how do you care for spekboom

How to Plant the SpekBoom – Portulacaria Afra?

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How do you revive a Spekboom plant?

Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Give it a little water every few days and you’ll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own. Make sure you don’t give it too much water or it will rot.

Should you plant spekboom in your garden?

Find out the benefits of planting spekboom, an indigenous succulent, in your garden. Whether you call it spekboom, elephant’s food or pork bush, this incredible plant with its bright green, circular leaves should be planted in every South African garden (and maybe even every garden around the world). Here’s why: 1.

How often should I water Spekboom?

Spekboom makes for a low-maintenance house or garden plant. Remember as with all succulents not to over-water. Signs of over-watering are swollen, unhappy looking leaves which look yellow or translucent. Once a week is sufficient in summer time. With heavy rain, this becomes even less of a necessity.

How do you take care of a Spekboom elephant bush?

Fertilizer: Spekboom enjoy fertilising during their Spring - Summer growth period; once a month is sufficient. Use a balanced fertiliser at half the recommended dilution level. Repotting: The Elephant Bush plant grows best when slightly root-bound, so doesn’t need to be repotted regularly.

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How do you keep spekboom alive?

But as a houseplant bright, indirect light is best - a location that gets a few hours of morning sun would be the perfect spot. Water: Through Spring and Summer, this succulent plant likes to be watered well using water at room temperature, then allowed to almost dry out before its next drink.

How often should you water a spekboom?

once every two weeksSpekboom (Portulacaria afra) As an indoor plant, its fleshy green leaves, red stems and tendency to form a sculptural bush, make Spekboom a visual delight. Its drought-tolerant properties make this succulent a hardy home cohabitant. Place in bright light to direct sunlight and water once every two weeks.

Where is the best place to plant a spekboom?

Spekboom is proudly South African It is found predominantly in the Eastern Cape, and especially in the semi-arid Karoo region, where growing conditions are ideal for this resilient plant. It favours North-facing slopes where it is exposed to maximum sunlight. Thriving in poor soils, it tolerates both drought and frost.

How can I make spekboom grow faster?

In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. Even tough it has no special requirements to grow, compost and fertiliser will encourage quicker growth. Cuttings are easily rooted in spring though autumn.

Why is spekboom called a miracle plant?

“Planted in the correct area, spekboom is indeed a miracle plant. It can root from cuttings even in degraded soils which reach 70°C in summer and which receive no rain for several months on end. These rooted cuttings can then grow into mature plants over 10 to 20 years, allowing the spekboom thicket to regenerate.”

How do you get spekboom to flower?

Spekboom flowers in South Africa's spring and summer seasons, from September through to March. It is more likely to flower when it rains as flowering consumes a large amount of the plant's energy. During a severe drought, the plant will reserve its energy to increase its chance of survival.

Will spekboom grow in shade?

If regularly clipped, the spekboom forms an outstanding, impenetrable and long-lived hedge. All the cultivars can be grown in containers and are ideal subjects for bonsai, and 'Prostrata' is also suited to large hanging baskets. The plants prefer a warm, sunny spot, but can also be grown in light shade.

What are the benefits of spekboom?

Nibbling on a Spekboom leaf won't only cure an irritation, but also provide important health benefits. The edible leaves of the Elephantbush are rich in manganese, cobalt, and magnesium, as well as Vitamin C, iodine and selenium. The flavour interestingly changes throughout the day.

How do you take cuttings from spekboom?

It's easy to grow Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Give it a little water every few days and you'll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own. Make sure you don't give it too much water or it will rot.

Can you grow spekboom from a cutting?

Best of all is the fact that spekboom is easy to propagate: simply cut or break off a piece, stick it in your garden bed or rockery, water every few days and soon enough you'll have another one of these versatile carbon-munchers happily growing in your garden. Enjoy!

Is spekboom good for diabetes?

Poultices made out of the leaves can be applied to acne, blisters, corns, insect bites, sore feet and sunburn. It has also been said that chewing Spekboom leaves several times a day can successfully treat high blood sugar levels.

How do you plant spekboom in the garden?

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Will spekboom grow in shade?

