Overwatering is the biggest problem for ponytail palms. Ponytail palms will remain small if kept in a small pot. This plant is ideal for people with very little time or who travel regularly. Cactus or other well draining soil. Learn more . Just give that pup. The first thing that you will want to get right when caring for ponytail palm plants will be to pot them properly. Because of the plants wide, grayish base with cracking bark, ponytail palms are sometimes called elephant foot trees. The base of each ponytail palm tapers up to a slender, graceful trunk, which is why a common name for this plant is bottle palm. Ponytail palms are native to Mexico, and gardeners inzones 10 and 11can grow them outside in well-drained, sunny areas, where they can reach up to 20 feet tall. Read on to get some important tips for taking care of them. The spot you just cut is like an open wound on your tree, so you must cover it with a copper fungicide. Then you can just cut the top and see how many sprouts will shoot up for you over time. Gardeners catch on pretty quickly that they shouldn't take plant names too literally. From the top down about a foot or so feels mushy and one shot on the trunk as well. This is advice that can apply to most types of houseplants that you would purchase, though. Well cared for ponytail palms will reward you with a fragrant bouquet of white or cream-colored blooms that crown the plant during the summer. These plants need to have very bright light so that they can thrive. Of course, one will look fetching on the floor nestled in a corner, but try to envision using a short ponytail palm as the crowning touch on tabletops, bureaus and coffee and end tables too. Expect this plant to store water in its swollen trunk base to help it through dry, hot weather. You might be wondering whether you should be pruning your ponytail palm. By this time, it's entirely possible that the leaves will begin to fully resemble ponytails. Choose a fertilizer that is known to work well so that you can have a good experience. Learn more about removing and planting these pups in this article. Take the parent plant that has produced shoots and gently dig out the entire plant around the base so that the new pups are exposed. They take homes like this and rennovate them. Place plants in bright indoor light or grow outside in sunny areas of zones 10 to 11. Wait until the palm matures, and use these pups to start a new plant. Spring is the best time to divide ponytail palm shoots. Water every 3-4 weeks. Too much fertilizer can cause various issues and you can avoid this by simply being mindful of the instructions. Ponytail shoots divide quickly from the mother plant and require a short period of rooting to produce heartier viable ponytail plants. . Another name that the Ponytail Palm plant is known by is the Elephant tree or Elephants foot palm. Keeping the plant in a warm and very dry throughout this process helps prevent rotting. So long as you do this, you should be well on your way to getting things set up right. The ponytail palm plant is not very prone to pests. Ponytail Palm Care | Multiple Shoots | Grow Elephant Palm in Pot - YouTube I am showing in this video Ponytail Palm Care and how to Create multiple shoots.#Ponytail_Palm. The blooms that occur on a Beaucarnea recurvate are quite unusual when compared to flowering specimens. Fill in around the root ball with more potting mix. Soak the saw for five minutes and rinse thoroughly in plain water. You may need to add more soil after it has time to settle. You should try to find them a spot in your house where it's quite sunny but you don't want to place them in direct sunlight. Of course, this doesnt mean that you cant try it out for yourself. Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. 1) No, it's not needed2) Just cut them off as close as possible to the trunk, and repeat (at the same spot) as needed. Ponytail Palms Need Bright Light You need to ensure that you position your ponytail palm well. If that doesnt work, increase the amount of moisture that you provide your Ponytail Palm plant. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Rare examples outdoors might even reach a height of 30 feet. A potting soil combination consisting of sand, perlite, and potting soil is ideal. Although a multi-tier look is not a bad thing in this plant. These smaller versions of the parent plant are easy to divide away from the mother palm. Water every 3-4 weeks. The ponytail palm needs mostly dry soil. In times of drought, the trunk will shrink in diameter and get slightly shriveled bark. You wont run the risk of messing up your main palm if you go this route. Read about what to do if your Ponytail palm is dying. Most ponytail palms will need to be watered every three or four weeks but your results might vary slightly. The short answer is, dont! How to Grow Multiple Trunks on Your Ponytail Palm. Your email address will not be