The elephant's foot is rightly considered easy to care for and undemanding. He doesn't need particularly nutrient-rich soil, as he doesn't have that in his Mexican homeland. There it still grows into a stately tree.
Which soil is suitable for the elephant's foot?
Lean, well-drained soil, such as cactus soil or palm soil, is suitable for the elephant's foot. Alternatively, commercial potting soil can be mixed with sand or clay granules. Avoid waterlogging and over-fertilization to create optimal conditions.
If you want to make it easy for yourself, then plant your elephant foot in commercially available cactus soil; palm soil is also suitable. If you prefer to use ordinary potting soil, you should definitely loosen it up with clay granules or a little sand. This makes it more permeable and also a little leaner. A nutrient concentration that is too high is not very good for the elephant's foot.
Ideally, the soil chosen is also well-drained, because the elephant's foot does not tolerate waterlogging. It survives a slightly longer drought much better. It stores water in its thick trunk.
When should the elephant foot be repotted?
You should repot your elephant foot approximately every three to five years. Then the old soil is used up and the plant needs a larger pot. However, it is not the calendar that is important for choosing the right time, but rather the growth of your elephant tree.
You should only act when the pot becomes visibly too small. If repotting is not yet necessary, give the elephant's foot a little fertilizer. However, this should be used in low doses to avoid over-fertilization.
The most important things in brief:
- lean soil preferred
- loose and permeable
- Avoid waterlogging and over-fertilization
- ideal and simple: cactus soil or palm soil
- cheap solution: potting soil mixed with sand or clay granules
Tip
If you don't want to buy expensive cactus or palm soil, then mix commercially available potting soil with sand or clay granules. Your elephant foot will also feel comfortable in this.
