Overwatering is one of the most common problems facing the Ponytail Palm, so only water when the soil is completely dry. Once you have the plant inspect the plant and pot ratio. And how much sunlight does the ponytail palm require? Am I doing something wrong? All in all these plants are easy-going and ideal for people that do not have too much time at hand when it comes to planting care. One such name is “elephant foot tree” this name comes from the fact the bark of this plant is wide, with a greyish base and a cracking bark resembling an elephant’s foot. Simply cut them once they start to grow roots and plant them in another pot after applying a rooting agent. What will happen if you over water or underwater a ponytail palm? So how is it done? 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. Remember, The Ponytail Palm’s extraordinarily thick, bulbous trunk serves as a reservoir, storing water against dry spells which makes it very drought tolerant. How to choose a pot for my ponytail palm? So many people make the mistake of not watering their ponytail palm (and many other plants for that matter) properly. Ponytail Palm (Also known as Beaucarnea Recurvata) can grow between 5-6 feet tall. Ideally, the first 2 to 3 inches of the soil need to be dry before the next watering session. The structure of the stem – thick base with a slender trunk resembles a bottle and hence the other common name for this plant is “bottle palm”. Tip: repotting the plant every other year is good enough depending on the size of the plant you are aiming at. Fertilization is part of ponytail palm care, along with questions like how often do you water a ponytail palm? How often should I fertilize my ponytail palm? Is on your mind, the answer is simple – not very often. This is often a result of over or underwatering. During Cooler Months — You’ll want to slow down the watering schedule to once every 20-30 days. Another important aspect of ponytail palm care is sunlight. These plants are not very particular about humidity either and can be placed indoors without worrying about misting them. Once the roots are examined and the plant is ready to set it aside. If you water it too often, then the bulb will rot out as well as the trunk. Our plant care guide covers how to properly place, light, and water this plant. If you continue to use our site or click accept, you consent to our use of cookies. Hence, when planted indoors they need to be water less often as compared to when planted outdoors which is again minimal. Let the pot sit in the dish for a few minutes. How can I tell if I am overwatering my ponytail palm? Tip: If you have a low-lit space and can take the plant out for an occasional sunbath do it with caution. 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. After the soil is prepped grasp the base of the plant and twist it to dislodge the root ball. The plant stores water in its onion-shaped bulbous base (caudex) as well as the trunk (stem). To solve the problem, water the plant and have a watering schedule. The foliage generally curves downward and can be as much as two feet long and just an inch wide. Bloomscape uses cookies to provide and improve our services, analytics and for personalized ads and content. During the warm months you may need to water every 7-14 days; in winter, only every three or four weeks. Prune the leaves with a clean pair of sheers and check the soil before adjusting watering as needed. They do well in conditions above 45-degree F at night, below which they will need a little extra warmth. This explains why the ponytail palm is so low on maintenance and requires very little water to grow. While repotting is desirable, it’s not something you’ll need to do too often, especially that these plants don’t have an issue with becoming rootbound. Unlike other plants, these plants do not essentially require pruning. Hydrangea Plant – Growing and caring Awesome tips, Cannabis Plants – How to plant, grow and care, Ultimate Guide: How to Grow Sage From Seed, Houseplants That Clean The Air and Safe For Pets, How to Preserve Fresh Herbs from Garden (Amazing Ways), Why Are My Mint Leaves Turning Black: Everything You Need to Know to Prevent Black Spots on Mint Leaves, Dieffenbachia plant: Plant, Grow and Care Tips, How to grow citronella plant from cutting, 11 Top Most Expensive House Plants (Incredible Plants), Top 13 Vegetables that grow above the ground, Best 15 House plants with red and green leaves (Exclusive Guide). Repotting every other year at the most is all a ponytail palm needs. If the pot is big enough you can let the plant sit in it for a few months. Does the soil feel dry all the way to the roots? Coming back to the basics namely light and water, there are always speculations about how much of these two elements is required for the plant. Ponytail palms don’t need a lot of care, they will survive if you forget to water it once in a while. On the contrary, when planted indoors they have stunted growth and can grow in almost any region as long as the growing conditions are right. The Ponytail Palm, also known as Beaucarnea Recurvata, or Nolina is a distinctive looking houseplant with a swollen thick brown stem at its base that stores water. The ponytail palm prefers full sun or bright indirect light. Ponytail palms will remain small if kept in a small pot. this being said it is important to understand the planting and growing process, to make caring for them a walk in the park. Mimic those conditions by watering the plant deeply every few weeks in winter. 