If regularly clipped, the spekboom forms an outstanding, impenetrable and long-lived hedge. All the cultivars can be grown in containers and are ideal subjects for bonsai, and 'Prostrata' is also suited to large hanging baskets. The plants prefer a warm, sunny spot, but can also be grown in light shade.

How quickly does a spekboom grow?

The plant requires full sun, and slightly acidic, well drained soil. Plants should reach flowering size within 3-4 years. The spekboom mistletoe (Viscum crassulae ) is a hemiparasite on the spekboom (Portulacaria afra ) in the Eastern Cape.

How much carbon does a spekboom absorb?

“Through this little action, in two years, one Spekboom plant can promulgate to cover one hectare of ground. That one plant can absorb ten tonnes of carbon.

Is spekboom a money plant?

Scientific name and common names. Some of its more common names are Spekboom, Elephant Bush, Porkbush, Dwarf Jade Plant (due to their similarity), Money Plant or Mini Coin Plant (by the shape of its leaves). In Africa, it is known as Spekboom.

Why the Hype for Spekboom?

It’s proudly South African status and humble green leaves and red stems are making waves in in discussions worldwide, specifically relating to assist in the fight against global warming.

How tall does Spekboom grow?

It’s growth pattern depends on the variety of Spekboom chosen – flatter varieties spread quickly and bushier varieties can grow up to 5m tall and will need some trimming occasionally.

What plants are used as unintentional firebreaks?

When we think back to the recent California fires and how rows of Euphorbia tirucalli Sticks on Fire were used as unintentional firebreaks – we really can be appreciative of this unique category of plants!

Does Spekboom self sustain?

Having evolved to self-sustain in the arid Karoo, Spekboom comes with a few tricks up it’s green sleeves! It photosynthesises as any other plant would, when moisture comes its way during cooler weather. When warmer weather comes, carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed during the day, which is then stored as carbon compounds in the spekboom’s leaves, stems and roots.

Can you plant Spekboom in overgazed areas?

In previously overgazed areas, Spekboom can be planted to compact the soil; this prevents it from being washed away. The results are better quality soil with ideal conditions for the planting of other indigenous plant species.

Can Spekboom tolerate heat?

Spekboom can tolerate cold temperatures as well as extreme heat . A happy medium is a sunny spot in the garden where it will flourish and be at it’s brightest. Ensure you plant plants with similar water requirements in the same beds – roses for example or other thirsty plants are not good companions of Spekboom.

Does Spekboom grow slowly?

Spekboom grows slowly, but amends soil quality. In places where drought has left dams dry, water is flowing again. The long term pay-off needs to be understood to be implemented – in this case, Spekboom is an essential environmental ‘bandage’ which also acts as a source of food and a way to build profit in South Africa.

How to propagate a spekboom?

Spekboom is easily propagated, which is great news for budget gardeners. Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Give it a little water every few days and you’ll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own. Make sure you don’t give it too much water or it will rot.

What is a Spekboom?

Spekboom (aka Portulacaria afra) is a succulent that helps fight air pollution. It has the ability to ‘sequester’ or capture four to ten tons of carbon per hectare! Essentially, it acts as a carbon sponge, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere and turning it into plant matter. Excess carbon in the atmosphere is responsible for global warming, so the more carbon we can remove from the air and return to the ground, the better.

What is the mechanism of Spekboom?

Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to both rainforest-like conditions and semi-arid conditions, making it incredibly adaptable and suited to almost any garden.

Where is Spekboom native to?

Spekboom is indigenous to the Eastern Cape where South African elephants consider the plant a delicacy.

Can spekboom be used as a hedge?

Whether you are looking for a plant that can be turned into a hedge or a bonsai, or used as groundcover or a large bush, spekboom can do it all. It responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy screen or hedge. Some varieties grow low to the ground and others reach as high as 2 metres!

How to propagate spekboom?

Spekboom can be propagated from cuttings, which must be kept dry to prevent rotting. Allow the cleanly cut edges of the cuttings to dry out for a few days before planting it in well-drained river sand. In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained.

Why is spekboom so special?

