Luckily, it’s a bonsai plant that has plenty of alternatives (elephant bush, porkbush, dwarf jade plant, and spekboom, in Afrikaans, just to name a few! Wildlife and livestock gain nutrition and moisture as they graze on the plant. It can sprout up to five metres tall. Keep in a more shady spot until the plant has recovered. Known for its medicinal uses, and remarkable carbon sequestering properties, the applications of Spekboom seem endless. What Makes Spekboom Such a Special Plant?This plant is vital to our ecosystem for several reasons. Portulacaria afra or Porkbush is a popular succulent garden plant in use around the world and is often used for bonsai. Spekboom makes for a low-maintenance house or garden plant. With heavy rain, this becomes even less of a necessity. Cape Town is currently aiming to grow 5000 spekboom to increase the number of trees in the city. We also need folks to help us water and feed our trees. Extremely similar to, and often confused with the Crassula ovata or Jade plant, the Spekboom is more compact in it’s growth pattern. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay It’s growth pattern depends on the variety of Spekboom chosen – flatter varieties spread quickly and bushier varieties can grow up to 5m tall and will need some trimming occasionally. Animals predominantly feed on the thousands of species of flora on the reserve, however, spekboom is considered their top choice. The flowers are rich in nectar, bringing beautiful birds to your garden. It is not necessary to fertilise succulents, however the soil used should be a good quality aerated succulent mix. Recently took a cutting from a beautiful 3m x 3m x 3m Spekboom plant in the Karoo. Give it a little water every few days and you’ll soon have a new spekboom plant of your own. The wonderful pop of colour is a welcome sight in the otherwise green or tawny landscape of the Eastern Cape. The spekboom is an attractive evergreen succulent with its small round emerald-green leaves, borne on startling-red stems. Luckily, it’s a bonsai plant that has plenty of alternatives (elephant bush, porkbush, dwarf jade plant, and spekboom, in Afrikaans, just to name a few! Remember as with all succulents not to over-water. Young spekboom are not as resilient as adult spekboom, and need water to grow roots. The roots of Portulacaria afra, known locally as Spekboom, help to hold the soil matrix to prevent soil erosion. Talk about a plant for the planet. Make sure to look out for the unassuming spekboom during your next visit to Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Spekboom can tolerate cold temperatures as well as extreme heat. Roots easily and can be planted directly into the ground where they are to grow. This miracle plant is said to combat carbon emissions and has been the talk of the town – talk about being a plant with benefits! It absorbs 4 tonnes of C02 per year per hectare. Moisten the soil sparingly, adding water only when it feels dry beneath the surface. Below you'll find detailed instructions on … Because to inspire the creative, the garden guru, the newbie, the young enthusiast and the passionate home owner – that is our lifestyle. It can do this using very little water. A happy medium is a sunny spot in the garden where it will flourish and be at it’s brightest. It is a firm favourite in the animal kingdom, especially for elephants, kudu and black rhino. Fortunately, it also grows well in a container, so you don’t need a huge garden to grow it. Simply snip off an 8cm branch and pop it into the soil. Spekboom plants are well-known for their air-purifying qualities, and this is one of the main reasons that people are trying to plant more of them. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. It can be planted in a large container on a sunny patio, but it will need to be watered occasionally. Remove the leaves from the bottom half, or … In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. This is normal and growth will resume when temperatures increase. Can you work with businesses? It is an easy to grow succulent that is heat, drought and fire resistant, and can be grown in full sun or semi-shade. Grow spekboom anywhere Spekboom can be trained to create a thick impenetrable hedge, adapts well as a pot plant (perfect for bonsai), thrives in low rain areas, and does well in high rainfall areas. When warmer weather comes, carbon dioxide (CO2) is absorbed during the day, which is  then stored as carbon compounds in the spekboom’s leaves, stems and roots. People know it as Miniature Jade, Elephant’s Food, and Spekboom in … Cuttings are easily rooted in spring though autumn. Here’s why: It Helps to Fight Climate Change and Air PollutionThis plant helps to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by acting like a carbon sponge, improving the quality of air we breathe. It truly is a magnificent plant. Recently took a cutting from a beautiful 3m x 3m x 3m Spekboom plant in the Karoo. Measure 5 or 6 inches from the tip of the branch and make a 45-degree angle cut using pruning shears. Ideal in coastal areas, but not on the Highveld, as heavy frosts will kill it off. It’s almost entirely free of pests and diseases. It’s time to discuss Portulacaria afra or Spekboom, which also goes by the name Pork Bush or Elephants Food. With a hearty amount of exquisite plants, garden and home décor, accessories, hardware and tools; our team of passionate experts, creatives and enthusiasts collaborate to create the kind of environment where you come to feed your soul. ... Easy-to-grow brinjals ensure steady profits. The Large Leaved Spekboom is from Limpopo. Even tough it has no special requirements to grow, compost and fertiliser will encourage quicker growth. The results are better quality soil with ideal conditions for the planting of other indigenous plant species. We recommend growing it to a 50-100cm minimum, but please grow it as big as you can, the bigger your Spekboom the more carbon it will absorb. Spekboom is easily propagated, which is great news for budget gardeners. If you find yourself surrounded by this incredible plant on a hike and you’re feeling a little tired, make sure to break off a piece and try it. Talk about a plant for the planet. Our Planet currently has carbon dioxide levels of 400 parts per million – an incredibly high level- in fact the highest level in 3 million years. This makes a spekboom thicket 10 times more effective per hectare at carbon fixing than any tropical rainforest.”