Combine some of the old soil in the old pot with new soil, so you don’t give you plant shock when you transfer it into the new soil. This happens because the roots at the bottom of the plant have developed funguses from being overwatered too many times. Other common names include porkbush and spekboom. These pink or white flowers grow on the end of stems. Wait until the soil dries before watering again. Remove a few leaves from the bottom of the plant so that roots can grow, then allow the wounds to heal and callous completely. Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” succulents are generally easy to care for. To repot the trailing succulent, choose a container one or two sizes larger than its current one. However, growing as a potted succulent indoors, elephant bush stems only grow a few feet. Scientific name: Portulacaria afra Synonyms: Spekboom, Bacon Tree, Pork Bush, Elephant’s Food, Elephant Bush, Dwarf Jade Plant. It is used in soups and as topping in salads. The most common disease to affect elephant bush growth is root rot. Their trailing leafy stems make the succulent excellent for placing on high shelves or growing hanging in baskets. Elephant bush is a shrub-like plant or small tree that grows between 8 and 15 ft. (2.5 – 4.5 m) high when grown in the ground and ideal conditions. Sand tends to be too fine and can make the succulent soil too dense. Portulacaria afra 'Green' - Elephant Bush, Miniature Jade: Small round green leaves with red stems. The elephant bush does best in areas within hardiness zones 10 and 11. Can you tell me the size of the spread? Overwatering is the most common way of killing succulents, and elephant bush is no exception. Then water lightly and monitor the plant to make sure it is accepting its new home. When growing conditions are right, Portulacaria afra produces masses of star-shaped flowers growing in small clusters. It does not like the cold at all, and after a few days outside, the plant will start to wither. We are a free resource for well-researched and unbiased plant information and product reviews. Here are some handy tips for getting soil moisture right for elephant bush plants: Portulacaria afra “Elephant Bush” needs watering only when the potting mix is dry. I want to put it on my patio and am trying to decide how big it will become…. I only water it occasionally. Elephant bush is a drought-tolerant plant, ideally suited to growing in arid, desert-like environments. 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. So, soil consistency, the right pot, and proper watering techniques are vital for keeping Portulacaria succulents thriving. The most common reason for dropped leaves in Portulacaria Afra is watering issues. 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. Elephant bush is a slow-growing variety of succulent and doesn’t require frequent repotting. It is best placed next to a bookshelf or tall mantle so that the foliage can climb up up up! This fungal disease is easy to avoid if you water your succulents properly. I hope you enjoy the content here! It is rare for Elephant Portulacaria to bloom in cultivation. And for the inside potted plants, basic potting soil or cactus soil would suffice as the soil mix. The elephant bush succulent is characterized by a brownish-red stem sprouting with tiny, glossy green leaves. A picture of Crassula ovata (jade plant). The elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) is similar to jade plant, but they are not related. They often take root and start growing new plants that you can transfer to a new pot. Also, rainbow elephant bush plants are smaller than the non-variegated sort. Elephant bush succulents grow outdoors in USDA zones 10 and 11. If left alone to grow this plant will make a tree. Leaf drop on a favorite houseplant is a frustrating problem because it can be hard to diagnose the causes and correct the situation. You might find more thorough information by searching the Latin name. Whiteflies are a significant pest to fight when you have an elephant bush that is infested with them. Allow the stem to dry for a few days so that the “wound” can heal. Some growers prefer this look, but if you don’t, you simply need to reduce the amount of light your Elephant Bush receives each day. Also, check that the plant isn’t rootbound. I love spending my free time in my garden planting and taking care of my plants. Rainbow elephant bush has variegated cream and green leaves. Related reading: How to water cactus plants and other desert plants. Be sure the container has adequate drain holes. Elephant bush succulents are easy to grow at home if you give them enough light and don’t overwater them. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a diluted houseplant fertilizer. Elephant bush succulents must grow in porous sandy soil that has fast drainage. Usually, only outdoor elephant bushes bloom in late spring after warm, dry winters. Elephant bush (Portulacaria afra) flowers. As long as you are not overwatering the elephant bush, you shouldn’t have to worry about humidity. This variety of elephant bush has brighter-colored leaves than the darker jade-colored Portulacaria variety. The Elephant Bush plant (Portulacaria afra) is a succulent with small oval fleshy leaves and reddish woody stems. There is also a variegated variety—Rainbow elephant bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata’). It appears that the leaf drop your observing is due to the fact the you under watered your plant. Temperatures below 30°F (-1°C) damage the plant and can kill it. An ideal succulent soil mix combines 2 parts regular all-purpose potting soil, 1 part horticultural sand and 1 part perlite or pea gravel. Pour plenty of water through the soil to thoroughly soak it. Related reading: How to identify common houseplant pests. Elephant bush plants need plenty of light to thrive. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. It's also possible that it is not a problem at allleaf drop is a normal condition of growth for many plants, in which lower leaves die and fall off gradually as part of the life cycle. The rainbow elephant bush succulent has light green and cream-colored round leaves. Another difference is that elephant bush is an edible succulent, whereas jade leaves (family Crassula) are mildly toxic.