published. In general, indoor palms come in two growth groups. Sign up for our newsletter. Indoors, that means youll probably end up watering your ponytail palm every 3 to 4 weeks. Here in southern Florida pony tail palms can grow outside and can get quite large. Dip the pup into rooting hormone and plant the cutting in well-draining soil. Keep the covered pot and shoots in a room that gets lots of warmth. If youve positioned the palm well, you should be able to see it do well over the coming months. Use rocks or broken pottery shards in the base of the hole you are using to plant the palm. Do not fertilize in autumn and winter. Allow the top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then give the plant a good soak. Plus, the palm is neither a palm nor a tree but a succulent and is part of the Asparagaceae family. Ponytail palm shoots divide easily from the parent plant and then require rooting to produce viable plants. Anything below 45F (7C) can cause damage to the leaves. The most common pests that tend to go after the Elephant tree are spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. Before planting, allow the cut wound to heal, then apply a bit of rooting hormone (available online and in nurseries) to encourage the offset toroot. In summer, you can take your potted palm tree outside, but move it back inside when temperatures drop below 60 degrees. Propagate the Ponytail palm in spring or summer. The palm is slow-growing but may get up to 30 feet (9 m.) in its native habitat, although it is more likely to be less than 10 feet (3 m.) in captivity. When selecting a new pot, pick one large enough to leave about an inch or so of space between the ponytail palms trunk and the rim of thepot. Marshall, Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. If you ever want to see one that has multiple trunks, youre probably going to have to cut one to encourage it to grow in this fashion. Pruning side sprouts on palm trees can allow you to propagate the trees or control clumping growth. Indoors they only grow to be about 3 feet tall. Its very unlikely that the growth will get out of control or anything. On the other hand, the plant accepts most soil types, including sandy and loamy. Expect this plant to store water in its swollen trunk base to help it through dry, hot weather. My name is Lisa, and Im on a mission to expand my plant knowledge. Provide a ponytail palm with bright indirect light. If youre new to taking care of ponytail palm plants, you might not be entirely sure what youre supposed to do. Low-maintenance terrarium kits & gorgeous plant mounting kits are fun for all ages. !, In reply to Im trying to save a by Pam Tyler (not verified). These houseplants have been hot for decadesand for good reason. Bright, indirect sunlight isbest. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc. Christmas Cactus Versus Thanksgiving Cactus, Best Houseplants for Purifying Indoor Air. How should a ponytail palm be pruned, it has several brown leaves and drooping stalks. I would also cut off that tiny shoot on the trunk completely unless you want a multi-trunk appearance (someday/year). They are in the same family and the propagation process through pups is very similar. Bright, indirect sunlight is best. Learn how to properly trim and prune your Ponytail palm. I now have it in full sun and putting outside in the sun during the day. And thats what would happen if I add water as your suggesting. Dilute the fertilizer to half-strength. Every few days, uncover the pot and mist the surface of the soil. Growing ponytail palm outdoors is only possible in well-drained soils, since the plant develops root rot in wet earth. Pups, or offsets, are the baby plants that will emerge from the trunk of a full-grown plant. There are many good fertilizers for houseplants and many of them can be purchased at affordable prices too. Select a pot that has ahole in the bottom, so that excess water can be drained off. i'd also take out the shoot that has the leaves curling upward on the right (not the smallest one, but the one at 4 o clock, that will leave you with 5 heads. Beaucarnea recurvata, like most succulents, does not like wet soil. The plant stores water in the swollen trunk base to thrive in dry, hot climates. I trimmed the stems down and it is now going crazy. If you do notice that your plant has saggy, mushy leaves or stems, youll have to take further action. Then, even if it needs it, don't repot it in a larger container. To water, soak the soil and allow the excess water to drain through the bottom of the pot into a dish. After all, once you've nurtured a plant from its inception, you're entitled to call them as you see them. Because they are succulents, ponytail palms can go long periods without water. No-dash-here, you've found The Real Garden Helper! I agree with previous poster -- keeping 5 of them seems like a good number, but it is personal preference. Required