In general, hydroponics is not very suitable for succulent plants such as elephant foot. This is because these plants do better with little water than with too much. However, it is not impossible to grow the elephant's foot hydroponically.
How to care for an elephant foot in hydroponics?
If you have bought a hydroponic elephant foot, it needs special care so that it does not shrink. The elephant's foot must not sit too deep in the substrate so that the roots are not constantly surrounded by water. Always allow the water level to drop to the minimum after watering. Only then can the plant receive new water.
Water the elephant foot so that the water level rises to the middle mark (optimum), never to the upper mark (maximum). The elephant's foot stores water in its trunk; if it gets too much from outside, it will die. You can recognize this, for example, by the soft trunk or light, colorless leaves.
Can I convert my elephant foot to hydroponics?
Once an elephant's foot is in soil, it is difficult to convert it to hydroponics. Be sure to thoroughly rinse out any remaining soil from the roots. Otherwise, small residues could rot. Check your elephant's foot daily so you can respond immediately if its leaves turn yellow.
It's easier than changing it later if you plant a cutting in hydroponics right from the start. But this also requires sensitivity from you and is not always 100% successful. If you have several offshoots or already have an attractive elephant foot, then you can give it a try.
The most important things in brief:
- Hydroculture difficult
- don't move an old elephant's foot
- Maybe worth a try if it's an offshoot
- water very carefully
- fertilize with special hydroponic fertilizer
Tip
If possible, you should no longer convert an older elephant's foot that has previously been cultivated in soil to hydroponics. The risk of the plant dying is simply too great.
