Portulacaria afra: care

La Afra portula It is a very characteristic shrub: it has a thick trunk and small green or variegated leaves, there are even cultivars that have red branches. As it grows like a small tree, it is sometimes shaped like a bonsai, although it is also interesting to let it grow on its own.

One of its many qualities is that it can live in areas where it rains little. As it stores water in its trunk, it can resist drought quite well; therefore, you do not have to water it as much as other plants. But, Do you know what the care of the Afra portula?

Where should I put the Afra portula?

Our protagonist is originally from South Africa, where it grows in sunny and semi-arid places. It is, therefore, perfectly adapted to the direct impact of the Sun's rays on its leaves; so much so that when it is shaded they lose their natural color and the entire plant weakens.

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But beware: If we buy a plant that is inside a nursery, we should not expose it to the king star without having acclimatized it before, since if we do, it will burn. To avoid this, you have to get used to it little by little, putting it in a sunny place for a short period of time every day.

Another option is to have it indoors, in a room with plenty of natural light. But that is only recommended if you live in an area where frost occurs.

What land do you need?

It is a plant that It grows on light soils, which do not get waterlogged easily.. As we said before, its roots are prepared to resist drought, and that is because the land remains dry for a long time. So when it is cultivated, we have to try to emulate, in some way, the conditions it has in its natural habitat.

To that end, we recommend planting it in light, well-drained, sandy soil. And if it is going to be in a pot, it can be filled with soil for cacti and succulents, such as this.

When to water the Afra portula?

So that no problems arise, you have to water when the soil is completely dry. And in case of doubt, the best thing we can do is wait a few more days, since it is a plant that fears waterlogging. In fact, when the trunk is watered too much it becomes soft until it rots, and the same happens with the branches.

So to keep her well hydrated, it will be watered an average of 1-2 times a week in summer, and once a week every twenty days or so the rest of the year, pouring the necessary amount of water so that all the soil is soaked, or comes out through the drainage holes if you have it in a container. If it is also in a pot with a plate underneath, we will have to drain it after watering.

How to pay it?

It is recommended to pay the Afra portula during those months of the year when the weather is goodie in spring and summer. In this way, we will ensure that it grows well and that, little by little, it becomes stronger, something that will come in handy for winter.

To do this, what we will do is pay it with a liquid fertilizer for cacti and succulents, such as this. You have to read the label and follow the instructions for use, otherwise we would run the risk of taking more than you really need, and then it would be difficult to recover it.

When to transplant it?

If you want to plant it in the garden you have to do it in spring, when the minimum temperature is at least 15ºC. Also in this season it will be a good time to change its pot, as long as it has rooted well. This is easy to know, since you simply have to take it from the base of the trunk with one hand, and the pot with the other, and pull the plant out as if you wanted to remove it.

Then, in the event that the earth bread has not crumbled, you can transplant it into a pot about 4-5 centimeters larger with holes in its base.

What pests can it have?

Although it is very resistant, it can sometimes have mealybugs -especially cottony- and aphids. Luckily, both pests are well controlled by cleaning it with water and neutral soap, or with specific insecticides, like this one.

How to multiply it?

If you want to get new specimens of your plant, the easiest and fastest thing to do is cut a branch and then plant it in a pot once a week has passed, since that is the time it takes for the wound to close.

Use soil for cacti and succulents, and put it in semi-shade, not in the sun, because not having roots would dry it out. Then, water every time you notice the dry substrate.

What is its resistance to cold?

La Afra portula It does not resist much cold: only up to 0 degrees. Therefore, it is grown indoors, at least during the winter, since it is the only way to make it survive and more or less well into spring.

We hope that now you know what care to give your Afra portula.