Native to Mexico, the elephant's foot prefers warmth and light, but is still fairly low-maintenance and beginner-friendly. So even people without the proverbial green thumb can venture into this exotic-looking plant without much hesitation.

The elephant foot needs a lot of light and warmth

Buy an elephant foot

When buying an elephant's foot, pay attention to the health of the plant. You can recognize them by their strong, green leaves. Malformations and/or fluffy spots on the leaves indicate a pest infestation, while brown or yellowish discoloration indicates diseases or care errors. Also look at the location, the plant should get enough light and not be in a draughty place.

The ideal location

The elephant foot needs a lot of light and warmth to thrive. So give it a bright spot by the window. The blazing midday sun easily leads to sunburn, so east or west windows are better suited than a south-facing window. The plant tolerates temperatures of up to 30 °C without any problems, but cold less well.

Suitable substrate

Since the elephant's foot does not like waterlogging, the substrate should be loose and permeable. Ordinary potting soil can be loosened up a little by mixing it with clay granules and/or sand. Cactus soil is also good for the elephant's foot.

Water and fertilize properly

The relatively undemanding elephant foot does not require very many nutrients. Like water, it can store these in its thick trunk. It survives longer periods of drought without any problems. It does not need to be watered a lot or fertilized regularly. A little cactus fertilizer in spring, possibly a second dose in summer, is quite enough for him.

Repot the elephant foot

After about three to four years you should repot your elephant foot. It is time to repot at the latest when the broad base of the stem fills the entire pot or when the roots start to grow out of the pot. However, since the elephant's foot grows quite slowly, this should take a while.

The elephant foot in the garden

In this country, the elephant's foot should always be kept as a houseplant. It does not tolerate temperatures around freezing point well. In a nice and warm summer, however, you can put the plant outside, for example on the balcony or terrace.

But slowly get the elephant foot used to the fresh air and, above all, to the sun. A place in the light shade and spending an hour in the garden at the beginning make it easier to get used to it. If the night-time temperatures drop to around 7 °C or even less in autumn, then bring the elephant's foot back into the apartment.

The cutback

In principle, an elephant's foot does not have to be trimmed, but it is definitely possible to trim it back. If the plant is too big for you, simply shorten the trunk to the desired height and seal the cut with a special agent. This will prevent possible infections. Your elephant's foot will recover and sprout again fairly soon.

The elephant foot in winter

As a tropical plant, elephant foot is not hardy. There are two options for hibernation. On the one hand, you can keep it in your living room all year round, but on the other hand, you can also winter it a little cooler.

The second option is definitely preferable, because during the hibernation your elephant foot can recover and draw new strength for the coming season. Watering and fertilizing is not necessary during this time. Temperatures around 10 °C are ideal. An elephant's foot does not tolerate frost at all.

diseases and pests

Sometimes the leaves of an elephant's foot turn yellowish, this is usually due to mistakes in care or rotting roots. These are caused by waterlogging. It is also possible that the elephant's foot suffers from strongly fluctuating temperatures. You should urgently remedy this.

Spider mites and/or scale insects usually indicate that the air is too dry. Check your elephant's foot regularly for pest infestations, especially during the winter months. Mealybugs and mealybugs also occasionally occur. But this doesn't happen all that often.

The essentials in brief:

  • beginner-friendly and easy-care
  • Location: bright and warm
  • Temperature: around 20°C to 25°C
  • pour: little to moderate
  • Avoid drafts and waterlogging
  • little susceptible to diseases and pests
  • repot every 3 to 4 years
  • suitable substrate: permeable, nutrient-poor potting soil, possibly mixed with clay granules or sand, cactus soil
  • Hibernation: moderately cool and not too dark

tips

Don't overdo it on an elephant's foot. Water and fertilize little, a nutrient-poor substrate, but lots of light and warmth allow the plant to thrive best.

Category:

Vegetable garden