Beaucarnea recurvata - Ponytail Palm 20L

Despite its name and palm-like appearance, the ponytail palm is not a true “palm.” In fact, it is more closely related to desert plants in the Agave and Yucca genera (such as Joshua trees).

The typical ponytail palm consists of a large, domed “stump,” which tapers off into a thinner stem. From the top of the stem, one or more rosettes of long, green, leathery leaves develop as the plant ages. Indoors, the leaves can get up to 90cm long, but outdoors, they may be double that length.

In its native environment (eastern Mexico), the entire plant has been known to reach up to 9m in height! However, ponytail palms that are grown in gardens as landscape plants don’t usually get to be more than 3m tall. Kept indoors, they are rarely taller than 1m.

Ponytail palms prefer to have as much light as possible, so place the plant in a bright location. Bright, indirect sunlight is best. Keep soil fairly dry. Water from spring through fall, allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry completely before re-watering. During the winter, only water occasionally.

To water, soak the soil and allow the excess water to drain through the bottom of the pot into a dish. Let the pot sit in the dish for several minutes, then dump out any remaining water in the dish. Fertilize in the spring with a cacti/succulent fertilizer and bring into a brighter room for the summer months. 

Normal room temperature is fine for most of the year, but keep the plant slightly cooler in the winter (10-13°C) to replicate the natural dormancy cycle. During winter, don’t let the plant sit too close to cold windows at night, as it can be severely damaged by freezing temperatures.