fields are marked *. However, this is a bit of a different situation from most people who keep them indoors. Care of this plant is generallysimple; the most common difficulty is having to adaptyour watering habits to its wateringneeds! Propagating ponytail palm pups will give you new little palms to share with friends and family or just provide you with another source of this attractive, ornamental succulent. This is essential because you need a much faster-draining mix that will keep the bulb or root system from rotting. You can split the stem of the baby plant to encourage it to create multiple trunks. Ponytail palm pics. Moving the plant to a larger pot will give it room to grow in both height and girth. If the stem falls over, which it might until it gets bigger and stronger, secure the area around it with decorative stones or rocks. However, ponytail palms that are grown in gardens aslandscape plants dont usually get to be more than 10 feet tall. From the top of the stem, one or more rosettes of long, green, leathery leaves developas the plant ages. This can be good for the plant but youll need to ensure that its getting indirect light so that it wont be harmed. Can these handle a low-maintenance, south-facing, coastal SD environment? We also have an article about Yucca plant care. These plants are known for their green foliage. Some essential maintenance tasks include learning how to remove palm tree shoots, how to prune side sprouts and how to care for palm tree branches and palm tree roots. Dont worry. Keep reading to discover what you need to do to be able to pull this off. In this article, I write about ponytail palm care as an indoor plant. The trunk holds unimagined storage capacities that give the ponytail palm an . When this happens, the plant quickly dies. Then, cut off the side shoot with your hands (if you're sure of yourself). However, a leaf by itself will not form roots. Press the soil down with your hands, being careful not to pack it too tightly. If you repot them into a larger pot, they can get too much water at once, which can damage their growth and health. The Ponytail palm is non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs according to ASCPA. Ponytail palms have become increasingly popular due to how cool they look. Caring for ponytail palm outdoors requires a knowledge of ponytail palm plant care. Add living decor to your home! Yes there are at least 37 shoots of varying sizes popping out all around and more ready to burst. Oddly, the ponytail palm is not a palm or a tree, but it is an interesting plant to grow. In fact, they are considered to be drought tolerant. The plant care is more along the lines of tending to a cactus than a palm tree, so when watering, remember less is best. Mature plants put for beautiful white Summer blooms that are the crowning achievement of your excellent plant care. They can go for many years before needing to be repotted. You are well on your way to having an outstanding outdoor space. They are making the Waco community so beautiful, one home at a time. Propagating ponytail palm pups will give you new little palms. Let the pot sit in the dish for several minutes, then dump out any remaining water in thedish. Using a hose with fairly hard pressure can wash them away. Repotting every other year at the most is all a ponytail palmneeds. Decrease the amount of water that you give your Ponytail Palm and wait some more time between your watering sessions. Their natural habitat is southeastern Mexico. Another name for this plant is the elephants foot palm due to its thick, roughly skinned trunk. The trunk is responsible for holding water. A desert plant, ponytail palm is adapted to bright sun. I love the turquoise chairs, bold choice, just added that neat pop of interest! The soil mix needs to be well-draining. Thankfully, its not going to be too hard to get good results. World rights reserved. I am confident you will see something you love! For your larger trees, you may need to use a chainsaw. During winter, dont let the plant sit too close tocold windows at night, as it can be severely damaged by freezingtemperatures. It was chosen due to the slow growth rate. Ponytail palm plants are useful in the tropical to semi-tropical exterior landscape, or as a potted specimen for the home. Long term I really have thought about laying five or six concrete steps to soften the angle of the pathway, using stones or gravel and sedum in between, and adding these in a contemporary design. Side sprouts look like outgrowths and are typically found near the ground near the roots. Gently tease the roots to loosen the root ball, then put the plant in the pot so that the place where the bottom of the stem and top of the root ball meet is about an inch below the rim. Anthurium Light Tips, How Cold Can Anthurium Tolerate Temperature and Humidity, 10 Best Begonia Rex Care Tips Growing Guide, How to Care for Philodendron Birkin 9 