The Beaucarnea Recurvata or pony tail palm can grow into a full-sized tree, but it makes a surprising and interesting desk plant. Ponytail palms can be bought from plants online and grow up to 30 feet tall when planted outside in the full sun, but when grown indoors, they tend to stay around 6 feet tall at maturity. Despite its common name and the way its leaves look, this plant is not a palm. Instead, it is in the same family as asparagus, which you can eat.
Most of the time, these interesting little trees are grown indoors in shallow pots. They have a tuft of green leaves on a bulbous stem that seems to grow out of the soil. (One of its common names, “elephant’s foot,” comes from the tree’s round trunk.) If you give a small plant time and the right conditions, it can grow into a nice specimen plant that is 6 feet tall or more. Ponytail palms are from dry parts of Central America. They are one of the easiest small trees to grow indoors.
Ponytail palms are usually planted outside in the spring, but you can do it almost any time of year. This species grows very slowly and lives a long time. A plant that is 1 foot tall might not double in size for at least 5 years.
Botanical Name | Beaucarnea Recurvata |
Common Name | Elephant’s foot, Ponytail Palm |
Mature Size | 6 to 8 feet tall, 3-5 foot spread |
Plant Type | Broadleaf evergreen tree/ shrub |
Soil Type | Well-drained soil, sandy |
Sun Exposure | Full sun |
Bloom Time | Seasonal bloom |
Soil pH | 6.5 to 7.5 |
Hardiness Zones | 10 to 11 (USDA), usually grown as a houseplant |
Flower Color | Creamy White |
Native Area | Semi-desert areas of Central America |
Caring Tips For Ponytail Flower
Light:
Pony tail palms like full sun or bright light that comes from the side. If you want to grow it inside, put it near a window that gets direct sunlight or a place that gets a lot of indirect light.
Soil:
This plant is native to semi-desert areas of Central America. When grown outside, it does best in sandy soil that is also rich in organic matter. It does well as an indoor plant in a succulent/cactus potting mix that has peat added to make it richer.
Water:
During the growing season, water a ponytail palm every seven to fourteen days if it is in a pot and kept inside. The stem’s bulb stores water so doesn’t give it too much water. During the winter, you should only water your plants once a month.
If it rains often enough, a ponytail palm in the garden doesn’t need to be watered very often. When it’s dry or there’s a drought, a small amount of water every two weeks is enough.
Fertiliser:
During the growing season, feed the plants once a week with a liquid fertiliser, or use a slow-release pellet fertiliser in the spring. Cut back on feeding in the winter.
Replanting And Planting:
If you want to grow a ponytail palm indoors, put it in a smallish pot with some cactus/succulent potting mix mixed with peat. If you need to, repot in the spring. If you want a big palm tree, you should report it every year. If you want it to stay small, you should report it every two to three years. Ponytail palms will do well if the pot is slightly too small and the roots are confined. Ponytail palm can only be grown outside in USDA Zones 10 and 11, where it likes to be in full sun and sandy soil. When grown outside, it should be planted in a cactus/succulent potting mix and put in the sunniest spot you can find. If it is in the right spot and gets a small amount of water at regular intervals, it rarely has problems.also read best places to buy property in turkey