Elephant's Foot Plant

Elephant's Foot Plant Care

Pachypodium rosulatum subsp. gracilius

What is the plant

The beautiful tail-shaped plant is easy to care for and propagate, so it is suitable even for beginning plant lovers.

Pachypodium Gracilius, also known as Elephant's Foot Plant, is a rare plant native to Madagascar. Its trunk has an unusual shape, and the green leaves are thin.
This plant can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall and 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide. With good care, Pachypodium Gracilius blooms with bright yellow flowers.

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Humidity

Dry

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

15°C - 20°C

Hardiness zone

10 - 11

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Although we can identify this plant as a succulent, this does not mean it needs to be watered infrequently. Keep its soil slightly moist throughout the growing season because it is essential for active development.
Pruning
Pachypodium Gracilius is a medium-high plant that does not require heavy pruning. You can remove dried and wilted leaves as needed.
Fertilizer
This plant does not need frequent fertilization, but you can use ready-made products for succulents and cacti several times during the growing season.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Pachypodium Gracilius need a lot of sunlight because they grow in tropical countries. They can grow under direct and indirect sunlight. If there is not enough light, the leaves begin to wither.
Soil
The soil for Pachypodium Gracilius must be well permeable to water and air. You can choose a ready-made succulent mix or make your own using sand, compost, and perlite.
Propagation
You can propagate your Pachypodium Gracilius using seeds or cuttings. The first option is the easiest because you only need to plant the seeds in moist soil and wait for germination. Regarding the second option, you need to cut some offsets during the spring, let them dry, and place them in the soil, but not all cuttings will develop roots.

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Temperature
The minimum temperature is 55°F (13°C), but this plant can tolerate slightly lower temperatures if the soil is dry. Ideally, the temperature should not drop below 59°F (15°C).
Container
Pachypodium Gracilius needs a small pot according to the size of its root system. Make sure the container has drainage holes and is made of plastic or terracotta.
Fun fact
Pachypodium means 'big foot', from the Greek' pachys,' big, and 'podos,' foot.