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. Indoors, that means you’ll probably end up watering your ponytail palm every 3 to 4 weeks. and eventually, the plant will wilt. So, if the plant looks healthy don’t worry about the growth all is fine. It is entirely possible to repot or transplant a ponytail palm, no matter how large it is. If you see roots that are dark or mushy get rid of them. Palms are also surprisingly easy to take care of and maintain. I am Elsa, love gardening. 5 Facts About Watering Palm Trees. If you are not sure whether the tree needs water, refrain from watering it at all. Help! These take their sweet time. If you wish to use the potting mix you already have simply added a draining agent like sand, pieces of broken earthen pots. Loosen the soil at the corners so that you can work with the plant easily. All About the Ponytail Palm . Place your plant in your sink or tub without the saucer. With your next Ponytail Palm just remember to plant it in a very well draining mix & to water only every 3-4 weeks. These plants like desert-like conditions and if they are left in soggy soil the roots will start to rot. The ponytail palm has several other names that it goes by owing to its looks. In summer, water ponytail palm deeply but infrequently, allowing the plant to dry out before watering again. If so, it’s a good time to water. These add uniqueness to rooms they are placed in and the low maintenance tag makes them absolutely desirable. It can reduce the time of light, especially at noon, to avoid exposure to strong light. This will aid in the draining process and keep the soil habitable for the ponytail palm. These plants can get brown leaf dips when they are over or under watered. My ponytail palm is not growing. Fill your basin up with about 3-4″ of water. Instead, it resembles an oni… We are splitting up some Ponytail palms I bought. Repotting a Ponytail Palm. As this plant is not a fan of soil that is soggy, a fast-draining potting mix is what it requires. In the US if planted outdoors they do well in zones 9, 10 and 11 and grow up to 20 feet in height. Once repotted the plants needs to be watered till the water drains out of the bottom holes and the plant is set in place you can also add fertilizers and compost to the soil. Because it stores water in its thick trunk, ponytail palm can survive extended periods with no water -- making it the perfect houseplant if you tend to travel a lot or are a forgetful waterer. Is your plant much lighter than usual? This first fact may come as a shocker, but the ponytail isn’t actually a palm at all. They can go for many years before needing to be repotted. Read more about me. They are not like other houseplants that grow and mature quickly. I am sharing all the practical tips on how to grow various plants, flower plants, vegetables in the garden. The ponytail palm has gained popularity in the recent plant as the perfect house plant. Am I doing something wrong? In most cases, the ponytail palm is sold in small pots or carry containers. We will get into details about that as we progress through the article. Overwater and under watering are both common problems gardeners face when they care for plants indoors. How often you actually water will depend on your climate. Free Shipping on Orders $75+ As mentioned, ponytail palm care is not a difficult task and one can be rest assured that these plants will not die on them easily. This piece focuses on the ponytail palm, we will through the course of this article explore facts about the plant. This being said if you feel the plant is growing too slow and you need to stimulate the growth of multiple trunks, cut off the growing tip of the plant and allow it to re-sprout. It is advisable that you let the soil dry out sufficiently before you water it again, the duration will depend on where you live. Most gardeners swear by earthen pots for this plant as it absorbs the excess water from the soil helping it drain faster. If all is fine the plant can also have brown spots due to overexposure, keep them in a spot where it receives indirect light. They're fun & unique houseplants which do best in high light. My Ponytail Palm has brown tips! During Hotter Months — You’ll want to water your ponytail palm plant once every 7-10 days. Transplanting large ponytail palms, however, requires the assistance of many strong arms and even a tractor. To sum it up we can say that thought the ponytail palm is not an actual palm or plant we love every bit of it. Don’t clip the ends of the leaves—they are the best part! If you detect any moisture at all, hold off for a few days and do the “touch test” again before watering. Make sure the water isn’t hot! You can then have a watering schedule so that you avoid committing the same mistake twice. As a young plant, ponytail palms barely have a noticeable trunk. Is your plant much lighter than usual? In the case of ponytail palms, you need to wait it out before the next watering session. These plants are not native to the US so the question arises. This makes it an excellent choice to grow the ponytail palm indoors. The bulbous stem stores water, so be careful not to overwater it. How to grow more ponytail palms from the one I have? You may like following gardening articles: This article provided tips on ponytail palm care focusing on specific questions like how often do you water a ponytail pant? Caution: the leaves of the ponytail palm, have tiny serrated edges – be careful while handling the plant. