Table of Contents
Your Ponytail Palm prefers bright indirect light to full sun but can adapt to medium light. Water your Ponytail Palm when the soil is completely dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer.
How often should you water a ponytail plant?
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.
Does a ponytail plant need sun?
Ponytail palms need bright light, so plan to grow plants in the sunniest room of the house, near the window but not directly in the sun. They tolerate dry conditions well, which makes them perfect for the low humidity of most indoor conditions. Then, if desired, move it to an outdoor area that gets indirect light.
Should I cut the brown tips off my ponytail palm?
This allows the plant to direct its energy to new healthy growth. Remove the entire brown fronds (they will not turn green again) or the effected portion with a pair of sharp scissors or pruning shears.
Is ponytail palm an indoor plant?
In recent years, the ponytail palm tree has become a popular houseplant, and it is easy to see why. Its sleek bulb-like trunk and lush, long curly leaves make it visually stunning, and the fact that a ponytail palm is forgiving and easy in its care makes this an ideal houseplant for many people.
Can a ponytail plant live outside?
If you live in a very warm climate like that found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, growing ponytail palm outdoors is entirely feasible. They can grow to 30 feet (9 m.) tall, but rarely do as houseplants.
Is it OK to trim ponytail palm?
Trimming ponytail palms can be done any time of the year but is best during the growing season of spring through early fall. Use clean and sharp bonsai shears to trim leaves on top of the plant. This will force the foliage to grow downward and resemble a ponytail. Remove any damaged leaves that may be brown or wilted.
How long do ponytail plants live?
How Long Can Ponytail Palms Live? Your ponytail palm will likely live for several decades, and it’s possible that it can even outlive you—these plants have been known to live past 100 years.
Does a ponytail palm flower?
Flowering on a ponytail palm does not occur the first year you purchase the small plant nor is it likely to during the next decade. Before the plant flowers, it increases significantly in size and girth. The plant’s palm-like trunk sometimes grows to 18 feet (5.5 m.) Once the plant blooms, it will flower every summer.
How fast does ponytail palm grow?
When planted outdoors, spring is the traditional planting time, though a ponytail palm can be planted at almost any time. This is a very slow-growing, long-lived species. It may take five years or more for a 1-foot-tall plant to double in size.
When should I repot my ponytail palm?
The best time to repot or transplant a ponytail palm is in early spring or summer. This gives the plant many months to establish new roots before the winter chill sets in.
How do I make my ponytail palm grow?
Repot your bonsai ponytail palm in a larger pot if you want to encourage it to grow taller. With the larger environment, its roots can spread and access the additional oxygen, moisture and nutrients needed for growth. Repot your bonsai in spring or summer to take advantage of the bright sunlight those times of year.
How do you keep a ponytail palm alive?
Water your Ponytail Palm when the soil is completely dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer. As with most succulents, your Ponytail Palm will thrive in dry conditions. The drier the air, the better!.
How do you know when a ponytail palm needs water?
Your Ponytail palm will need its soil to dry well between watering, and if you have any doubt as to whether or not to water the plant, skip it until the next week. If your Pony tail palm develops dry, brown foliage, a shriveled stem or desiccated roots, you can be sure that these are signs of under watering.
Do ponytail palms clean the air?
NASA found this great indoor plant to be one of the top plants for cleaning air. It breaks down toxic gasses to keep the air you are breathing nice and pure. The Ponytail Palm has a very distinct look with its swollen brown stem that stores water.
How cold can a ponytail palm tolerate?
Just how cold hardy is a ponytail palm, though? It can tolerate temperatures as low as 15°F for short periods of time, as long as it’s a mature plant. The huge trunk of a ponytail palm tree acts just like a camel’s hump, i.e., it stores water and supplies moisture to the stems and leaves whenever needed.
How big does a ponytail palm get indoors?
Equipped with a massive bulbous trunk for storing water, ponytail palm tolerates long stretches of dry conditions. This desert native is slow-growing, ranging in size from less than a foot tall to more than 6 feet when grown indoors.
