PONYTAIL PALM 

Often mistaken for a palm (hence it’s common name), this odd looking plant is actually a semi-succulent. Another common name for it is Elephants foot.

This quirky plant is super easy to take care of and, as its swollen base stores water, it is a great water wise plant. For plant lovers that are a little forgetful about watering, this plant is ideal! It is a slow grower under the best circumstances, so a little patience is required.

Keep the cluster of long slim leaves at the top of the plant dust free by misting them with room temperature water and wiping them with a soft cloth.

If you want to keep your plant small or constrain its size, keep it in a small pot. You can incrementally repot it into larger pots until it reaches the desired size.

As Ponytail Palms are very hardy there are very few problems associated with them.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

• Crispy brown tips on the leaves: this will happen due to age and also if the humidity is very low. Once they have turned brown they will not go green again. Cut the brown tips off and look for ways to improve the humidity conditions to prevent future brown leaf tips.
• Dry, brown foliage and shriveled stem are a sign of underwatering. Although the plant can survive without water for long stretches, it’s not invincible! Adjust watering schedule.
• Light new growth accompanied by stem or root rot are signs that you are overwatering your plant. Let the soil dry out before you water the plant again. Remember that the base or bulb of the plant stores water and the plant won’t need water as regularly as most other house plants.
• Mealy bugs and scale are insects that may infest your Ponytail Palm. They suck sap from the leaves and disrupt the plant’s normal growth and plant functions. Remove topically with a soft tissue and treat with an organic pesticide, such as Neem Oil.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

• Origin: Mexico
• Height: Can reach up to 2m
• Light: Likes very bright, indirect light or full sun.
• Water: Always allow the soil to dry out a bit between watering. During the warmer months, you may need to water the Ponytail Palm more often due to the warm weather. During winter water it just enough to prevent it from drying out completely. When in doubt, do not water!
• Temperature: Ponytail Palms like warm temperatures above15°C.Although the can survive continuous temperatures lower than 15°C, they do not grow well.
• Soil: As the soil of the Ponytail Palm needs to dry out, use a potting mix that drains well. This will help prevent overwatering.
• Fertilizer: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer diluted by half. Don’t feed in winter.
• Repotting: If the plant is growing well and your aim is to grow a large tree, you can repot it every year. If the growing conditions are not the best or if you want to restrict the size of the plant, only repot the Ponytail Palm every 2-3 years.
• Pruning: Remove any yellow or leaves developing brown/black spots immediately.
• Propagation: Offsets: If your plant sprouts out little offsets from its base, they can be removed in spring and potted in their own containers. These offsets may prove a little difficult to grow, however. If they are removed from the parent plant too early they will not produce roots and will die. Consider using a rooting hormone to improve success.