Dioscorea elephantipes
In the houseplant growing plot , it ’s of import to shake thing up from time to clip .
So if you ’ve ever looked at your houseplant and thoughtenough with this leafy accent , clock time to show off a pretty root word for once , then might I propose a tortoise plant ?
Not that the leaves and prime are n’t pretty – they absolutely are .
But the first matter aboutDioscoreaelephantipesthat catch your eye is its monolithic , rounded , and plot shank , which by all odds resembles a tortoise ’s shell . Minus the vining shoots develop out the top , of course .
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And just like with actual tortoises , proper care and nourish is essential for tortoise industrial plant to expand .
As you’re able to think , these guy cable are quite tough , but expand – instead of but surviving – is what ’ll really make them beautiful .
So that ’s why we slash up this guide for you . By the end of it , you ’ll have read the wonderful enigma of tortoise plants , and you ’ll be well - prepare to parent one in your home .
Here ’s what we ’ll address :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Tortoise Plants?
Native to the Cape Province of South Africa , Dioscorea elephantipesbelongs to the largest genus of the Dioscoreaceae syndicate .
Containing over 600 species , the vastDioscoreagenus of flowering tuberous flora is distributed worldwide , with edible yam such asD. trifidaandD. alatabeing its most famous and commercially worthful members .
Hardy in USDA Zones 9b or warmer , the tortoise plant – aka elephant ’s foot – has an enlarged , bulbous , aboveground stem known as a caudex , which provides musical accompaniment and stores water and nutrients .
I think this knobby , plated caudex predominantly looks like a tortoise shield , but its shape and gray-haired color does resemble that of an elephant ’s invertebrate foot , I suppose .
From the top of the caudex grows climbing deciduous vines with greenish , heart - shaped leaves .
Caudex and leaves included , D. elephantipesreaches a mature summit and bedspread of nine feet and seven feet , respectively .
But that ’s in its aboriginal outdoor habitat – when originate indoors , it ’s typically much smaller .
Another unique feature of the tortoise works : its summer dormancy .
Since conditions can be so hot and dry in its aboriginal habitat , it has germinate to drop its farewell and undergo a quiescency period during the heat and drought of summer .
So physiologically , it behaves in fall and winter like most other plants would during spring and summertime ! Although the accurate dormancy period can vary a routine when grown indoors in the Northern Hemisphere .
After a minimum of ten long time or so , the tortoise industrial plant bloom in decline to winter with humble racemes of white and/or yellowed to green flower .
As dioecious plant life , both a male and a female person are necessary to yield small seeds in bounce , which are brown with a membranous , crinkled , and milky “ annex ” on one end .
In the past , the caudexes ofD. elephantipeswere processed and baked by the Khoisan peoples of southern Africa to render a bread - alike intellectual nourishment reference .
But I would n’t go whipping up some tortoise plant bread or anything like that – tortoise works carry in high spirits amounts of toxic saponin , which are chemical compound often used for synthesizing corticosteroids and birth control . Not on the button stuff you should make toast with .
In decorative horticulture , the tortoise plant is used to tally visual dash , both indoors as a houseplant and out in the landscape . It sure does a swell line of work – it was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society ’s prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2002 !
Tortoise Plant Propagation
If you want to propagate a tortoise plant of your own , you ’ll want to either farm it from seed or transplant an established specimen .
Sowing Seeds
First things first : you need come . orderliness seeds online , acquire seeds from a friend , or beak dried ejaculate abridgment from accessible tortoise plants .
The idealistic sowing time is fall , so plan your seed learning consequently .
When you have your seed , first remove the “ wing . ” Add a moisture - retaining yet well - drain produce spiritualist to a seed tray , then swallow up your seeds a third of an inch cryptic , space at least an inch apart .
Moisten the get media , plow the tray with unclouded charge plate or a humidity dome , then range the tray somewhere indoors where it ’s exposed to shining , collateral sunlight .
For germination to occur , the seed will need temperatures of 70 to 80 ° F .
A bottom passion pad is a capital way to increase the soil temperature without get to heat the relaxation of your nursing home . you’re able to find seedling estrus mats available in multiple different sizesat Gardener ’s Supply Co.
