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elephant's foot plant

Also known as

Pachypodium rosylatum

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Pachypodium rosulatum

Genus

Pachypodium

Family

Apocynaceae

Order

Gentianales

How to care for elephant's foot plant

💦 Water

How often to water your elephant's foot plant

elephant's foot plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for elephant's foot plant in your home

elephant's foot plant love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

elephant's foot plant does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of elephant's foot plant in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize elephant's foot plant

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for elephant's foot plant: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your elephant's foot plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Pachypodium

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

elephant's foot plant thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

elephant's foot plant Water Frequency →

elephant's foot plant Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

elephant's foot plant requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

elephant's foot plant Light Requirements →

elephant's foot plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

elephant's foot plant is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. elephant's foot plant is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is elephant's foot plant Edible? →

elephant's foot plant Toxicity to Cats →

elephant's foot plant Toxicity to Dogs →

elephant's foot plant Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

elephant's foot plant prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

elephant's foot plant Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

elephant's foot plant does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for elephant's foot plant →

Best Pots for elephant's foot plant →

When and How to Successfully Repot elephant's foot plant →

What Are Healthy elephant's foot plant Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

elephant's foot plant grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize elephant's foot plant →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for elephant's foot plant to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

elephant's foot plant is native to Madagascar and Africa.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
elephant's foot plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

elephant's foot plant Temperature Tolerance →

elephant's foot plant Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with elephant's foot plant →

When to Plant elephant's foot plant →

How to Plant elephant's foot plant →

Where to Plant elephant's foot plant →

Winter Care for elephant's foot plant →

Best Companion Plants for elephant's foot plant →

Is elephant's foot plant a Weed? →

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting elephant's foot plant →

What Eats elephant's foot plant? →

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with elephant's foot plant. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!