The turtle plant (Dioscorea elephantipes) owes its name to the unusual appearance of its storage organs, which are reminiscent of a turtle's shell. The succulent is a rarity whose care should be left in the hands of a garden expert. How to care for the turtle plant.
How to properly care for a turtle plant?
To properly care for a turtle plant, you should water sparingly when the substrate is dry, use liquid fertilizer for succulents from May to September, cut dried vines, repot regularly and choose a dark, warm location in winter.
What do you need to pay attention to when watering the turtle plant?
- Don't keep it too wet!
- Let the substrate dry first
- Observe storage organ
- use soft water
Before watering the turtle plant, check whether the substrate is already dry. If the storage organ shows dents, it is high time to give it some water.
Pour carefully. The inside of the root ball should be just moist. Waterlogging is harmful. It is better to keep the plant too dry than too wet.
How to fertilize the succulent?
Fertilization takes place from May to September. Use a liquid fertilizer for succulents (€6.00 on Amazon). Slightly reduce the amount indicated on the packaging to avoid over-fertilization.
When and how do you prune turtle plants?
A special feature of the turtle plant is that the tendrils only grow once a year. You may only cut the dried vines when the leaves have fallen off.
What do you have to pay attention to when repotting?
In spring you should check whether the turtle plant still has enough space in the pot. To do this, pot them up and shake off the old substrate. Check whether the roots are he althy.
If necessary, place the plant in a larger pot. Renew the substrate. Cactus soil is suitable.
What diseases and pests can occur?
If there is too much moisture, the plant will rot. The turtle plant is quite susceptible to powdery mildew. Cut out affected areas and then treat the plant with a solution of fresh milk and water.
Aphids are more common. An infestation should be treated immediately with appropriate measures.
How do you care for turtle plants in winter?
The turtle plant does not tolerate low temperatures below twelve degrees. At the latest when the tendrils have lost their leaves, put the plant in its winter location. This should be dark and offer temperatures of up to a maximum of 15 degrees.
So that the turtle plant does not dry out completely, gently moisten it with a little water occasionally in winter.
Tip
The turtle plant can be propagated by seeds. However, when grown indoors, it rarely develops fertilized flowers, so you may have to get seeds from a specialist dealer.