- How often should I water my elephant foot?
- What happens if I water the elephant foot too much?
- How do I prevent waterlogging?
The elephant foot (bot. Beaucarnea recurvata) is also called bottle tree or water palm. It can store a lot of water in its trunk, which is thickened at the bottom. So it easily survives some time without water. This is not only beneficial during your vacation.
The elephant's foot should never be watered too much
How often should I water my elephant foot?
It is best to only water your elephant's foot when it really needs water and not according to a set plan. The water requirement depends on various factors, such as the location and the prevailing temperature. Use your finger to check if the soil is still a little damp. Only when this is dry should the elephant's foot be watered again.
What happens if I water the elephant foot too much?
The elephant's foot soon reacts to too much water or even waterlogging with brown leaves. If the moisture lasts too long, there is a risk of root rot and, in the worst case, your elephant's foot will die. On the other hand, it tolerates a few weeks of drought much better.
How do I prevent waterlogging?
You can do something to prevent waterlogging when planting or repotting your elephant's foot. Only place the sapling in a pot with a drainage hole. If there isn't one, then drill one. Then lay a drainage layer of potsherds or pebbles so that excess water runs off well…
The essentials in brief:
- generally needs little water
- Absolutely avoid waterlogging
- always ensure good drainage (drainage layer and drainage hole in the pot)
- do not water at all in cool winter quarters
- Water extremely sparingly in the (moderately) warm winter quarters
tips
The elephant foot belongs to the succulents and therefore does well with little water and low humidity.