Portulacaria Afra

Portulacaria Afra is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Elephant Bush →

Common Elephant Bush Problems →

Portulacaria Afra thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Elephant Bush Root Rot →

Portulacaria Afra requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Elephant Bush Light Requirements →

Elephant Bush Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

Portulacaria Afra is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Elephant Bush Toxicity to Humans →

Portulacaria Afra enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.

Elephant Bush Humidity Needs →

Portulacaria Afra is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

When and How to Successfully Repot Elephant Bush →

Portulacaria Afra grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Elephant Bush →

It’s common for Portulacaria Afra to go dormant in the summertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

Portulacaria Afra is native to Southern Africa.

Portulacaria Afra produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

Portulacaria Afra grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Elephant Bush →

USDA Hardiness Zone
Portulacaria Afra can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Elephant Bush Temperature Tolerance →

Portulacaria Afra can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

• Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
• To get the cutting to root, you can either:
  
  • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
  • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

• Common Bugs Affecting Elephant Bush →
• Drooping Elephant Bush Leaves →
• Elephant Bush Dropping Leaves →
• Elephant Bush Mushy Leaves →
• Black Spots on Elephant Bush →
• Brown Spots on Elephant Bush →
• Elephant Bush Leaves Falling Over →
• Elephant Bush Leaves Curling →
• Elephant Bush Yellow Leaves →
• Elephant Bush Root Rot →

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Portulacaria Afra. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!