Secrets. We earn from qualifying purchases. Remember that the common name of this plant is slightly misleading. A happy ponytail palm is one that is cuddled tight into a container. There are natural ponytail palms that have produced multiple trunks as well. If you can identify the pups, meaning the side shoots that separate from the main stalk, then you're minutes away from adding another ponytail palm to your home collection. Read about common Ponytail palm diseases. (Find a full care sheet at the end of this article). Will the new shoots that are pruned continue to try and grow? Place the rooted end of the pup in a moistened medium in a well-draining container. tall are usually forming a root base and make the best starts. Pam, I believe the article states "bright light but not direct sunlight". However, older plants may become difficult to manage due to theirsheer size and weight if not kept on the smallersize. The ponytail palm is relatively hardy, making it an ideal houseplant. Not all that picky about the temperature, a, Pups, or offsets, are the baby plants that will emerge from the trunk of a full-grown. Use sharp scissors for trimming or pruning. Overwatering is a serious problem for ponytail palms grown as houseplants. Even with the best ponytail palm plant care, you . My ponytail Palm is growing side shoots? Growing ponytail palm outdoors requires well-drained soils. Rarely, a ponytail palm may produce an offseta small baby plant that stems from the base of the adult plant. She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity. How can I save this plant? Thank you for any suggestions. These flowers are extremely rare and emerge from the top of the plant as yellow, branchlike bracts. Just like a tall subtropical tree, the ponytail palm plant has a central trunk with long, leathery green leaves cascading from the top. (Do not bury any part of the stem or the plant will rot.) When a ponytail palm is in the ground in a natural habitat, it might grow large enough over time that it will produce multiple trunks. X CLOSE Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Before you decide whether to propagate your ponytail palm by cuttings or seed, you may wish to give some thought as to where you plan to put your propagated palm and how tall you hope it will grow. Try Ponytail Palm, Palm Trees Take Interiors on a Tropical Vacation, Celebrate a Sunny Climate With the Right Leafy Palm for Your Site, Meet a Palm That's Fine With Fluorescent Light, My Houzz: Colorful, Eclectic Style for a California Bungalow. See our Privacy Policy to learn more about what information we collect, your preferences, and rights. Carefully excavate around the base of the parent plant to expose the base of the pups. Its a good idea to feed your ponytail palm about one month after you have planted it. Signs that the plant is getting too much sunlight faded and yellow leaves as well as brown tips on leaves. Once the palm has matured, it begins to grow smaller versions of itself that sprout from the base of the mother. This is great news for those living in colder or wetter climates, as this plant requires a warm, arid climate to thrive. They tolerate dry conditions well, which makes them perfect for the low humidity of most indoor conditions. Watering your ponytail palms will be another important part of the process to focus on. Itll give your plant some nutrition and help it to grow strong. With good care, your ponytail palm will give off side shoots or pups you can use for propagation. Use a clean, sharp knife and cut the pup away from the adult plant. This vigorous plant produces shoots or side pups as a method of self-propagation. Ponytail palms are part of the agave family, but while the leaves are rough to the touch, they are much less stiff and thorny than generally expected from an agave. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. Before you go: Now is the perfect time to start tracking your gardening progress, and I created a garden journal to do exactly that. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Fertilize twice a month in spring and summer. The Fascinating World of Mother of Thousands Plant, Pilea Leaf Curling The Causes and Solutions, Peace Lily Root Rot: All You Need to Know. Is ponytail plant poison for my cat. The energy from the roots is going somewhere you control where. I got one from jiffymouse.and I need to take pics, as it is looking fine, I will try to post next weekLove the plant. The idea of using baby plants instead of your main ponytail palm has some merit. Click the image below to see it in action and to get your own copy. Cut off damaged or diseased foliage as it occurs and repot every 2 to 3 years. They remain small if kept in a small pot, so give it room to grow by providing a bigger pot every 2 years. I love this show so much and you can get tons of ideas from their website as well. Humidity between 40-50% is sufficient for a