Elephant tree, bottle tree, Beaucarnea recurvata – care

In the forests of Mexico, the elephant tree also takes on elephant-sized proportions. From a growth height of almost 9 meters, 1.8 meter long leaves then wag down. Its trunk can even reach a meter in diameter. Inconceivable in the living room. It’s a good thing that there is also a small variant of the exotic species that can be cultivated here in Germany. The plant grows quite slowly, but with good care it can reach a height of up to 1.5 meters. The elongated leaves are correspondingly shorter than in Mexico, but grow up to a length of 50 cm. In the nature of Mexico, elephant trees bloom, in the home culture this has been observed extremely rarely, even in well-developed, old specimens.

maintenance

The elephant tree is considered very easy to care for. So it’s a perfect plant for beginners and those short on time. But even experienced gardeners will appreciate this exotic plant. The elephant tree can deal with most care mistakes quite well. However, attention should be paid to the following:

• Keep warm and sunny.
• Water sparingly.
• For the summer, it is better to water it vigorously and then let it dry out than to have constantly moist soil.
• Water little to no water in winter. The bottle tree usually stores enough water and nutrients in its trunk to get through the winter.
• Fertilize with liquid fertilizer in the summer months.

Substrate

Beaucarnea recurvata needs a relatively nutrient-poor, loose and well-drained substrate. Special succulent or cactus soil from specialist shops is ideal here. The disadvantage of normal potting soil is that it only releases water gradually, so loosening substrates should always be added. However, there are also bottle trees that are cultivated in potting soil. In such a case, moderate watering is all the more important. The elephant tree does not tolerate standing in waterlogging. Coconut substrates and perlite, which consist of volcanic glass, can be mixed in so that the water can drain off well. Both additives are low in nutrients and prevent soil compaction, which can lead to waterlogging.

sowing

The Elephant Tree can be grown from seed. The small, round seeds are commercially available. Some tips:

• Sowing is possible all year round.
• Soak seeds for 24 hours. Outer shells can be carefully removed to speed up germination, but this is not always effective.
• Plant bowls or mini greenhouses ensure stable humidity and temperature conditions.
• Substrate: Mixture of potting soil with coconut substrate or perlite.
• Insert seeds carefully and cover lightly with substrate.
• Watering: Keep substrate moist.
• Temperature: 20-25 degrees. As a general rule, the warmer within this range, the faster the seeds will germinate.
• Germination period: 1-4 weeks. Depending on the age, quality and moisture content of the seeds, as well as light, temperature and humidity.
• Root formation: Usually begins 1 week after germination.
• Germination success: At least 50% (at least 5 seedlings per 10 seeds)

Bottle tree repot

The elephant tree grows only moderately and also slowly. As a succulent plant, little substrate is enough for it, since all the important nutrients and water are stored directly in the trunk. Therefore, repotting is rarely necessary, you can assume a 3-4 year rhythm.

However, the bottle tree should be repotted as soon as the pot surface is completely covered by the trunk. The same applies if the root ball visibly pushes out of the pot. Both are signs that the flower pot has become too small. Accordingly, a larger container should be chosen so that there is at least 2 cm of space around the base of the plant. Spring is the best time to repot before the growing season begins.

When choosing the flower pot, make sure that the pot is shallow rather than deep. The elephant tree is shallow-rooted and focuses its energy on the trunk, which is wide. Shallow roots generally get along very well with little substrate. The advantage of flat pots is that there is hardly any waterlogging, since the substrate dries relatively quickly down to the bottom.

To repot, carefully remove the plant and remove any decomposing substrate. A water-permeable substrate is suitable for the new pot, as the elephant tree does not tolerate waterlogging well. Do not place the plant deep, it should only be covered with substrate for a few centimetres. Water generously after repotting and then let the substrate dry out completely. The nutrients in the new substrate are enough for the plant for up to 8 weeks, during which time you should stop fertilizing.

