Ponytail Palm Care Guide

Enjoys full sun or partial shade outside, or bright light inside.

Water well when received, then allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Doesn't require high levels of humidity.

Keep this plant in rooms where the temperature is a comfortable 70°F-80°F and avoid cold drafts or air vents below 50°F.

Outside: Keep them in full sun (6-8 hours) on a patio where nights are above 50°F.

Apply a balanced, liquid fertilizer especially formulated for indoor plants every month.

When receiving the Ponytail Palm, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes.

Repot in the spring, using a 2 inches bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a planter could cause the soil to dry slower.) We suggest using a taller container so the pretty tips of the leaves can dangle over the edges without hitting the table surface.

Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain. Use a well-draining indoor potting mix with perlite to help with drainage.

Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let sit an hour.

Add well-draining interior potting (cacti and succulent) soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen.

Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. If the plant is rootbound, loosen the roots to alleviate continued encircling.

Ensure the plant is sitting about 1 inch below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over.

Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil but do not cover the trunk above the surface.

Water well to dampen the soil and let drain.

When watering your Ponytail Palm, it is an excellent time to trim off any browning, yellowing, or discolored leaves or tips. When pruning, use clean, sharp pruners. Remove any debris from the soil and replenish if needed.

To clean debris and dust off the leaves:

Place the Ponytail Palm in a shower or tub.

Fill a watering can with a shower spout with filtered, bottled, or water free of chlorine and fluoride.

Shower the leaves, to clear off dust and dirt.

Let the water drain and replace your plant in the decorative container.

To propagate a Ponytail Palm divide the shoots from the parent plant. This is best done in the Spring. Water the plant to hydrate the plant the night before. Remove the soil around the trunk of the plant and base of the shoots. Dig deep to ensure the shoots have established enough roots to divide. The shoots or pups should be at least five inches tall. Do not disturb the mother plant.

Using a sharp knife to cut the shoot while keeping in tack the detached portions fibrous roots. Repair and add soil around the parent plant.

Plant the offshoot into a well-draining soilless mix such as a succulent and cacti mix or a sand-based potting soil. Amend the mix with a rooting hormone to help prevent transplant shock. Use a container two inches wider than the root base. Place the new plant so the top layer of soil is an inch below the top edge of the container to prevent water spillage.

Water well after securing the soil around the roots. Place a clear, plastic bag over the planter to keep humidity high and mist the inside of the bag. Place the planter in a warm, bright to moderate indirect light to root. Water approximately every two weeks and keep misting the plant and soil surface as they establishe. After the roots establish, the plastic can be removed.