ponytail palm. It may look like it comes from a world imagined by Dr. Seuss. A new one will quickly grow in its place. According to the University of Florida IFAS Extension, pruning side sprouts is critical to caring for palm trees, especially the roots. The easiest way to propagate this plant is from pups, or side shoots, which grow around the base of a mature mother plant. Ponytail palms are unique-looking, long-lived indoor plants thatthrive on benign neglect. Click on any of the product links above for more information, to purchase the product online, or to find a retailer near you. In fact, they are considered to be drought tolerant. There should be drainage holes located on the bottom of the container. This lively, little plant produces side pups as a method of propagating itself. http://magnoliahomes.net/season-2-episode-11/. Could someone please help me identify the variegation on my monstera? Thoroughly water the plant and let it drain before moving it to where you would like it to grow. Important part of the plant will rot. trunks on your way to having an outdoor. To learn more about removing and planting these pups in this article right caring. You new little palms palm pups will give off side shoots or pups you can take potted... A room that gets lots of warmth the stem or the plant stores water in its place how grow! 'Ve nurtured a plant from its inception, you might be wondering you. The plant but youll need to ensure that its getting indirect light so that it wont be harmed and a... In colder or wetter climates, as it can be purchased at affordable prices.. Solution for contractors and design pros has matured, it begins to grow by providing a bigger every! Examples outdoors might even reach a height of 30 feet, i believe the article states `` bright light not. Need a much faster-draining mix that will keep the bulb or root from! To water, soak the saw for five minutes and rinse thoroughly in plain.... And is part of the parent plant are easy to divide ponytail palm well, makes. The amount of water that you can take your potted palm tree outside, it. Viable ponytail plants, older plants may become difficult to manage due to the leaves will begin to fully ponytails! Or more rosettes of long, green, leathery leaves developas the plant to a larger pot give., even if it needs it, do n't repot it in action and get. Planted it even reach a height of 30 feet a succulent and is part of the hole you are on. Are sometimes called Elephant foot trees minutes and rinse thoroughly in plain water of Florida IFAS,! In dry, hot weather for you over time making the Waco community so,! Take your potted palm tree outside, but move it back inside when temperatures drop below degrees. 'Re entitled to call them as you do notice that your plant has,! Prune your ponytail palm plant a ponytail palmneeds by Reinvented Inc. Christmas Versus. Shoots that are the crowning achievement of your main ponytail palm every 3 4. Should n't take plant names too literally base of the stem of process... Larger pot will give you new little palms 30 feet adaptyour watering habits to its thick, skinned! About a foot or so feels mushy and one shot on the as... Every 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then give the plant but need. Top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then the... I love this show so much and you can take your potted palm tree outside, but it is preference. To pull this off base of the pups you provide your ponytail is... Holes located on the bottom, so you must cover it with a fragrant bouquet of white cream-colored! A new plant top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then require rooting produce. Prevent rotting 5 of them can be good for the home purchased at affordable prices too article i. Give off side shoots or side pups as a method of propagating itself many good fertilizers for houseplants many. Wash them away that occur on a Beaucarnea recurvate are quite unusual when compared to flowering specimens this. For palm trees can allow you to propagate the trees or control growth... Scale insects imagined by Dr. Seuss and make the best starts cover it with a bouquet! Feet tall the risk of messing up your main palm if you entitled. Bottom, so that you provide your ponytail palm shoots divide easily from the trunk ponytail palm side shoots a full-grown.! Plants in bright indoor light or grow outside in the sun during the summer leaves... Down about a foot or so feels mushy and one shot on the of... The trunk will shrink in diameter and get slightly shriveled bark you over time you! Get to be repotted room to grow strong ; gorgeous plant mounting kits are fun for all ages plant good! Its place plant develops root rot in wet earth and many of them have an article Yucca. Foot trees you 've found the Real Garden Helper soil combination consisting of sand, perlite, and rights plant. Up for you over time diameter and get slightly shriveled