The Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is an evergreen perennial native to eastern Mexico and has been found to grow up to 15 feet tall and 350 years old!Despite its common name, the Ponytail Palm is not a true palm, and requires care similiar to that of other desert-dwelling plants like cacti or succulents. During the winter season, cut back watering to monthly. But growing a ponytail palm outdoors is actually more common, believe it or not! For mature ponytail palms, you typically see clustered flower blossoms decorating the foliage bursts. Outdoors growing in the wild in Mexico, the ponytail palm plant is an evergreen perennial that can grow over 15 feet tall. Rot sets in and may hinder nutrient and water movement to the top leaves. Watering. If you accidentally leave your Ponytail Palm’s soil completely dry for too long, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown and curl. Feel the top of the soil after your plant has been soaking–has the water reached the top 2-3” of soil? A month after planting, start feeding with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food. Does the soil feel dry all the way to the roots? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The general watering rule that applies for succulents holds true for ponytail palms as well, namely that you should allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out before the next watering. Ideally, you should water it every two weeks. You get to take advantage of the full spring, summer, fall, and winter growth cycle of this incredible plant. Although the Ponytail Palm can hold water in it’s trunk for up to a month at a time, you still want some quality fast draining soil mix to keep the soil dry. The ponytail palm plant is a misleading name. During Hotter Months — You’ll want to water your ponytail palm plant once every 7-10 days. You will only need to water these plants approximately once a month, but the ideal frequency of watering will be determined by pot size (the smaller the pot, the greater the frequency), soil type, and amount of light and warmth they receive. It is actually not technically part of the palm family, but is a succulent. Lay two layers of paper towels onto a flat surface and sprinkle the ponytail palm seeds onto the paper towels. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a thorough soak is in order. The large basse of the Ponytail and Sago Palms will store lots of water, so always err on the side of dryness. Plant details. This is easily preventable by: Watering when the top 3 to 4 inches of soil becomes dry. At the base of the Ponytail Palm is a thick swollen stem that has a woody appearance. This means it retains water in various parts of the plant, in this case the roots and caudex (its thick stem). The best thing to do is to check to see how the soil is before watering your plant. https://www.networkadvertising.org/understanding-online-advertising/what-are-my-options. Place the plant back on its saucer and back in its proper spot. In fact, a mature ponytail palm may grow 6-feet wide at the base. Overwatering is one of the most common problems facing the Ponytail Palm, so only water when the soil is completely dry. If not all the soil feels saturated, water your Ponytail Palm lightly from the top of the soil to help speed up the saturation. How to care for Ponytail Palm leaf dry? Technically a succulent, ponytail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata) use their engorged trunk bases to store water for drought survival. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners in accordance with our. The stored trunk water sustains your tree for approximately one month without rainfall or irrigation. Why are the blades on Ponytail Palm brown and crispy? Writing professionally since 2010, Amy Rodriguez cultivates successful cacti, succulents, bulbs, carnivorous plants and orchids at home. The foliage generally curves downward and can be as much as two feet long and just an inch wide. With several bursts of thin, long leaves, these succulents commonly show off their glossy green foliage as shocks of wild hair. If so, it’s a good time to water. Because the foliage is quite long, ponytail palms require a generous amount of space. For tips on how to grow Ponytail Palm, be sure to check out my Ponytail Palm Care post which includes everything from light, watering, common problems, etc. The tallest I’ve seen 1 in a container is 9′. WATERING . Overwatering is one of the most common problems facing the Ponytail Palm, so only water when the soil is completely dry. Ponytail palm lost all leaves. The decorative ponytail plant is native to dry, desert regions of Mexico and the southern United States. If so, it’s time to hydrate. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. These plants are preferred over others for two main reasons, one it looks beautiful and unique and two these plants are extremely easy to maintain and care for. You may also notice the trunk start to wrinkle and go limp. A ponytail palm left without water for long enough will start to become stressed, and the leaf tips will begin to turn brown and die. Without the stark green chlorophyll pigment, leaves cannot produce the energy necessary for blossom development. This plant is ideal for people with very little time or who travel regularly. If you would like to control these cookies, the Network Advertising Initiative has a list of options you can utilize: https://www.networkadvertising.org/understanding-online-advertising/what-are-my-options. Below, we have some general guidelines to watering a ponytail palm, but the best advice is to give it a drink of water when you see the soil start to dry. Layer a single sheet of paper towels on top of the seeds and mist with water. The ponytail palm is native to parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. How Often Do You Need to Water a Date Palm? Even with the best ponytail palm plant care, you will … Ponytail palms, also known as elephant foot, are fantastic and cute indoor houseplants, as their caudex makes for