How to REVIVE an ELEPHANT FOOT plant

Despite the fact that it is a vegetable that needs a low frequency of irrigation, sometimes you can find the elephant foot plant with dry tips. If this is your case, then follow these steps on how to rescue a dried elephant foot or nolina plant and you will see that it will soon be recovered:

1. Cut those branches that have been dry, as well as the tips of the leaves that you see dry.
2. Move the plant to a location with less direct sun.
3. Water it abundantly and let it drain as much as possible through the holes in the pot for about half an hour. If when checking it after this time you see that the earth is separated or cracked even if it is wet, it is a sign that it must be changed because this substrate is no longer useful. On the other hand, if it has been wet well and remains compact, surely with the waterings a little more followed than what you did before and with a location with less sun it will be enough for the plant to improve completely.
4. If you see that you have to change the soil, you will have to do a transplant of the elephant leg and if possible put a somewhat larger pot. Remove the plant from the pot carefully so as not to damage the roots.
5. Place the plant in another pot or container, making sure it has good drainage and uses new soil.
6. When you have the nolina well planted and settled in the center of the pot, water and put a plate under it, so that the excess water drains off well. After a few minutes, remove the excess water from the plate and see if the soil has been well compacted and moist or not.
7. Remember to place it in a semi-shaded location to prevent it from drying out and burning the ends.

Another problem that you may encounter is that the nolina plant is drowned by excessive watering or by retention of water from irrigation in its roots. This plant generally needs little watering to grow well, so if it is exposed to rain regularly, you water it more than it should or the drainage of its pot or substrate is very bad, you will seriously compromise its health because it will have an excess of water that will rot its roots and favor the appearance of fungi. If you see that your nolina plant seems drowned, that is, if it has the very limp and dark leaves or even the trunk has darkened and is somewhat soft, follow these tips for recovering a drowned elephant foot plant:

1. Placing the plant directly in the sun is not an effective remedy. You should relocate it in a semi-shady place or indoors near a window but with a curtain that filters the sun.
2. Carefully remove the plant from the pot and remove as much wet soil as possible from its roots.
3. Prune the roots that you see blackened or dark brown and do not touch those that you see lighter.
4. Replant the nolina using new soil. Thus, you will remove excess moisture and provide a new substrate that is not flooded and that has new nutrients.
5. After a few days after transplanting and if you see that it looks better, you can place it in a warmer place, with a little more sunlight. In addition, as soon as you notice the completely dry substrate, you can start watering it normally, in small quantities, making sure that the drainage works well and removing the excess water from the dish.

Here we give you more tips on How to revive a plant.

The pests and diseases of the elephant foot plant They can appear at any time if we do not monitor well the parameters of their basic care. Therefore, it is important that you know the care to guide yourself through them and also the remedies for each situation, thus achieving that it revives if it is very ill, whether due to fungi, aphids, mealybugs or other problems.

Focusing on diseases that usually appear in this plant, we can indicate that the appearance of elephant foot or nolina mushrooms it usually corresponds to an excess of watering and, therefore, high humidity in the plant. This abuse of water causes a rotting of the roots, which little by little spreads to the rest of the plant and is normally caused by the fungus. Phytophthora. To remedy this problem, use a fungicide specific for plants by applying it to the roots. In this way, you will prevent the growth of the fungus and you will eliminate it. You can buy one, but here we tell you all about How to make a homemade fungicide for plants.

Regarding pests, the most common in this plant is that of the cottony mealybug. To remedy it, follow these steps:

1. When the sunlight no longer gives the plant, for example at sunset, dip a piece of cotton in pharmacy alcohol diluted in water and wipe it where you see the mealybug.
2. In case of being a very large plant, wash the leaves with water and potassium soap using a sponge that helps to eliminate parasites.
3. Let the product take effect for a few hours and then rinse the plant with water to remove any debris from its surface.

Here we tell you more about How to eliminate the cottony mealybug from plants.

Beyond knowing how to revive a nolina or elephant foot plant, make sure you have all the care it needs under control and, thus, you will not find yourself in extreme situations for the health of this plant. You are not sure what the care of this plant is? In oneHOWTO we indicate your basic care below:

• Irrigation: Do you know how many times the elephant foot plant is watered? In spring and summer, watering should be frequent. Once a week at least, multiplying it by two if the temperatures are very high. Wait for the soil to dry between watering and watering, but controlling the times: a lack or an excess of water will cause you to find brown leaves on the elephant foot plant, which will have a dry appearance if the problem is the lack of water or a soft, droopy appearance if the problem has been overwatering. In winter and autumn, if you have the plant outside the home and it usually rains in your area, do not water it and if it hardly rains in your area or you have it indoors, water it every two or three weeks.
• Temperature: This plant must be found in environments above 10ºC, since it does not tolerate cold well.
• Light: appreciates exposure to sunlight, but direct sun for many hours at a time does not suit him. Thus, it also holds up in places where it does not have direct contact with the sun or if it is in semi-shade in places that are very hot.
• Pruning: it does not require a special procedure. Go removing those leaves that are drying or spoiling.
• Pass: Being slow growing, the elephant foot needs little compost. In the months of high temperatures, do it monthly with natural or organic compost.

To learn more, we recommend you read this other article on How to care for an elephant foot plant and watch this video.

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