If you buy an elephant's foot commercially, then this houseplant is usually also cultivated in this country. The plant is not cheap because it grows slowly. That's why the idea of growing an elephant's foot yourself is obvious.
Pulling an elephant's foot yourself is not an easy task
How to grow an elephant foot
If you want to grow a new elephant foot from offshoots, you first need a plant from which you can cut the required offshoots. Maybe you're lucky and a friend or neighbor can help you out with it. Otherwise you will have to try sowing, which, however, requires a lot of patience.
The Sowing
Seeds are available from seed stores, either locally or online. However, the germination time is very long. It takes a few weeks or even months before the first seedlings appear. To speed up germination a little, you can soak the seeds in warm water before sowing.
Meanwhile, mix sand and peat in a ratio of about 2:1 and moisten this mixture. Alternatively, you can also use nutrient-poor growing substrate. After about three hours of soaking time, press the seeds a few millimeters deep into the substrate. If you have an indoor greenhouse, put the seed pots (€16.68) in there.
To germinate, the seed needs a temperature of about 20 °C to 25 °C and constant humidity. If you don't have a mini greenhouse, put a transparent film over the pots and secure them with a rubber band. Be sure to air the seedlings regularly, otherwise there is a risk of mold.
What care does a young plant need
A young elephant foot needs almost the same care as an older plant. However, it is a lot more sensitive. As long as the young plant does not yet have the characteristic thickened trunk, it must be watered regularly. However, waterlogging must not occur, as it leads to root rot and softens the trunk.
The essentials in brief:
- Sowing very tedious
- Allow seeds to swell
- Germination temperature: 20 °C to 25 °C
- Germination period: several weeks to months
tips
Breeding elephant feet requires a lot of patience.