Elephant Tooth Cactus Plant Care
Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Coryphantha elephantidens is a species of cactus native to Mexico and was first described in 1838.
Full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Elephant Tooth Cactus?
Elephant Tooth Cactus grows best in full sun.
Where Is the Elephant Tooth Cactus Native To?
What Is the Elephant Tooth Cactus?
Elephant Tooth Cactus (Coryphantha elephantidens) belongs to the Cactaceae family within the Coryphantha genus. Elephant Tooth Cactus is native to Mexico and was first described in 1838. Elephant Tooth Cactus is also known as Elephant Cactus.
Elephant Tooth Cactus displays a solitary or clumping, low rosette growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Elephant Tooth Cactus produces yellow, pink, or white funnel-shaped flowers.
What Light Does the Elephant Tooth Cactus Need?
Elephant Tooth Cactus thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Elephant Tooth Cactus?
Sandy, well-draining cactus mix with perlite and coarse sand. Good drainage is essential for Elephant Tooth Cactus to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Elephant Tooth Cactus?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Elephant Tooth Cactus?
Elephant Tooth Cactus can be propagated through offsets, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to pincushion cactus plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Elephant Tooth Cactus Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Elephant Tooth Cactus, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Elephant Tooth Cactus?
Elephant Tooth Cactus is susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Elephant Tooth Cactus is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Coryphantha genus — compare its care with other Coryphantha species on PlantoScan.
Coryphantha is part of the Cactaceae plant family — browse all Cactaceae genera and species.
Elephant Tooth Cactus thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Coryphantha Species
Other Coryphantha species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Coryphantha elephantidens (Lem.) Lem., family Cactaceae (first published in Cactées: 35. 1868.) — World Flora Online record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Elephant Tooth Cactus, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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