Dioscorea elephantipes loves a bright spot.

Plenty of bright indirect light with some gentle direct sunshine will help keep the vines strong and leafy. An east, west or bright south facing position can work really well once the plant has gradually adjusted.

The leafy growth enjoys good light, but take a little more care with the caudex itself during very hot summer sunshine. In nature the base can receive some protection from surrounding vegetation while the vines climb towards stronger light.

Too little light usually means stretched vines, weaker growth and a pot that stays wet for much longer.

Give the vines somewhere bright to explore.

Water according to what the plant is actually doing.

While fresh vines and leaves are actively growing, water thoroughly and then allow the compost to dry properly before watering again.

Give the pot a proper soak and let all the excess water escape rather than giving little splashes every few days.

When the vine naturally yellows and dies back, reduce watering significantly. A resting caudex uses much less water and keeping it constantly wet is one of the quickest ways to create problems.

The seasonal cycle can occasionally be a little unpredictable indoors, so follow active growth rather than forcing your plant onto a fixed summer and winter schedule.

Green vine means growing. Bare caudex means slow down.

Nope. This one is much more interested in how often you water than what comes out of the tap.

Ordinary UK tap water is normally perfectly suitable for Dioscorea elephantipes.

In particularly hard water areas you may eventually see some mineral buildup around the compost or pot, but good drainage and allowing the substrate to dry properly between drinks matter much more.

Save the fancy water for the actual Jungle divas.

This one wants serious drainage.

Dioscorea elephantipes needs a really open, gritty substrate that allows water to move through quickly and leaves plenty of air around the roots.

A good caudex or succulent mix with ingredients such as pumice, mineral grit, perlite and a smaller amount of organic compost works brilliantly.

Dense standard houseplant compost on its own will usually hold far more water than this plant needs.

If the middle of the pot is still soaking wet days after watering, the Jungle needs a rethink.

Need the right ingredients? Explore our Jungle Mixes.

Feeding should follow active growth too.

While the plant is covered in fresh vines and leaves, use a diluted balanced houseplant or succulent fertiliser around once a month.

Once growth stops and the foliage begins dying back, stop routine feeding until the plant wakes up again.

The caudex develops with time. There is no fertiliser shortcut to turning a young Elephant's Foot into an ancient looking monster.

Dioscorea elephantipes does not need to be moved into a bigger pot every year.

Repot when the roots have genuinely filled the container, the substrate has broken down or drainage is no longer working properly.

The beginning of an active growth period is usually a good opportunity because the plant is ready to start producing fresh roots and vines.

Choose a container with a proper drainage hole and only increase the pot size sensibly.

A huge pot full of wet compost will not make the caudex grow faster. It will simply give the roots considerably more damp compost to deal with.

Very little pruning is actually required.

During active growth, long vines can be gently trained around a hoop or support rather than constantly cutting them back.

Once a vine has naturally yellowed and died at the end of a growth cycle, it can be removed cleanly.

Do not cut into the caudex to change its appearance.

That chunky cracked base has taken years to build. Let it keep doing its thing.

Those small heart shaped leaves do not need much attention.

If they become dusty, gently rinse the vines with lukewarm water or carefully wipe accessible leaves with a soft damp cloth.

Leave the rough caudex exactly as it is. Those cracked corky plates are part of the plant and definitely do not need polishing.

Dioscorea elephantipes is most reliably propagated from seed.

Fresh seedlings begin developing their little caudex very early, but building the incredible chunky base of a mature specimen takes years.

The species has separate male and female plants, meaning you normally need both sexes flowering for successful seed production.

This is very much a plant for anyone who enjoys the long game.

Start with a tiny seedling and one day you might have something that looks like it belongs in the prehistoric corner of the Jungle.

The caudex is wrinkling

A little wrinkling can happen when the plant has been dry for a while, particularly during its rest period. If it is actively growing and the substrate has been completely dry for a long time, it may be ready for a drink.

The caudex feels soft

A genuinely soft or mushy area deserves attention. Check for prolonged wet compost, cold conditions and damaged roots.

The leaves are yellowing

If the whole vine is gradually yellowing at the end of an active growth period, the plant may simply be preparing to rest. Sudden yellowing while strongly growing is worth checking for watering or root problems.

The vine is thin and stretched

Your Elephant's Foot may need stronger light.

There are deep cracks all over the caudex

Good. That is exactly what the plant is supposed to look like. The thick corky surface naturally becomes increasingly divided into deep plates as the plant ages.

Nothing is growing

Check whether the plant is resting. A healthy firm caudex can sit quietly for a considerable period before suddenly producing another vine.

The caudex is not getting bigger

Give it time. Seriously.

This is a plant you grow over years and decades, not a plant that doubles its caudex every delivery day.

Mealybugs can hide amongst the vines, around the growing point and inside the deep crevices of the caudex. Look for small white cottony patches.

Spider mites can appear on the leafy growth in warm dry indoor conditions. Look for pale speckling, dull foliage and very fine webbing.

Thrips may damage fresh foliage, leaving silvery markings, distorted growth and small dark specks.

Aphids can gather on soft young vines and fresh leaves while the plant is actively growing.

That cracked caudex gives pests a lot of hiding places, so have a proper look around the growing point and crevices whenever you water rather than only checking the leaves.