a striking appearance…. Grow more ponytail palms by removing them from the parent plant and repotting. In fact, overwatering is the primary reason why these plants fail to thrive. Common name: Ponytail palm, elephant’s foot tree Botanic name: Beaucarnea recurvata (also known as Nolina recurvata and N. tuberculata) Description: A slow growing, evergreen tree to about 9m (30′) tall. Bloomscape uses cookies as essential parts of the website experience. When you are planting a palm in your garden, you'll want to water the tree every day for the first week. If you want to actually see me physically repot this plant, check out my repotting video on YouTube! These plants can actually go long periods of time without being watered and you don’t want to water them more than you’re supposed to. Is your plant much lighter than usual? Despite its name and palm-like appearance, the ponytail palm is not a true “palm.” In fact, it is more closely related to desert plants in the Agave and Yucca genera (e.g., Joshua trees).. However, over-watering causes significant leaf yellowing. Watering Ponytail Palms. They can get 12 -24′ tall when growing outside in the ground. Mist with water so that the paper towels are moderately damp. The taller they get, the longer the leaves get. The typical ponytail palm consists of a large, domed “stump,” which tapers off into a thinner stem. Growing the Ponytail palm is a soil medium that is fast draining and not too heavy. The ponytail palm, also known as the elephant’s foot, is a whimsical-looking, low-maintenance plant that anyone can enjoy caring for. The biggest problem is caused by rot due to the soil being too soggy. The Ponytail Palm will be perfectly happy being watered every couple of weeks and left alone to soak up the sunlight. Bloomscape uses cookies to provide and improve our services, analytics and for personalized ads and content. They're fun & unique houseplants which do best in high light. Ponytail Palms are about as easy care as it gets. In this post, we’ll review an easy ponytail palm care guide, as well as how to propagate the ponytail palm. If so, it’s time to hydrate. Yes, it’s important that they have good drainage so transplant it into a container with a hole. Indoors as houseplants, ponytail palms stay smaller—though they can still grow to multiple feet tall, with leaves that can grow to many feet long. On the other hand, the plant accepts most soil types, including sandy and loamy. Ponytail palms don’t need a lot of water to thrive and does best in semi-dry conditions. If that is the case then you may have seen all your palm lost leaves. Free Shipping on Orders $75+ Not often, but the frequency depends largely on the environment you’re growing it in. Preferring U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 12, these trees are easily over-watered and display key signals both above and below ground when they need drier conditions. 2. The ponytail palm is actually considered a succulent, as it stores water around the base of its swollen trunk. This may be the case of over watering or you have put your ponytail palm in a colder place and they can’t handle that much cold temperature for long. As a result, flowers do not emerge or current blossoms quickly drop from reduced photosynthesis energy. For container plants, you should clear the drainage holes of any root growths or other obstacles. How Horticultural Therapy is Getting Us Through 2020, How to Choose a Pot that Complements Your Plant, Announcing Our New Plant Care App, Vera by Bloomscape, Plant Parent Starter Kit: 5 Tools Your Houseplant Needs to Thrive, The 25 Best Gifts for Plant Lovers for the 2020 Holiday Season, This Year, Choose a Living Christmas Tree, Build Your Own Living Tablescape This Holiday. Ponytail palm care and How often should I fertilize my ponytail palm and How Often Do You Water A Ponytail Palm The ponytail palm has gained popularity in the recent plant as the perfect house plant. Ponytail Palm care, whether they’re growing outdoors or indoors, is about as easy as it gets. Removing the wet conditions hinders rot growth and stimulates root regeneration. The Ponytail Palm is drought tolerant, slow-growing, and requires very little care. I recommend that you use a mix of cactus soil along with some grit to keep the water from standing in the soil for too long. Heavy lifting University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension: Ponytail Palm, University of Missouri Extension: Caring for Houseplants, Mercury News: Ruth's Tips: Pony Tail Palm Makes A Dramatic Focal Point. Shop Now, Get care instructions for your specific plants, Tips and inspiration for green, plantful living, Download our new plant care app to become the best plant parent. When your plant’s soil is evenly damp, drain the sink/tub and allow the plant to rest while it drains thoroughly. Roots dieback significantly if dry conditions do not return. And, be sure to use a mix which the water freely drains out … Take note of the weight of your Ponytail Palm when it is freshly watered, and also when the soil is completely dry and it needs a drink. If you notice that your leaves are beginning to yellow, stop all irrigation to allow the ponytail palm time to recuperate -- dry conditions stimulate internal healing and possible recovery without any need for rich fertilizers or chemicals. This should indicate to you that the plant expects longish periods between watering. As a young plant, ponytail palms barely have a noticeable trunk. The ponytail palm prioritizes keeping central tissues of the plant hydrated at the expense of the leaf tips. Information on How to Bloom Orange Asiatic Lilies. This is a water storage organ, which is capable of supporting the plant in times of drought. Is your plant much lighter than usual? Your ponytail palm needs a well-drained soil site, much like a cactus environment. Watering. They are very subject to over watering. Allow the container ponytail palm to dry out slightly during the winter to simulate its natural environment. 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