Ponytail Palm

Beaucarnea recurvataAlso known as: Elephant's Foot, Bottle Palm

The Ponytail Palm is a unique, sculptural plant with a bulbous trunk base and long, curly leaves that cascade like a ponytail. Despite its name, it's not a true palm but a succulent. Native to Mexico, it can store months of water in its swollen trunk base. Grows 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) indoors, very slowly.

Easy Care

Bright Indirect Light

Perennial

Quick Care Summary

Light
Bright Indirect Light

Temperature Range
50-90°F (10-32°C)

Ideal Temp
70°F (21°C)

Pet Safe

This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs. While it's safe to have around pets, ingestion of any plant material may still cause mild stomach upset.

Seasonal Care Schedule

Adjust your care routine based on the season for optimal plant health.

Watering Schedule

Season	Schedule
Spring	Every 2-3 weeks, when soil is completely dry
Summer	Every 2 weeks
Fall	Every 3-4 weeks
Winter	Once a month or less

Stores water in its bulbous base - very drought tolerant. Overwatering causes root rot and soft trunk.

Fertilizing Schedule

Season	Schedule
Spring	Once with diluted balanced fertilizer
Summer	Once mid-summer
Fall	No fertilizing
Winter	No fertilizing

Very light feeder. Can thrive for years without fertilizer.

Pruning

Frequency: Rarely needed

Best Season: Any time

Remove brown leaf tips with scissors. Don't cut the trunk.

Repotting

Frequency: Every 4-5 years

Best Season: Spring

Use well-draining cactus/succulent mix. Choose wide, shallow pot for stability. Very slow-growing.

Flowering

Season
Rarely indoors, summer in natural habitat

Color
Cream-colored flower plumes

Only mature plants (10+ years) flower outdoors. Very rare indoors.

Propagation Methods

Seeds (slow)
Offsets from base of mature plants

Common Problems

Soft trunk: Overwatering and root rot - reduce watering immediately
Brown leaf tips: Normal aging - trim with scissors
Yellowing leaves: Overwatering
Slow growth: Normal - this is an extremely slow grower

Pro Tips

Perfect for forgetful waterers - thrives on neglect
Long-lived - can become a family heirloom
The larger the bulb, the older the plant
Safe for pets and very low-maintenance

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