly, it adapts itself well to trying out a bonsai-inspired shape. Portulacaria Afra Prostrata Hanging Basket Succulents are fascinating, low-maintenance, Succulents are fascinating, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants that come in a range of stunning colors, shapes and textures. The stem gets thicker over time as the plant matures. These tend to grow laterally as opposed to upright like Portulacaria Afra. It has small, circular, fleshy, bright green foliage on reddish-brown stems. This succulent is a popular treat among elephants. To encourage blooms, make sure they are getting adequate lighting. Portulacaria Afra Pronounced por-tew-luh-KAR-ee-uh AF-ruh is a bushy succulent shrub belonging to the Didiereaceae family. This plant finds its place in various ways as it can be used in making terrariums, dish gardening, Miniature gardening, Fairy gardens and last but not the least it finds its place in a hanging planter keeping its spectacular spilling capability in mind. Important to note is that the Portulacaria afra is sensitive to cold. Borne at the end of the stem in clusters, they are rich in nectar and wildly attractive to bees and other insects. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The elephant bush needs periods of drought to offset any water that is absorbed. The attractive, evergreen succulent can grow to eight feet or more, in its natural enviornment. After about two weeks or so, you will notice new roots growing. Recently bought a Portulacaria Afra it's having some issues. You may also need to move the plant to a brighter location to help it dry out faster. This can be achieved by keeping them cool and dry in the winter months, with temperatures just above freezing between 35-44⁰F (1.5-7⁰C). Borne at the end of the stem in clusters, they are rich in nectar and wildly attractive to bees and other insects. The non-variegated form is more heat tolerant. To read more about this topic on indoor lighting for succulents, check out my post on “Proper Lighting for Succulents Indoors” to get some helpful tips. To keep these little pests off of your plant, spray a mixture of neem oil and water onto the entire plant, stem, soil, and the tops and bottoms of the leaves. In all honesty, I have yet to see my Portulacaria Afra bloom. Check out my post on “Best Soil and Fertilizers for Succulents’’ to get some helpful tips and a load of information on these topics. Water supply be acclimated to full sun needs to feel dry before you can use frost cloths mini... Then water lightly and monitor the plant about soil for succulents, please click “! 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