Propagate the elephant's foot using cuttings

Where can I get suitable offshoots from?

In principle, an elephant's foot has only one trunk. But with increasing age it occasionally forms small offshoots in the leaf axils. This can be done, for example, at Repot can be separated quite easily to make a new plant to pull. As a rule, such an offshoot does not form until the elephant's foot is already a few years old.

How should I treat the offshoots?

Your offshoot will rot in a vessel with water. Better to put it about two inches deep in a shallow one pot with looser, well moistened Potting soil. If the offshoot should dry out a little, that's usually not a problem.

Put a transparent foil over the pot with your cuttings, which you fasten with a rubber band or put a transparent vessel over it. Now keep the cuttings evenly moist and warm so that they can easily form new roots.

How do I care for a young elephant's foot?

Although an elephant's foot needs very little water, a young plant should definitely be kept on a regular basis poured but not too abundant either. It must first develop the thickening of the stem that is characteristic of this plant. The elephant's foot not only stores water in it for dry times but also nutrients. The young tree is on the other hand on a regular supply of water and fertilizer reliant.

The essentials in brief:

• It is best to cut off cuttings close to the trunk in summer
• leave a little wood on the offshoot
• plant in permeable potting soil
• cover with a transparent container or foil
• keep them constantly warm and moist
• remove the hood as soon as the first new leaves appear
• Water the young plant regularly but not too abundantly