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Overwatering can cause brown leaf tips. In no time you will see little stems growing from the cut end. The only criteria while selecting a pot is that it needs to be one that has drainage holes and does not retain water. Mix these ingredients well and use as desired. In fact, it is a member of the Agave family and is actually a succulent. When mature the ponytail palm produces offsprings or pubs at the base of the plant. Other than the ones mentioned above online plant health care forums are swarming with questions related to ponytail plant health. 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. As the ponytail palm is succulent it grows well in semi-dry conditions. When your plant’s soil is evenly damp, drain the sink/tub and allow the plant to rest while it drains thoroughly. Your ponytail palm needs a well-drained soil site, much like a cactus environment. Bloomscape uses cookies as essential parts of the website experience. If you are not sure how often you should water your Ponytail Palm apply the ‘soak and dry’ technique by waiting until the top two inches of soil dry before watering. A ponytail palm planted in the garden rarely needs to … Let the water drain through the drainage hole and discard any extra. So if you buy any product from our link, then we may get a small commission from it. And when you do water, water thoroughly! The ponytail palm is actually considered a succulent, as it stores water around the base of its swollen trunk. When it comes to the size it is better to go for medium-sized pots and change them after the plant has outgrown it (which will take a considerable amount of time). Allow the top 2 to 3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then give the plant a good soak. Ponytail palms are succulents and hence, do not require frequent watering. I spent lots of time with plants, flowers, it gives me lots of happiness. Hydrate. Like most succulents, the ponytail palm prefers dry soil conditions and therefore does not need to be watered very often. Read on to find out more about ponytail palm care. Same is the case with those that forget to water their plants. In fact, overwatering … I love succulents too. 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. They are accustomed to drought-like conditions and when grown or cared for at home can be water once in about 2 to 3 weeks. You can remove them from the plant and place them in a smaller container with potting mix and allow it to grow. If you are overwatering your ponytail palm the leaves will start to turn yellow, you will also see droopy leaves and the stem will become squishy and soft. What Happens to a Plant If the Temperature is Too Low. GardeningElsa.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. How to choose a potting mix for my ponytail palm? Expose it slowly or else it will end up burning the foliage. In most cases when they are planted indoors the temperature is regulated and the plant is comfortable at night. The pot is super root bound and it’s time for them to have a better home. For potted indoor plants, water a ponytail palm during the growing season every seven to 14 days. You may also notice the trunk start to wrinkle and go limp. Because the foliage is quite long, ponytail palms require a generous amount of space. Heavy lifting The plant will recover with time. https://www.networkadvertising.org/understanding-online-advertising/what-are-my-options. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a thorough soak is in order. If so, it’s time to hydrate. the potting process is the same as mentioned in the previous section and you should see them grow in a few days. A simple way to check if your plant needs watering is by sticking your finger in the soil, if it comes out clean its time to water, if you see loose soil particles you can wait about a day or two and if it comes out soggy and muddy its too early. Place the plant back on its saucer and back in its proper spot. The ponytail palm doesn’t need to be watered very often and that is one of the great things about it. If you are not careful you can easily over water plants. To solve the problem, hold off watering for a bit. This feature allows the tree to last up to four weeks without water and not harming the plant. These plants will grow considerably faster when planted in bigger pots. According to plant enthusiasts, ponytail palms are also the most forgiving of indoor plants. The answer to this is simple, these plants are slow growers. How much fertilization and sunlight the plant requires? For example, water your sago or ponytail palm with 4 ounces of water once a week rather than with 8 … The answer to this is No, more often questions pop up about why the ponytail plant is taking long to grow. The bulbous trunk acts as a water reservoir for the plant, helping it retain moisture for long. This means that the plant can go on without being watered for days on end. Pruning and How to Grow Multiple Trunks on a Ponytail Palm. If your watering schedule is on track reduce the amount of fertilizers you are adding. If so, it’s time to hydrate. The texture of the trunk looks and feels scaly like the foot of an elephant and is also known as Elephants Foot. These tiny plant off springs begin to grow at the base and can be used for propagation. Cut end if so, if the plant and carefully fill how often to water ponytail palm,. Cooler Months — you ’ ll want to water our use of cookies plant guide. A pot is super root bound and it can be purchased as a water reservoir and store. 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