. The kind of lifestyle that is created in an attempt to ultimately help you to create and choose your lifestyle. Simply snip a piece of 5–8 cm off a spekboom. This succulent is known to sequester (or capture) up to 10 tons of carbon emission per hectare. Spekboom flowers in South Africa’s spring and summer seasons, from September through to March. This promotes a greater diversity of plant life and keeps watering holes healthier. And Spekboom trees can grow as tall as five metres. A broken branch tossed onto the ground by a grazing elephant will grow roots and create a whole new plant. This miracle plant species can be beneficial in rehabilitating and restoring semi-arid and thicket habitats. This incredible tree uses carbon to make plant tissue and produce oxygen. The disadvantages of planting spekboom. Cuttings are easily rooted in spring though autumn. On Shamwari Private Game Reserve, spekboom occurs naturally in many parts of the reserve. At Shamwari’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, the two elephants in our care absolutely love spekboom. What Is Spekboom? How exactly does Spekboom improve air quality? Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) is endemic to the Eastern Cape’s Spekboom ‘thicket’ biome. It is also an excellent soil binding plant that prevents soil erosion. Spekboom is beautiful when it is in full bloom; the noticeable rosy flowers cover the succulent in a sea of pink. According to The Spekboom Foundation, spekboom’s“capacity to offset harmful carbon emissions is compared to that of moist, subtropical forests. As a succulent, it can grow in just about any environment. For more information on the Benefits of Indoor Plants click |HERE|. Plant your cutting directly into the soil (will also root in sand). This miracle plant species can be beneficial in rehabilitating and restoring semi-arid and thicket habitats. Simply snip a piece of 5–8 cm off a spekboom. Having evolved to self-sustain in the arid Karoo, Spekboom comes with a few tricks up it’s green sleeves! Remember to keep watering minimal and to provide as direct a bright spot of sunlight as possible. It truly is a magnificent plant. You can find this particular soil at Lifestyle Home Garden. Portulacaria afra – the name might sound like a mouthful, so it might be easier to refer to this plant by another name. Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. Plant your cutting directly into the soil (will also root in sand). The Spekboom Challenge is a social media drive where South Africans everywhere are motivating each other to plant at least ... grow. Flourishing in semi-arid conditions, this plant can live for up to 200 years and grow as tall as five metres. Growing Elephant Bush Houseplants These succulents need well drained soil and an unglazed pot that will help excess moisture evaporate. Its capacity to offset harmful carbon emissions is compared to that of moist, subtropical forests. Prior to the advent of large-scale livestock farming, some areas of the Eastern Cape had Spekboom forests so thick that it was said a grown human could walk across the top as if walking on a carpet.Spekboom propagates very easily, and a broken-off branch can quickly grow roots and create a … Designed by. Spekboom grows best in rural areas, where they can get lots of sunlight. From a distance, crassula portulacaria has leaves that look like those on typical North American variegated trees and shrubs. It has small round succulent leaves and red stems that can survive arid conditions. All Rights Reserved. Site by Brand Candy. Ideal in coastal areas, but not on the Highveld, as heavy frosts will kill it off. We offer delivery for in-store purchases within the Gauteng area. Although it’s recommended that you grow it indoors for all the benefits we just laid out. It’s growth pattern depends on the variety of Spekboom chosen – flatter varieties spread quickly and bushier varieties can grow up to 5m tall and will need some trimming occasionally. It can take root and regrow, just from simple cuttings from existing trees. The long term pay-off needs to be understood to be implemented – in this case, Spekboom is an essential environmental ‘bandage’ which also acts as a source of food and a way to build profit in South Africa. Spekboom also responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy hedge. Grow spekboom anywhere. Spekboom: Miracle plant and superfood. Choose a location with indirect sunlight when growing elephant bush indoors. The spekboom is not only hardy – it is also a perennial and can live for … Spekboom is proudly South African. From that, the idea to have South Africa’s first labyrinth made entirely from spekboom grew. Spekbooms can grow into small trees, 2-4m high in the right conditions. It does not burn. See the plant care page for more info. The need to decrease global temperature is critical, in a time when we are expanding, building and constantly growing! Prior to the advent of large-scale livestock farming, some areas of the Eastern Cape had Spekboom forests so thick that it … Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to all weather conditions so it can survive extreme conditions – from drought to frost. Grow Your Own. Using a cutting for garnish that can doubled-up as a swizzle stick. Contrary to its colourful Afrikaans name, Spekboom (literally translated to ‘bacon tree’) is a lush, emerald succulent plant with juicy, round leaves and an unmistakable, lemony flavour. It is planted at various lodges to aid in absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, improving the environment in which we live. Types of spekboom. Cuttings can be taken in the normal manner (about 10-15cm, remove bottom leaves), allow to … What’s the special of South Africa Coffee beans? Allow the cleanly cut edges of the cuttings to dry out for a few days before planting it in well-drained river sand. From a distance, crassula portulacaria has leaves that look like those on typical North American variegated trees and shrubs. In case you were wondering, it doesn’t taste like bacon. To name just a few of its amazing attributes: Easy to grow; Low maintenance Simply cut or break off a piece of a spekboom, let it dry out for one or two days and then stick it in the ground. It propagates well - it just needs our help. Want one of these in your garden? It is an industrious little plant with a huge heart. Simply snip a piece of 5–8 cm off a spekboom. Stick the elephant bush cutting into a pot of moistened growing medium so the bottom set of leaves rests on the surface and then press the medium firmly against the stem. Set the pot in a warm, bright location out of direct sun. How to Grow Crassula Portulacaria. 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