If you buy an elephant's foot commercially, then this houseplant is usually bred in this country. The plant is not cheap because it grows slowly. That's why it makes sense to grow your own elephant foot.
How can I grow an elephant foot myself?
To grow an elephant foot, you need seeds that are pre-soaked in warm water. Then plant in a sand-peat mixture or nutrient-poor growing substrate. For germination, ensure 20-25°C and even moisture. The germination period is several weeks to months.
How do I grow an elephant foot?
If you want to grow a new elephant foot from cuttings, then you first need a plant from which you can cut the necessary cuttings. Maybe you'll be lucky and a friend or neighbor can help you out. Otherwise you will have to try sowing, but this requires a lot of patience.
The sowing
Seeds are available from seed shops, either locally or online. However, the germination time is very long. A few weeks or even months pass before the first seedlings appear. To speed up germination a little, you can soak the seeds in warm water before sowing.
Meanwhile, mix sand and peat moss in a ratio of about 2:1 and moisten this mixture. Alternatively, you can also use nutrient-poor growing substrate. After about three hours of soaking, press the seeds a few millimeters deep into the substrate. If you have an indoor greenhouse (€29.00 on Amazon), then put the growing pots in there.
The seeds need a temperature of around 20 °C to 25 °C and uniform moisture to germinate. If you don't have a mini greenhouse, pull a transparent film over the pots and secure it with a rubber band. Be sure to ventilate the seedlings regularly, otherwise there is a risk of mold.
What care does a young plant need
A young elephant foot needs almost the same care as an older plant. However, it is a lot more sensitive. As long as the young plant does not yet have the characteristically thickened trunk, it needs to be watered regularly. However, waterlogging must not occur; it leads to root rot and causes the trunk to become soft.
The most important things in brief:
- Sowing very tedious
- Pre-swell seeds
- Germination temperature: 20 °C to 25 °C
- Germination time: several weeks to months
Tip
You need a lot of patience to breed elephant feet.
