The elephant foot is very decorative and is considered to be quite easy to care for. Nevertheless, he can also enter. If you react to the first signs of disease or pests, you can usually still save a battered elephant foot.

Brown leaves are often the first sign of a problem

How do I react to illnesses?

Really serious plant diseases are actually very rare in a well cared for elephant tree. However, yellow leaves or rotting roots can sometimes occur. In most cases, the elephant's foot was then watered too often or too much. Here it helps not to water the plant for the time being or to replace the soil. Otherwise, even the trunk can become soft and the elephant's foot will die.

What should I do in case of pest infestation?

Especially in relatively dry (heating) air, scale insects, thrips or spider mites can also appear on elephant feet. This exotic plant also occasionally suffers from mealybugs. Before you fight the pests you should isolate the elephant foot. Also check whether the neighboring plants are also affected. If you don't discover too many of the uninvited guests, then it may be enough to rinse the plants thoroughly.

How does the elephant foot react to unfavorable living conditions?

As a tropical plant, the elephant's foot prefers a warm and bright location. He is quite sensitive to cold and drafts. It doesn't generally harm dry air, but some pests thrive there, too. Therefore, the elephant's foot should be checked regularly and thoroughly for pests, especially during the heating period.

Incorrect care, such as too much fertilizer or water, damages the elephant's foot more than too little of both. Namely, it can store nutrients and water in its thickened end of the trunk.

First aid measures for the battered elephant foot:

  • Rinse pests thoroughly
  • replace wet soil
  • water thoroughly when dry
  • possibly increase humidity
  • change of location in unfavorable surroundings

tips

The sooner you respond to an unusual or sickly appearance on your elephant's foot, the greater the chance of saving the plant.

Category:

Vegetable garden