Keep the sensitive moist and the seedlings should germinate in two to three weeks . Once you notice sprouting above the dirt wrinkle , dispatch the heat matt and covering , and continue to give care for your seedlings by keep the culture medium moist .
After a class of development , the seedling should be ready to move into their own individual three- to four - inch container , each filled with a media that leans more towards “ well - draining ” than “ wet - retentive . ”
A tropical potting mixing or soil desirable for cacti and succulent will be idealistic .
If you may , prefer for terra cotta containers over plastic single – they provide the aeration necessary for prevent excess moisture in the ground .
At this point , you ’re free to treat the seedling like you would an established specimen , albeit carefully .
Transplanting
Want to transpose a seedling or a new specimen into one of your swanky houseplant pots ? Here ’s how !
While your organ transplant still has its leafage and is actively growing , take your pot . The container should have drain golf hole and be an inch or two wider than the diam of the caudex .
satisfy it up to a morsel below the brim with a potting medium fit for cacti , or perhaps a homemade mixture that ’s comprised of one third sand , one third perlite , and one thirdpeat mossor coconut coir .
stab a kettle of fish in the media that ’s large enough for the root system , add the transplant , backfill the grease up to the bottom of the caudex , and water in well .
How to Grow Tortoise Plants
Tortoise plants are durable enough to do alright without much coddling . But a bit of attention at the correct time definitely assist them look their best .
Climate and Exposure Needs
D. elephantipesprefers heat , and can manage temperature as in high spirits as 104 ° fluorine and as low as 25 ° F . But do n’t think you need to make your home ’s clime like that of South Africa or anything .
The typical “ room temperature ” of most homes should do just fine .
Its light requirements are pretty interesting : the vining fore , leaves , and flowers all choose bright , direct Sunday , while the real stock prefer more collateral lighter , or even neat - up spook .
In nature , the shoots can grow tall and dense enough to halt the sun from slay much of the caudex , while indoor tortoise flora shoot do n’t normally grow large enough for that .
The idealistic indoor locating would meet these requirements simultaneously , but sticking to thisperfectlyisn’t a must – just do the good you’re able to .
Many indoor windows do n’t go all the means down to the trading floor , so go down the tortoise works flush against the wall beneath the window can straighten out the vines , yet stymy lightness from hit the stock .
Soil Needs
In its born habitat , tortoise works thrive in organically - deep , sandlike loam .
For indoor raiser , as mentioned above , a potting mix suitable for cacti will do the job , ideally with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 .
Miracle Gro Potting Mix
take a product testimonial ? Try this quick - draining potting intermixture from Miracle - Gro , usable in eight - quart volumesfrom Amazon .
Water and Fertilizer Needs
Once aD. elephantipesis established and beyond the untested seedling stage , its moisture needs become much less liberal .
In the case of an established tortoise plant , instead of keeping the medium consistently moist , you ’ll want to let it dry out out entirely before you irrigate again .
When the leave have dropped during quiescency , the filth will take longer to dry out out than it would during the growing season .
Once - a - month fecundation load down to quarter - strength will help furnish the necessary nutrition . No need to fertilize during spring and summer dormancy , though .
Bonide Fertilizer
require some fertilizer ? Check out Bonide ’s liquid 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer , available in eight - ounce volumesat Walmart .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
numb , discredited , or sickly vines should be pruned away as you mark them , along with spent flowers . You should also cut down the vines during the tortoise plant ’s dormancy period .
speak of the vines , they ’ll finally need something to cling to as they climb .
A thin wooden wager or a voluted houseplant trellis provides that construction without disrupting the aesthetic too much .
Be indisputable to repot the tortoise plant whenever it outgrow that inch or two of elbow room between the sides of the caudex and the container ’s edges .
Where to Buy
A tortoise plant is n’t the most common of specimens , but you could unquestionably find one if you know where to look .
estimable starting points for your search include corner plant life nursery , specialisation shops , and horticultural trade shows .
