How Often to Water Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra)? Detailed Guide to Planting and Watering Methods
Elephant Bush, also called purslane, has very distinctive leaves: plump and thick, and perfectly round, so they look very much like copper coins. Therefore, in feng shui, it is a very good ornamental plant for attracting wealth, and everyone is willing to keep a pot at home to bring good luck. So how exactly is it planted? Let's take a look below.
How to water Elephant Bush (how often to water)
During the growing season, water once a week, following the principle of watering thoroughly only after the soil has dried out. During the dormant season, water sparingly once a month. Make sure the planting soil is breathable and drains well. In northern regions, because indoor heating is used in winter, the air is dry, so you need to spray the plant frequently to increase air humidity.
How to plant Elephant Bush
1 Temperature: Every summer, when the temperature reaches above 35°C, the plant grows poorly. Measures such as adding a black shade net and spraying water around the surrounding environment should be used to lower the temperature, creating a suitable environment with a suitable ambient temperature that is also relatively dry and refreshing. In winter, it is best to maintain a greenhouse temperature above 10°C. If the room temperature is below 5°C, the plant is prone to cold damage, which then severely threatens its survival. In late autumn and early winter, when the temperature drops below 8°C, it should be moved promptly to a well-lit indoor area. Throughout the overwintering period, the temperature should be kept between 8°C and 10°C, which is relatively safe and reliable.
2 Light: Elephant Bush likes light and also has strong shade tolerance, so it should be given an environment with good sunlight but also a certain degree of shade. It dislikes direct strong light, and especially should avoid the scorching sun after long rain clears in late spring and early summer, as well as the 5-6 hours of unobstructed strong light baking around midday in summer; otherwise, the newly sprouted tender leaves are very easily scorched.
3 Moisture: To care well for a potted Elephant Bush, you should strive to create an environment that is both moist and on the dry side. In commercial cultivation, for plants kept in a greenhouse, when the room temperature reaches above 33°C, the plant should be sprayed with water once a day. Because this plant has strong drought tolerance, it is best to keep the potting soil slightly moist and on the dry side, but occasionally watering or fertilizing excessively will not necessarily cause root rot.
Why Elephant Bush leaves turn yellow and black
1. Cold damage: When the winter temperature drops below 5°C, plus wet potting soil, the plant's tender leaves are prone to collapsing from cold damage, and in severe cases it can cause the tubers to rot, making it very hard to restore vitality.
2. Brown spot disease: Brown spot disease is the most common disease of Elephant Bush. It starts on the lower leaves and gradually spreads upward. In the early stage, the spots are round or oval and purplish brown; in the later stage, they turn black. In severe cases, the diseased spots can merge into patches, causing the leaves to wither, yellow, and drop.
3. Watering: Generally we water too much, always afraid that Elephant Bush will die of drought, so we give it a lot of water.
4. Light exposure: It cannot be exposed to direct sunlight, but it definitely must receive light.
5. Fertilizing: Buy some green-leaf fertilizer from the flower market and apply a little regularly. It is simple, convenient, and effective. You can also wipe the leaves of Elephant Bush with beer; after wiping, they become glossy and shiny.
6. Repotting: This is caused by root rot after watering following repotting.
Solutions for Elephant Bush leaves turning yellow
1. Cold damage: For Elephant Bush, 15°C is not enough; it needs at least 20°C to overwinter.
2. Control measures for brown spot disease: Appropriately reduce humidity and spray with 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 600-800 times dilution, 0.5-10% Bordeaux mixture, or 50% zineb at 1000-1500 times dilution, or 25% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 900 times dilution, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays. Also, after the potting soil dries, water once with a 500 times dilution carbendazim solution.
3. Watering and light exposure: In northern summers, generally water about once every ten days. Remember to water based on whether the soil is dry or wet: water only after it has dried out, and when you water, water thoroughly. In winter, I basically water only once every more than a month. It should be placed in a place with sufficient sunlight and watering should be controlled. Then cut off the blackened leaves. Then spray 800——1000 times dilution chlorothalonil near the blackened leaves.
Elephant Bush likes places with light, so during normal care it should be placed in a place with relatively sufficient sunlight. Special attention should also be paid during care; if it is not cared for properly even a little, yellowing and blackening will occur. However, there is no need to worry too much. As long as you follow the methods above, it will definitely recover its health.