This remarkable plant is unique in that it stores solar energy to perform photosynthesis at night. This makes a spekboom thicket 10 times more effective per hectare at carbon fixing than any tropical rainforest.”. Excess carbon in the air is responsible for global warming so plant more spekboom to fight climate change!

What does spekboom taste like?

The taste of spekboom leaves are pleasant but changes throughout as the sun rises and sets. During the day leaves have an acid flavour and they become less acidic towards the evening. The delicious greenery is heavily browsed by game and firm favourite of several wild animals, especially elephants!

Why is Spekboom so beautiful?

Spekboom is beautiful when it is in full bloom; the noticeable rosy flowers cover the succulent in a sea of pink . The flowers lure insects and birds from afar because of its nectar.

How tall can a spekboom tree grow?

Plant a Spekboom Tree. A spekboom tree can grow up to four metres tall! On Shamwari Private Game Reserve, spekboom occurs naturally in many parts of the reserve. Often it is found in dense habitats known as thickets, wherein certain animals, such a black rhino roam.

How does spekboom help the atmosphere?

This plant helps to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by acting like a carbon sponge, improving the quality of air we breathe. More specifically, spekboom can absorb between four to ten tonnes of carbon per hectare. This incredible tree uses carbon to make plant tissue and produce oxygen.

Where is Spekboom native to?

Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) is a succulent plant found in South Africa. One of the many Spekboom facts is that it is indigenous to the Eastern Cape province and has been deemed as a miracle plant by many. It is a bright green, small-leaved plant with a contrasting red stem found in Southern Africa ...

A resilient & versatile succulent plant

Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) is a soft-wooded, semi-evergreen shrub that is regarded as a keystone species because of its status as the dominant species within the subtropical thicket biome – both in terms of cover and relative abundance. Some experts have dubbed it “a miracle plant.”

The increasing popularity of succulents

Succulents are popular for a number of reasons, not least of which their enormous aesthetic appeal, but also the fact that they require minimal maintenance. We all know the feeling of unwillingly killing a plant despite our best efforts to nurture and cherish it to fruition.

What does Spekboom look like?

The Spekboom has tiny round green leaves and typically reddish/lilac stems. Unfortunately for pork lovers, it doesn’t actually produce bacon.

Growing Spekboom at home

Without being too obvious about the elephant in the room, we’ve all spent abnormal amounts of time at home in the last year. Everyone has adjusted to a “new normal” in their own ways. Some of us are privileged enough to have gardens that provided invaluable sanctuary.

Protecting local flora & fauna

We want to invite you to embark on a journey of nature-conscious thinking with us at our inception. The local flora & fauna all around us is something to marvel at daily but to continue to have that luxury, small & gradual sacrifices must be made.

Combating climate change

We’re also fully committed to taking positive steps towards turning the tide against climate change. Offsetting our collective carbon footprint as a species is one proactive way in which we can move in that direction.

Benefits

Spekboom can root from cuttings even in degraded soils which reach 70°C in summer and receive no rain for several months.

How to propagate elephant bush?

Propagation of Elephant Bush Succulents. Like most succulents, elephant bush is easy to reproduce from cuttings. Take cuttings in spring or summer for best results. Let the cutting dry out and callous for a couple of days and then plant the cutting in damp gritty soil in a small pot. Place the cutting in a moderately lit area where temperatures are ...

How to grow elephant bush from cuttings?

Place the cutting in a moderately lit area where temperatures are at least 65 degrees F. (18 C.). Keep the soil lightly moist and in a few weeks the cutting will root and you will have a new elephant bush succulent to share with a friend or add to your collection.

What kind of soil do elephant bush plants need?

These succulents need well drained soil and an unglazed pot that will help excess moisture evaporate. The best mixture for this type of plant is cactus soil or potting soil cut by half with sand, vermiculite, or pumice. Choose a location with indirect sunlight when growing elephant bush indoors.

Why do my elephant bush leaves drop off?

Overly bright sunlight can char the leaves and cause them to drop off. Ensure that the container you choose has wide drainage holes. Elephant bush succulents work well as part of a succulent display with plants that require similar care and situations.