Ponytail Palm is one of the most common ornamental plants for both indoor and outdoor spaces. With decent landscaping, it would add much more beauty to where it was. Specifically, such plants are renowned for decorating focal points of any place. Ponytail Palm has other names changing from region to region. For example, they are Elephant’s Foot and bottle palm. Also, its scientific name is Beaucarnea recurvata. This houseplant geographically originates from Eastern Mexico. Thanks to its all kinds of cultivated varieties, they can grow almost everywhere in the world now, provided well-cared.
General Information
Ponytail Palm typically features a thick woody trunk getting gradually larger toward the base and plenty of long, thin leaves like a ponytail. Although it looks like a palm tree, it is a psödo palm. With this aspect, it shows similarity with Dwarf Umbrella Tree. As for flowering, this plant blooms white or yellow in summer. More importantly, the possibility of this ornamental plant’s blooming is considerably high. As with not most of the plants, this houseplant likes dryness to a certain degree. The max growth of this plant can change according to its growing conditions. I mean, it could reach up to 4 ft (1,2 m) indoors whereas 30 ft (9 m) in nature. When it comes to its lifespan, this ornamental plant is an evergreen perennial. Above all, Ponytail Palm never bears any poison to harm your pets. For that reason, they are free to hang around it.
How to Care for Beaucarnea recurvata
Sunlight: Ponytail Palm needs overhead light but shouldn’t get it directly. Generally, semi-shade spaces are better for such plants. In summer, you can change its current location to the west-facing windowsill. This way, the plant in question can take a sufficient amount of light for developing fast.
Watering: This houseplant is one of the unique plants storing water within its trunk. Due to being a drought-tolerant plant, it can resist dehydration to a certain degree. For that reason, it is literally for amateur growers. To meet its watering need, you can water it bi-weekly.
Humidity: This houseplant prefers average humidity. The room conditions suffice for it in general. But while growing in pots, pups may need high humidity in the very beginning. To ensure it, either cover the plant with a plastic bag or mist it with a water spray every day.
Temperature: This slow-growing plant develops better at the range 60°F – 80°F (15,5°C – 26,5°C). Too much or too little of these temperatures could harm the plant. According to the USDA plant hardiness map, it grows better in zones 9 – 11.
Soil Type: Due to originating from semi-deserted areas, the plant in question prefers sandy soils. Also, sandy soil could be enriched with organic components that are compatible with the current soil.
Fertilizer: All kinds of fertilizers accelerate the growing progress of this plant. Specifically, these fertilizers have a great effect on the plant’s growing season. Monthly fertilizing would suffice for such plants.
Propagation: This houseplant propagates via pups from itself. By sparing the pups from the mother plant, multiplying the number of the plant is possible. Before planting a pup in a pot, you should allow the plant’s cutting wound to heal. By the way, a similar propagation way can observe in Spider Plant and Sago Palm.
Repotting: This houseplant may be relatively underpotted. This way, the roots can stick to one other. Specifically, this houseplant’s pot should be a terracotta pot or clay pot. The plant in question likes relatively dryness. And such pots absorb much water. The spring is the ideal time for both repotting and propagation. Meanwhile, if you keep the plant bushy, repotting once three years will be appropriate. But if you would like to have a complete tree, repotting once a year will require.
Common Problems
Stem rots: Generally, fungus infections lead to this serious problem. In terms of spreading to other parts of the plant, these infections should be stopped. Usually, the plant contracts the sickness from unfiltered waters and dirty tools.
Brown leaf tips and edges: This problem stems from either direct sunlight or over-fertilizing. Generally, such brown parts are called “fertilizer burns” and “sunburn”.
Pest infestation: Red spiders, aphids, mites, scales, mealybugs, and so on destroy the plant. Long-term neglected plants face such unfortunate situations in general.
Suggestions for problems: Stem rots mustn’t be neglected for too long a time. Because fungus infection jumps to other parts of the plant. First of all, recover the plant from its soil. Wash all roots with water thoroughly. Then cut the affected roots. When it comes to brown leaf tips and edges, pinch off them and continue its regular care. Mind its watering and fertilizing time carefully next time. Pest-infested plants need serious help. For that, you can use neem oils, alcohol-based wipes, and pesticides. After troubleshooting the problem, you may clean its leaves with a damp cloth.
