Here are the most popular traditional and contemporary uses of spekboom leaves:
Sucking a leaf to quench thirst
, treat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke. Using crushed leaves to provide relief for blisters. Chewing leaves can treat a sore throat and mouth infections.
Why is the spekboom referred to as the miracle plant?
“Planted in the correct area, spekboom is indeed a miracle plant.
It can root from cuttings even in degraded soils
which reach 70°C in summer and which receive no rain for several months on end. These rooted cuttings can then grow into mature plants over 10 to 20 years, allowing the spekboom thicket to regenerate.”
Can you eat spekboom?
Spekboom is edible
, with a very high nutritional value. It is a favoured food of black rhinos, elephants and kudus. The good news is that we can eat it too. With a slightly lemony taste, Spekboom leaves are juicy and full of moisture, making them the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ during a long day’s hiking in the arid Karoo.
Can you keep spekboom indoors?
As an indoor plant, its fleshy green leaves, red stems and tendency to form a sculptural bush, make Spekboom a visual delight. Its
drought
-tolerant properties make this succulent a hardy home cohabitant. Place in bright light to direct sunlight and water once every two weeks.
Does spekboom clean the air?
Spekboom
improves the quality of air by acting as a carbon sponge
, absorbing it and turning it into plant matter. Easy peasy to grow or propagate and such low- maintenance. A must in any home or garden.
Does spekboom need sun?
Light: When grown outdoors the plant is quite tolerant of bright, direct light. But as a houseplant bright,
indirect light is best
– a location that gets a few hours morning sun would be the perfect spot. … The Spekboom doesn’t like having wet feet so make sure the planter has drainage holes.
Does a spekboom flower?
Spekboom flowers in South Africa’s spring and summer seasons, from September through to March.
It is more likely to flower when it rains
as flowering consumes a large amount of the plant’s energy. During a severe drought, the plant will reserve its energy to increase its chance of survival.
Will spekboom grow in shade?
This succulent will thrive indoors if placed in a warm room with bright light. The spekboom is an attractive evergreen succulent with its small round emerald-green leaves, borne on startling-red stems. … It is an easy to grow succulent that is heat, drought and fire resistant, and can be
grown in full sun or semi-shade
.
Is spekboom the same as jade plant?
Other names of
Portulacaria Afra
include porkbush and spekboom. … Portulacaria Afra, commonly known as Elephant Bush, are often mistaken for Crassula Ovata ‘Jade Plants’ because they resemble each other in a lot of ways. Although Elephant Bush closely resemble Jade Plants in appearance, they are not at all related.
How do you eat spekboom?
Eat the spekboom
Spekboom is high in Vitamin-C and has a zesty taste, making it a perfect addition to salads or juices. All you need to do is
pick some leaves and use as garnish
. Alternatively, if you enjoy making your own juices at home, pop some in the extractor and voila!
Can you grow Spekboom from cuttings?
Best of all is the fact that spekboom
is easy to propagate
: simply cut or break off a piece, stick it in your garden bed or rockery, water every few days and soon enough you’ll have another one of these versatile carbon-munchers happily growing in your garden. Enjoy!
Are there different types of Spekboom?
| Portulacaria afra | Order: Caryophyllales | Family: Didiereaceae | Genus: Portulacaria | Species: P. afra |
|---|
How often should you water an elephant Bush?
Not enough water causes the leaves to dry up and sometimes drop off. Elephant bushes should be watered more often in summer and less in the winter. Let the soil dry between waterings, usually
four to five days
.
How can I make Spekboom grow faster?
In order to grow spekboom successfully, the soil must be well-drained. Even tough it has no special requirements to grow,
compost and fertiliser
will encourage quicker growth. Cuttings are easily rooted in spring though autumn.
How do you prune an elephant Bush?
The plant readily produces buds wherever branches or even leaves are removed, so it is easily kept almost any size or shape by pinching or
cutting just above a pair of leaves pruning
.
