spekboom Archives - Life is a Garden

Make your spekkie sparkle DIY

December, spekboom, spekkie, diy, life is a garden, plant, Christmas, garden, greenery, garden, activities for the kids, decorations, decorate

Instead of a faux tree, why not go for an indigenous living lovely this year? Life is a Garden’s sweet and simple DIY will give you some inspiration to bedazzle your spekboom (Portulacaria afra) for that holiday spirit. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, you could always decorate your tree with other fun goodies and use your creations as cheerful table décor.

Did you know? Spekboom leaves are edible and non-toxic to animals and humans. Add a few leaves to your salad for a juicy citrus flavour (and bragging rights).

You will need

A spekboom from your GCA garden centre (or multiple trees if you have many children who would like to each make their own spekkie sparkle)
A lovely new pot
Potting soil and compost for transplanting
Decoration goodies (we chose a Christmas theme, but different coloured ribbons and bells would also look fab)
A cohort of kids, or just one

How to

Transplant your spekboom into its new home. Remember to push from the base up and not grab your plant by the neck. Add your potting soil and compost mix, water well, and allow it to drain.
With all your décor charms on display, encourage the kids to play and have fun!
Once your spekkie has undergone the makeover, place it in a sunny spot outdoors, a bright light area on the patio, or indoors near a window. Water your plant well, about once a week (depending on its location) and check out our guide below to ensure your plant thrives till next year.

Pest patrol: Although not prone to pests, high humidity can sometimes invite mealy bugs or scale. Visit your GCA Garden Centre for appropriate products that will take care of the nasties.

Spring Zing September Checklist

The season that needs no introduction – it can only be SPRING! This is an exciting time for gardeners filled with blossoms, blooms, and renewed beauty after the winter.

We’re full bloom ahead with ‘n spekkie news for you! for more read here: https://bit.ly/3guOLOi

September Checklist

Spring Zing September Checklist

The season that needs no introduction – it can only be spring! This is an exciting time for gardeners filled with blossoms, blooms, and renewed beauty after the winter. This month, Life is a Garden loves the spekboom, and we’ve got some special varieties to share. The veggie garden is every home grower’s dream, so check out our edible zingers for September. Perennials and bulbs are also ready to crank up the heat in the garden, so let’s dig and plant right in!

‘n Spekkie for thought

Portulacaria afra (elephant's food, elephant bush, or spekboom) is an indigenous superstar in our South African climate. They tolerate high humidity, high rainfall or drought, heat, desert sun or well-lit indoor spaces. They are frost-tender but will bounce back quickly. Not prone to pests or disease either, the spekkie boasts the following fabulous benefits:

Environment: They help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by acting like a handy carbon sponge, thereby improving the quality of air we breathe.
Firebreaks: This plant is used in fire-prone areas as a perimeter hedge – good to know!
Food: Spekboom leaves are edible and add interesting texture and flavour to salads. They are high in Vitamin C with a juicy, sour taste – definitely worth a try!
Soil: A good soil binder that helps to prevent soil erosion – wind and slopes beware!
Versatile: With so many varieties available, spekkies are excellent groundcovers, look spectacular in hanging baskets, add a vibe to mixed succulent containers, are super hardy trees, cute bonsais, and are just overall an awesomely easy addition to the garden.
Easy to please: Prune them to shape or let them grow wild, feed them or forget about them, mulch them or munch on them.