The right location

Since the succulent plant originally comes from dry, almost desert-like regions in Mexico, the bottle tree needs a lot of daylight and sun. If it doesn’t get enough light, its growth will even slow down. Therefore, a semi-shady to sunny pitch should be chosen, which is protected from drafts as far as possible. The elephant tree also likes to occupy such a place outdoors in summer. If the plant comes outside in summer, you should choose a place that is protected from wind and direct sunlight for the first few weeks so that the elephant tree can slowly adapt from the rather poor conditions in the living room to the conditions outside. After the acclimatization period, the plant tolerates more sunlight.

As expected, the elephant tree likes it warm and thrives well in normal room temperatures. In summer he enjoys the warmth and in winter he needs a minimum temperature of 10 to 15 degrees. If it gets colder, the bottle tree reacts with discolored leaves. However, increased heating in winter harbors a risk: if you heat too much, this is often accompanied by a drop in humidity. Air that is too dry can then lead to pest infestation.

watering and fertilizing

The bottle tree always carries a water reservoir with it in its thickened base, the caudex. Therefore, the following applies to casting:

• In summer: occasionally and then plentifully. The plant sucks itself full. Standing in wet soil for a long time is not good for the elephant tree.
• In winter: little to no watering.

The bottle tree only needs to be fertilized a little. It is a good idea to add liquid cactus fertilizer to the irrigation water during its active phase in spring and summer. Alternatively, a weakly dosed complete fertilizer can also be used between April and September. This may be used at most once a week or less frequently. Fertilizing is not necessary in winter.

hibernate

In winter, the bottle tree shuts down its physiological processes, fertilizing is suspended between October and March and watering is reduced to a minimum. So that the elephant tree has a good start into the next year, you should keep the temperature at 10 to 15 degrees. The plant is sensitive to cold, so remove it from the cold window sill in winter if necessary.

Propagation of Beaucarnea recurvata

The elephant tree is mainly propagated by seeds, see explanations under sowing. In the case of large specimens of the plant, where side shoots have already formed on the leaf axes, you can separate them and treat them as cuttings. The cuttings need a constant temperature. Therefore, at best, grow them in a closed seed tray until a strong root system has formed. Such cuttings should be protected from direct sunlight and kept relatively moist.

diseases and pests

In general, the bottle tree is not particularly sensitive and is therefore also suitable for plant beginners. By far the most common diseases that the elephant tree has to deal with result from excessive watering and a too cold environment. A brownish discoloration of the leaf tips indicates that the bottle construction was too cold. Stem and root rot occurs when watering is too frequent.

Treatment for stem and root damage

A healthy stem and roots are firm, white, and moist under the bark. Remove all dead tissue until white is revealed. Put the sick plant in a bag with substrate so that the moisture can be better regulated. Daily airing prevents mold growth. Too much moisture is counterproductive. Whether roots grow again depends on the extent of the damage and can take several weeks.

Pests such as aphids, scale insects and spider mites can also infest the elephant tree. These problems occur especially when the humidity is too low. The humidity often drops due to the heating air in winter. However, the pests can be fought quite well on the large and flat leaves of the elephant tree.

Treatment against spider mites and scale insects

• Gently scrape scale insects off the leaves with a knife. This method can be tedious depending on the infestation but is thorough. Make sure that the scale insects cannot migrate uncontrolled to other plants. Scrape scraped specimens into a container or plastic bag.
• Spider mites do not like moisture and can often be easily showered off with a hand shower if they are slightly infested. To do this, place the plant in the shower and rinse with cool, not cold, water. If spider mites are still found on the leaves, it is worth using a protective hood in which the humidity is kept high. All you have to do is put a large plastic bag over the plant. This device should be aired daily and the plant misted with water. If the humidity is constantly high, the spider mites will die.

Conclusion
As a slow-growing succulent, the elephant tree is a low-maintenance plant that even thrives on novice planters. The bottle tree can be grown from seed and, with good care, can live to a ripe old age. Its unusual trunk and long leaves make the exotic from Mexico a real eye-catcher.