Check your web of fellow green quarter round to see if any of them have surplus tortoise plant to give , whether in germ or transplant form .
Managing Pests and Disease
Thankfully , indoor gardeners do n’t have to deal with as many gadfly and disease job as their out-of-door counterparts . But there are a few worth look out for .
Insects
Since insects can transmitter disease as they flow , managing them commonly result in free disease prevention , on - the - house . Talk about a plus !
These translucent , pear - shaped , and soft - bodied dirt ball are small in stature , but turgid in nuisance - ness . They ’re usually one of the first plague that gardeners learn about , and one of the first that they hate .
Using their piercing - suckle mouthparts , aphid will extract the full of life fluids from leaf and herbaceous stems , which can stimulate leaf overrefinement , greensickness , and stunted development overall .
Adding insult to hurt , they eliminate honeydew melon as they eat , which can causeblack jet-black moldto manakin .
Strong spraying of water can blast pestis off the plant , while app of horticultural oil or insecticidal soap will really kill them .
Either path , you will want to play your tortoise plant life outside first , lest you soak your story with water or insect - controlling chemicals .
Monterey Horticultural Oil
For some OMRI - listed horticultural oil in quick - to - spray or saturated form , check out what Monterey has to offerat Arbico Organics .
see more about aphids and how to manage with them in our guide .
seem as white cottony glob on leaves and stems , mealy bug will suck sap out of the plant ’s bast , stunt growth and potentially kill any infested tissue .
Plus , like aphid , they secrete honeydew .
Mealybugs on the vines can be sprayed with insecticidal soap .
Bonide Insecticidal Soap
you may try this one from Bonide , available in various volumes in spray bottle or boil down formfrom Arbico Organics .
Our guide to controlling mealybugs has more information .
Scale are small , rounded , and flatten louse that come in either armored or soft - incarnate forms .
Typically congregating in conspicuous masses on shoot , they keep on the theme of sap suction and honeydew melon secernment , with all the associated symptom of scrawny growth , soften , and necrosis .
Insecticidal soap can control scale on the shoots , but you could also physically peck them off of works surfaces with a close toothpick or something alike .
get wind more about deal with musical scale in our templet .
Root Rot
There are n’t too many disease that an indoor tortoise industrial plant has to deal with , especially if you keep your home and gardening practice sanitary . But conceive it or not , it can actually be easier for aD. elephantipesto develop theme moulder indoors than originate outdoors in the landscape painting .
If you develop a tortoise flora outside in the right environment , then the in high spirits heating will vaporise dirt wet faster than the distinctive temperatures of your theatre .
Houseplant containers are also moderately light to overwater , specially if you irrigate them with the relative frequency of a server replenish your water glass .
When a tortoise works ’s produce medium is n’t allowed to dry between lachrymation , then the roots probably wo n’t receive enough oxygen . As a result , the origin system becomes necrotic and dies , which spell cataclysm for the aboveground stock and vines .
you could prevent this by not overwatering and ensuring the potting medium has sufficient drainage , and you fix it by dealing with those issue as quickly as potential , along with pruning forth any moulder root .
There ’s no definitive line for when a plant is officially toast , but its betting odds of survival are low when the majority of its origin system is rotted away .
Find more crown on prevent root moulder here .
Best Uses for Tortoise Plants
D. elephantipesis various enough to be both a central specimen or a supporting accent in a houseplant arrangement . But if you necessitate me , the strength of a tortoise plant lies in its unparalleled show .
So if it ’s locate in a spotlight where your house guest can readily look at it , do a threefold - take , and go “ whoa , ” then you ’ve chosen your placement sagely .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
You Gotta Flex the Caudex
What ’s the point of consume a swollen aboveground bow if you ca n’t show it off ?
With the proper polish practices that you ’ve learn in this guide , you ’ll have a wonderful tortoise plant that ’s fit for flaunting .
Need more animal - themed houseplants ? Turn your home into a veritable menagerie by read these guide next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right field RESERVED.See our TOSfor more point . Cartesian product pic via Bonide , Gardener ’s Supply Co. , Miracle Gro , and Monterey . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Joe Butler
