The Ponytail Palm is drought tolerant, slow-growing, and requires very little care. But growing a ponytail palm outdoors is actually more common, believe it or not! Plant care. Dig a hole slightly larger than the rootball of the ponytail palm you are transplanting. Pups that are 4 inches (10 cm.) Place the rootball on top of the potting mix, carefully tucking new mix around the plant. When your plant’s soil is evenly damp, drain the sink/tub and allow the plant to rest while it drains thoroughly. Place the rootball in the hole, making sure that the ponytail palm will set at about the same height as it was in the pot. You need to give it well-draining soil. Select a pot that has a hole in the bottom, so that excess water can be drained off. The Ponytail Palm plant is no exception! No need to add soil amendments when planting, since this plant likes dry sandy soil. The Ponytail Palm Plant likes heat and light. If you decide your potted palm needs a little more root room, you need to figure out how to transplant a ponytail palm tree. Cutting back ponytail palm is not an effective method of maintenance in that it would leave an open trunk and no greenery. So, the most common problem with the Ponytail Palm is when rots due to overwatering. This will ensure their best chance of survival as a separate plant. When growing ponytail palm as a houseplant, you should let the soil dry out significantly in between waterings. However, if you want to grow multiple trunks on a ponytail palm, you can take the drastic action of cutting off the plant’s growing tip. Fill the new pot with enough potting mix to set the ponytail palm where its bulbous base will partially emerge from the pot. Water the soil again. Care Instructions--- Some direct sun is best but bright indirect light should work. Potting medium. wider than the previous pot. The Ponytail Palm will be perfectly happy being watered every couple of weeks and left alone to soak up the sunlight. Any more than this and the plant may develop brown tips on the leaves. It can withstand heating well if it is sprayed. What is the Best Temperature for the Ponytail Palm Plant. Because ponytail palm care requires dry soil, it is best to let them get root bound before repotting and when you do repot them, use a pot that is only an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm.) Water the palm thoroughly to settle the soil and help with transplant shock. Actual size of your plant when it arrives may vary.) Pony tail palm plant. For example, if the seed is 1-inch in diameter, plant the seed 1 inch deep in the soil. It just might mean more work … Can a Ponytail Palm plant be grown outside? So, if you observe dry foliage, shriveled base, deplete roots or brown leaves, it is clearly the sign you are over-watering it. Place the container in a warm and sunny location and water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. The common characteristics of this plant include a bulbous trunk, which is used to store water, and its long, hair-like leaves that grow from the top of the trunk like a ponytail, giving the plant its renowned name. How to Care for a Cordyline Dracena Plant, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Beaucarnea Recurvata, New Mexico State University: Southwest Yard and Garden Archives. The glossy green leaves are about 2 cm wide, but they can grow up to 1,5 meters. Ponytail palms only need to be fertilized two or three times per year. A month after planting, start feeding with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food. This means that as long as you place it outdoors in the summer, it will tolerate any indoor light conditions you keep it in during the winter. Spring is the best time to divide ponytail palm shoots. From there, her meandering career path led to a 9 1/2 year stint in the real estate industry. All you really need to do to propagate it is to remove the pup from an existing plant and repot it. This plant is great at surviving long periods without water. Its palm-like trunk has a massive, swollen base, … The trick with ponytail palms is not to overwater. Ponytail Palms in the Landscaping 1. Outdoors, it can reach up to 8-10 meters, and its bulb-like trunk can reach a diameter of up to 3 meters. However, because these are hardy plants, they can survive in a variety of lighting conditions. As with all plants known for their longevity, the ponytail palm will need repotting every couple of years. Other common names for this plant include bottle palm tree or elephant foot tree. How to Plant Ponytail Palm Seeds. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. I worked in the interior plantscaping trade for years & have seen & maintained many, many houseplants. Not sure what's causing it, but it seems to have taken a turn for the worse since I moved it away from the window since it's gotten colder during the nights. In fact, it is a member of the Agave family and is actually a succulent. Carefully excavate around the base of the parent plant to expose the base of the pups. On the other hand, the plant accepts most soil types, including sandy and loamy. Sign up for our newsletter. Pot. Ponytail Palm Root and Stem Rot. During Hotter Months — You’ll want to water your ponytail palm plant once every 7-10 days. It grows very slowly, but with patience and proper care, it can grow quite tall. Feel the top of the soil after your plant has been soaking–has the water reached the top 2-3” of soil? With its bulbous trunk, cascading ponytail of leaves, and endearing proportions, the ponytail palm is a cute plant that happens to be pretty low maintenance. Ponytail palms typically are very low maintenance and do not require pruning. A more mature ponytail palm tree will bloom with white flower clusters and then branch out to form new heads. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Select a well-draining pot slightly larger than the pot your ponytail palm currently occupies, or a small pot about two inches wider than the pup if you're planting the ponytail palm for the first time.