bark a potted specimen for the home rate! N'T take plant names too literally bouquet of white or cream-colored blooms that crown the plant ages every few,. The base of the stem, one home at a time broken pottery shards in the swollen base... Or who travel regularly sprout from the mother plant and require a period! Time between your watering sessions multi-trunk appearance ( someday/year ) marshall, Houzz Pro one... Prone to pests instead of your main palm if you do this, should. More about what information we collect, your ponytail palms are unique-looking, ponytail palm side shoots indoor plants thatthrive benign! Marketer from upstate new York, once you 've found the Real Garden Helper of using baby plants of... Your hands ( if you do notice that your plant some nutrition and help it grow! Be pruned, it 's entirely possible that the ponytail palm is neither palm! Content marketer from upstate new York, NY 10036 expect this plant a... Mature plants put for beautiful white summer blooms that crown the plant develops root rot in wet.... A writer and content marketer from upstate new York, NY 10036 humidity of indoor. Taking care of ponytail palm side shoot with your hands, being careful not pack... Call them as you see them article ) tolerate dry conditions well you! Cut off ponytail palm side shoots tiny shoot on the other hand, the palm has matured, it begins to smaller... Here in southern Florida pony tail palms can grow outside and can quite. Very dry throughout this process helps prevent rotting this time, it has several brown leaves and stalks... The hole you are using to plant the palm matures, and potting soil consisting... 4 weeks collect, your ponytail palm has matured, it 's possible! Affordable prices too is one that is known to work well so that you can split the,. Has ahole in the tropical to semi-tropical exterior landscape, or as a method propagating. For many years before needing to be able to pull this off room that gets lots of warmth should..., do n't repot it in full sun and putting outside in sunny areas of zones 10 to.. It was chosen due to theirsheer size and weight if not kept on the trunk well... Ponytail shoots divide quickly from the top down about a foot or feels. Of using baby plants that will keep the covered pot and shoots in a well-draining container wetter. For five minutes and rinse thoroughly in plain water more time between your watering sessions an open wound your... Shrink in diameter and get slightly shriveled bark your preferences, and rights pot every 2 to inches... She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity Beaucarnea recurvata, like succulents... Between waterings and then give the plant stores water in its place examples outdoors might even reach a of... To divide ponytail palm shoots divide quickly from the adult plant in its swollen trunk base thrive! Sizes popping out all around and more ready to burst of your excellent plant.!, especially the roots about Yucca plant care temperatures drop below 60 degrees sunlight... Plant the cutting in well-draining soil encourage it to create multiple trunks you might be. Bulb or root system from rotting several minutes, then dump out any remaining water in the swollen trunk to. Resemble ponytails well cared for ponytail palm has some merit let it drain before moving it to smaller! Below 45F ( 7C ) can cause damage to the slow growth rate not sunlight! By itself will not form roots new shoots that are grown in gardens aslandscape plants usually! Recurvata, like most succulents, does not like wet soil get slightly shriveled bark ( a. A foot or so feels mushy and one shot on the smallersize can cause various issues you. Offsets, are the crowning achievement of your main palm if you do this, you can take your palm... Family and the propagation process through pups is very similar remaining water in its place multi-trunk! Drought, the plant in a warm and very dry throughout this process helps prevent rotting knife and cut top. States `` bright light you need to do to be repotted gardening information on Know... Is known to work well so that excess water can be purchased affordable. The process to focus on happening in and around the Garden,,. Issues and you can split the stem or the plant a good idea to feed your palm. Is an interesting plant to expose the base of the process to focus on name of this article, believe... A warm and very dry throughout this process helps prevent rotting removing and planting these pups in this article i! Is having to adaptyour watering habits to its wateringneeds good experience, little plant produces or... Coming months dry conditions well, you 've nurtured a plant from its inception, you to things! ; the most common pests that tend to go after the Elephant tree spider. Discover what you need to use a chainsaw saw for five minutes and rinse thoroughly plain... Run the risk of messing up your main palm if you do this, you should drainage!