OT: Portulacaria Afra - succulent

15 years ago

I have a large plot of Portulacaria Afra (aka Elephants Food plant) in my front yard that has been growing there for easily 30 years... if not longer. I'm going to be giving it a haircut to try to rejuvenate it, and was wondering if anyone on here would like some cuttings from it? It roots pretty easily. The cuttings I would send would be unrooted, but if you pop them in a some potting mix and keep moist but not too wet, they should root up pretty quick.

The plant loves full sun, and doesn't mind letting its roots dry out a bit between waterings. Its really a very care free plant. Its pretty cold tolerant as well, when we've dipped into the teens here, it only nipped the branches on top and grew back very quickly. I know it can be grown indoors as well in a bright window, it will just grow slower.

I've attached a link so you can read more about it, if you're not familiar with it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Portulacaria Afra

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Comments (23)

rosepedal
15 years ago
Hi Ryan that is a kool plant... I just wanted to say awesome...I am sure you will have takers on your offering... That is very nice of you to offer a zone 10 plant cutting... :) Barb
phoenixryan
Original Author
15 years ago
It does very well as a potted plant too! ;-)
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Right - leave a little stub at the cut and don't let anything grow off of the stub. You want it to dry up and fall off - sort of like a scab. If you're going to root the cutting, after it's separated, clean it up with a straight edge razor blade or fresh utility knife blade. Be careful not to use anything that will crush the vasculature of the plant - like loppers, anvil or even bypass pruners when you rem ove the cutting from the rooted part of the plant. Use a fine tooth saw and make sure there is nothing ragged hanging from the proximal end of the cutting - that's where the rot (fungal infections) start and why you clean up the proximal end of the cutting with something very sharp. Also, right after preparing the cutting but before the cut dries or calluses, dip the end in flowers of sulfur, cinnamon, or another antifungal preparation suited to your application - and prune any branches you leave on your cutting back hard. Last tip: There is nothing that says your plant must rise from the soil perfectly perpendicular. In fact, if you want movement in the trunk, it should not exit the soil perfectly vertical and then transition to a trunk with movement. Figure out what angle you want the cutting to exit the soil at, then make your basal cut so it's horizontal. IOW - it won't be cut 90* to the trunk axis. Al
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Jenn Here are couple of pics of few cuttings:Plant on left is few year old, here is it when started (it was all woody for some reason, but further below is photo of new growth that is reddish): Plants in right pic are potted in March 2018, when they looked like this: As you can see, they grew quite well. They are potted in very gritty, inorganic mix (all but 1 in plastic pots) and still outdoors, in full sun. They get rained on but drainage is not a problem if mix drains well. Here is a close-up I just took of stem (from plant in left pic), showing older and woody trunk and reddish newer growth (some of the leaves do not look so great and are marked/scratched or broken - bunch of my plants was blown off the table in recent high winds...):Just to make sure, this is not P. a. mediopicta. I never had that one, but imagine it would 'behave' quite similar to my plant (P.a. variegata) I would encourage you not to 'baby' it (and most plants) too much. It is better for them without 'helicopter mom', lol. Put it in fast draining mix (much better for plant and much easier for you - not too much worrying about rain! :) Plants could be still outdoors, they should be indoors when temps drop to constant very low forties. If you worry much, bring them in when nighttime temps stay constantly just below 50*F. Succulents should not be left in cooler temps if there is constant rain, especially if mix takes longer to dry up.
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The all green (not variegated) plant will be much more vigorous by virtue of the fact it has so much more chlorophyll. ..... not going to make a good acacia-like tree because you need the branches to be sort of delicate and long with some movement and foliage pads at the tops/ends. Your tree will have weak and succulent branches that will break easily in the wind. For the acacia look, I'd suggest something in the elm family, Ulmus x hollandica 'Jacqueline Hillier' would work well. So would one of the small-leafed hornbeams. Al
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How are the leaves that dropped? Are they somewhat dried/wrinkly or soft/water-logged? The leaves on the plant just look wrinkly to me, which my own P. afra does when it needs water, they tend to like more water than other succulents
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retsec
15 years ago
Do you want to trade or SASBE. Let me know.
taz56
15 years ago
Hi! Ryan, I would like a few cutting
what do you want? Let me know!
Thanks!
Susan
fool4flowers
15 years ago
Looks like a neat plant Ryan. I will try a cutting. Let me know when you cut it back and I can send postage via paypal if thats ok.
bri_fl
15 years ago
I don't really do potted plants, but that's beautiful! Succulents are so cool. Maybe in a few weeks when I get some donkey ears, we can trade. :)
rosepedal
15 years ago
LOL Ryan I dont own a elephant hahahha This is a major staple of their diet in africa...Just some crazy info for ya....Barb
threas
15 years ago
That's neat info, Barb! Ryan, that plant has got to related to the jade plant! So cool!

Theresa
amelia_pepper_lady
15 years ago
Are you offering for SASBE or trade only?

Thanks,
Amelia
phoenixryan
Original Author
15 years ago
Amelia, whichever works best for you is fine with me.

I will probably send them out on Monday the 23rd.

Ryan
maemae0312
15 years ago
any left Ryan? I would be interested.

Mary
rigo74
15 years ago
Ryan if any left I can send postage. LMK

Rigo
phoenixryan
Original Author
15 years ago
Mary, Nancy, Susan, Kristy and Amelia.... your boxes went out in the mail today.

As I was cutting back the mass I realized that some of the branches had rooted where they touched the ground, so I tried to include a rooted piece in each box. While the attached roots probably won't survive the trip, at least that cutting is ready and willing to root.

Give them a good rinse when you get them, and pot them up. I've had only limited success rooting them in water, so best to get them in dirt, and keep them moist but not wet. They are really a tough plant, and thrive on neglect.

Best of luck!!
Ryan
plantlover49
15 years ago
Ryan
if it's not to late I would love to get some clippings
I have brug clippings to trade, LMK please
Thanks
Elizabeth
phoenixryan
Original Author
15 years ago
Elizabeth, I sent you an email.
maemae0312
15 years ago
Ryan, I am so sorry I forgot about paying, no excuse but I have been at work for the 4 nights.........but your money is on the way now! Thanks again and so sorry for the delay. I am so glad Elizabeth posted on this thread to remind me!!!

Mary
phoenixryan
Original Author
15 years ago
No worries, Mary. :-)

Elizabeth, your box will go out today.

Thanks!
iowagourdman
15 years ago
Ryan,

Do have any more cuttings? I would like some if you do..would pay postage and all...

Bruce B.
phoenixryan
Original Author
15 years ago
Sure, shoot me an email with your address. I'll get them out tomorrow.

Ryan
plantlover49
15 years ago
Ryan
thank you so much, if you would email your address, I can get you a surprize box out to you, tommorrow it's
suppose to be 51 degrees, the Thursday it's suppose to be
56 degrees, so it's the perfect temp to send things out
Thanks again
Elizabeth
maemae0312
15 years ago
Ryan, thanks so much!!! cuttings arrived safely and already potted up!!!!

Mary
taz56
15 years ago
Thanks, the cutting are here :)
and potted!
Susan
plantlover49
15 years ago
Ryan
the box arrived, thank you so much, Monday your surprize
box will go out, I woul've gotten it out today, but I had
to go to my GD's basketball game, I will get it together
tommorrow night so I can send it out Monday
Elizabeth

OT: Portulacaria Afra - succulent

Comments (23)

rosepedal

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