THE LEAFLET

Plant Care  |  August 12, 2020

Ponytail Palm Care

Placement

PRO TIP: Similar to cacti and succulents, Ponytail Palms are also very slow growers. Don't be alarmed if you aren't noticing much growth despite proper care!

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. Place your Ponytail Palm where it will receive ample amount of high light — ideally in front of a southern or western-facing window as this plant requires at least a few hours of direct sun every day. If placed in medium light there is a higher risk of root rot and leggy growth. This plant will not tolerate low light conditions.

If you are unsure of the lighting conditions in your home or office, check out our guide for how to measure light in your space.

Ponytail Palm Plant Close Up

Due to their dry environments, Ponytail Palms can be susceptible to mealy bug and spider mites in their tufty leaves. Give your plant's foliage a rinse in the sink or shower occasionally to help keep it clean and pest free.

Routine Maintenance

PRO TIP: If in doubt, let it drought! Ponytail Palms prefer to be in dry soil, so if you're unsure whether to water yours, err on the side of caution and give it another few days.

Always be sure to assess your plant’s watering needs upon receiving it. Before giving your plant a drink, it is best to check the moisture level in the soil first to ensure it isn’t moist right beneath the surface. Also, consider aerating the soil of your plant before the initial watering. We compact the soil to avoid shifting during transit, so aerating can help the soil breathe and allow moisture to be released.

Ponytail Palms like to dry out completely between waterings. The most common mistake made with these plants is overwatering. The large, bulbous base of the trunk may look like an elephant's foot — giving it one of its nicknames — but functions much like a camel's hump, storing water extremely efficiently to combat its natural environment's frequent drought periods. You won’t need to water your plant more than once every two weeks (at most) during the growing season, and make sure that you are letting the soil thoroughly dry between waterings. Ponytail Palms are susceptible to root rot, so it’s very important that you do not water the plant if you detect any moisture in the soil. During the winter months, watering frequency should decrease, sometimes to as little as once a month.

Rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and dust the stalks often so the plant can photosynthesize efficiently. When dusting the leaves, also take the opportunity to inspect the undersides and keep an eye out for pests.

Remember each plant is a unique living thing and may have varying needs, especially in their individual locations. Pay attention to the condition of your Ponytail Palm and its watering needs and you will have a long and happy relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Help! My Ponytail Palm has brown tips!

  • This is often a result of over or underwatering. Too much water can cause brown tips with distinct yellowing, while not enough water turns the leaves brown and crispy. Prune the leaves with a clean pair of sheers and check the soil before adjusting watering as needed.

My plant isn’t really growing. Am I doing something wrong?

  • Probably not! These plants are just super slow growers. As long as your plant is looking healthy, there is nothing to worry about.

How can I tell if I’m overwatering my Ponytail Palm?

  • The first sign of overwatering is the tips of the leaves will turn yellow. If this happens, withhold water until the soil is dry and reduce the volume of water you give the plant. Other signs of overwatering are droopy leaves, and the base of the plant becoming soft and squishy.

How often should I fertilize my plant?

  • In general, house plants will thrive when they are fertilized spring through fall. Fertilize once a month with an organic houseplant fertilizer, following the package instructions for dilution and administration. Greenery NYC uses an organic potting mix with a slow release fertilizer in the soil, so your plant will not need fertilizer within the first 6 months of receiving it.

How often does my plant need to be repotted?

  • For smaller desktop plants, we suggest repotting once every 12-18 months. Typically you want to choose a potting vessel 1”- 2” larger in diameter to allow for growth. Don’t choose a pot much larger than the previous as this could drown the plant's roots. If you prefer to maintain the current size of your plant, repot into the same vessel, providing new soil and trimming away some roots and foliage. Spring or summer is the ideal time to repot as the plant is at its strongest.

Standard Planter Instructions

All of our Standard Planters include a removable drainage plug to give our customers the option of drainage. While no drainage is sometimes preferred for its aesthetic simplicity, we don't recommend this option for beginners as watering mistakes can be hard to rectify.

Whether you choose to use drainage or not, we always recommend using a layer of drainage (such as our Aeration Stones) at the base of the planter. A drainage layer allows the plant's roots access to oxygen in the pockets between the drainage medium, and a lack of drainage can cause anaerobic damage to your plant.

If you decide to utilize the drainage hole for your pot, make sure to include a Plant Saucer beneath your pot to collect excess water. For most plants in standard planters, we recommend watering about once a week. Water the soil mass until water begins pooling in your Plant Saucer.

With no drainage hole, you will need to be more precise in your watering. While we would love to give you a specific measurement of water to provide for your plant, the reality is that a plant's water requirements vary wildly depending on factors such as light exposure and the overall health of the plant. You will need to learn to tell when the plant is thirsty based on how its foliage looks. Droopy foliage is usually the first sign: when your plant looks a little slumped over that's usually a visual indicator that it's thirsty.

The best solution for checking your plant's moisture level, drainage hole of not, is to use a Soil Probe to determine the moisture content of the soil at the bottom of the planter.

Self Watering Planter Instructions

The Self-Watering Planters require a deep and thorough watering of the topsoil after they are first planted. This is important because the roots of the plants first need to grow into the reservoir in order to drink from it. Water your plant from the top for two to four weeks before using the reservoir. During the dormant seasons, or for plants that have slower growing habits, consider top watering for longer.

TEST: After the initial top water period, fill the bottom water reservoir. If the water in the reservoir is absorbed into the planter, it means the plant is ready for regular reservoir servicing. If not, be sure to continue top watering for a few more weeks until the plant has started drinking from the reservoir.

RESERVOIR SERVICING: Once the reservoir empties on its own, do not refill the reservoir right away. Similar to how humans need a breath of air between gulps of water, most plants require a drying out period. Allow for the reservoir to empty all the way between watering. All plants are different in their needs so the amount of time the reservoir sits empty will need to be determined, but know that for most plants this period is between 1-3 days. 

From here on out, you should rarely topwater the plant while using the reservoir system. Watering from below allows the plant to drink at its own pace, and can help combat certain issues like fungus gnats by allowing the top layer of soil to dry out more. Please note that if your plant's soil dries out too much, it can impair the wicking ability of the Aeration Stones in your planter. If your soil becomes too dry, we recommend giving it a thorough watering.

For more information on our Self Watering Planters include planting instructions, visit our blog post on How to Use Our Self-Watering Pots.

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