When Should I Transplant My Ponytail Palm?

Knowing when to move ponytail palms is important to the transplant effort. 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 you transplant a ponytail palm?

You want no more than an inch or two of space between the trunk of the ponytail palm and the pot rim. Use new potting soil, putting enough in the bottom so that the plant will sit at the same level in the soil as it was in its prior situation. Tuck the soil around the sides and water it well to settle the roots.

Do ponytail palms need deep pots?

Ponytail palms like to be a little crowded in their containers, so select a pot that is no more than 2 inches wider all around than the base of the plant. It should also have a drainage hole.

How often should you repot a ponytail palm?

If your plant is growing steadily, and you want it to keep growing, you’ll want to repot it every year. Yet, if you are trying to restrict your ponytail palm’s growth, only repot it every two to three years, as told by Our House Plants. You should only repot this plant in the spring.

Can I cut the top off a ponytail palm?

Ponytail Palm Pruning
Cutting back ponytail palm is not an effective method of maintenance in that it would leave an open trunk and no greenery. The action would expose the stem to mold and mildew and it would likely rot before it could ever start producing any more leaves or offsets.

Should I cut the brown tips off my ponytail palm?

My Ponytail Palm has brown tips! This is often a result of over or underwatering. Too much water can cause brown tips with distinct yellowing, while not enough water turns the leaves brown and crispy. Prune the leaves with a clean pair of sheers and check the soil before adjusting watering as needed.

What is the lifespan of a ponytail palm?

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.

Should you bottom water ponytail palm?

NOTE. Bottom watering will not wash away salts and other minerals from the soil, so make sure to also give water over the soil every now and then.

What is the best soil for a ponytail palm?

Use a mix of one part potting soil, one part perlite, and one part sand for best results. Since ponytail palms do not like soggy soil, it’s best that you pot them in a clay pot, or at the very least, a pot with drainage holes. If planting outdoors, make sure you’re in a USDA hardiness zone 9-12.

Do ponytail palms need full sun?

Ponytail palm grows best in full sun and well-drained soil mix. A quick-draining soil mix for cacti is a great choice.

What is the best fertilizer for ponytail palm?

Fertilizer your ponytail palm once a year in spring, using a 10-10-10 slow-release fertilizer at the rate of 1 tablespoon of fertilizer per square foot of soil. Circle around the base of your tree with fertilizer, making sure it’s 6″ inches away from the base.

Where does a ponytail palm grow best at?

Ponytail palm, Beaucarnea recurvata (or Nolina recurvata) from semi-desert areas of southeastern Mexico, is the species often grown as a low-maintenance houseplant in temperate climates, as well as being used as a landscape specimen in dry, warm climates (zones 9-10).

How do you grow multiple trunks in a ponytail palm?

Growing Multiple Ponytail Palm Trunks
The most common way that people get this to happen is by cutting the main stem. You can cut the main stem of your ponytail palm so that it will have the chance to branch out to create multiple new stems.

How do you repot a large ponytail palm?

HOW TO REPOT BEAUCARNEA RECURVATA, OR PONYTAIL PALM

1. LOOSEN THE ROOT BALL. When plants get extremely root bound, you’ll have to work to loosen the root ball a bit.
2. CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATELY SIZED POT.
3. USE AN EXTREMELY WELL DRAINED POTTING MIX.

Why are my ponytail palm leaves bending?

If you accidentally leave your ponytail palm’s soil completely dry for too long, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown and curl. You may also notice the trunk start to wrinkle and go limp.

Where do you prune a 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.

What does an overwatered ponytail palm look like?

Tip. The signs of over-watering a ponytail palm include yellowing leaves, leaves falling off and root rot. Ponytail palms are able to store water in their trunk and do not need to be watered every day.

What does a dying ponytail palm look like?

If you’ve noticed your ponytail palm’s leaves turning brown and crispy, then it is a good sign that it has become dehydrated. Dehydrated leaves will curl inward as a sign of stress. This usually happens if it goes a few weeks without any water. You’ll see the browning most prominently at the tips of the leaves.

What color is new growth on ponytail palm?

light green
If your ponytail palm grows in a lot of sun, new leaves might come out with a slightly yellow, light green color. They become greener as they get older.

What causes brown tips on ponytail palm?

Brown tips on a Ponytail Palm are a subtle hint that something is stressing the plant. Too much water causes the leaves of Ponytail Palms to yellow then brown. Not enough water results in brown crispy leaf tips.

Are coffee grounds good for ponytail palm?

Fertilize Ponytail palm organically: The best way to proceed
However, before you use the fertilizer, you should moisten the soil, otherwise, the plant will be overburdened. A good and extremely cheap alternative is coffee grounds, for example.