Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. When grown as an indoor plant, situate it in the brightest location you can finda window that gets direct sun or plenty of indirect light. They are typically used as houseplants or in outdoor gardens in warm climates.Pruning a ponytail palm is relatively easy and does not require much experience. COPYRIGHT 2023 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. The ponytails trunk is rough and thick with an expansive base that gives it other common names: bottle palm and elephant foot. Since then he has decided to write helpful articles that will help you become a better backyard farmer and know what to do. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. How to Prune Ponytail Palm? Plant the pup in a pot thats two inches larger than the caudex, filled three-quarters full with a well-draining cactus and succulent potting mix. Pruning and Repotting the Ponytail Palm. Are the leaves being scorched by direct sunlight? If you find yourself pruning brown foliage, consider the source of the desiccation. Add ponytail palm to your houseplant collection today and get ready to enjoy a fountain of evergreen foliage for decades to come. However, they will survive down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, providing these temps are not prolonged. Next, cut off the leaves at the base of the plant, close to the stem. 3. Ponytail palms will thrive when slightly underpotted in a container that confines the roots. Temperature and Humidity A little cool weather is fine for ponytail palmsbut no lower than 50F. New branches will sprout from the cut area, giving your plant a fuller look.-Pruning: Pruning is necessary if you want to control the shape of your ponytail palm. The dropping temperature and low-light conditions may quickly send the plant to shock, causing droopy and drying foliage. Houseplants may be moved outdoors as the temperature warms up in late spring to early summer, and taken indoors again in the fall. Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves and cause them to drop off.-Protect your ponytail palm from cold temperatures. For this reasoning, this hardy plant is also known as elephants foot. The treatment comes with enough liquid for 4 weeks and is quite handy.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'homeaffluence_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homeaffluence_com-banner-1-0'); Ponytail maintenance on a bonsai is similar to ponytail maintenance on a palm tree. Reduce feeding during the winter. If you need to remove diseased or damaged leaves, you can do so at any time of year.To prune your ponytail palm, remove any dead or dying leaves. This bonsai plant likes lots of sun but not for an extended amount of time. where they meet the Ponytail Palm's trunk, with sharp, clean pruning shears. They are indoor plants that require little maintenance and can prune into a miniature home-based bonsai version. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Just remove those leaves that are drying or spoiling, with brown tips. Hence, bring your plant inside and cut back on everything except warm temperatures and lighting. He is a professional writer whose articles on plants and horticulture have appeared in national and regional newspapers and magazines. Ponytail palm pruning is only used if you want to remove the pups for planting. However, outdoor female plants that have been successfully pollinated are a source of seed to harvest when its dry in the fall. Pruning, on the other hand, usually refers to the removal of base and woody materials for the purpose of rejuvenating or restoring the plant. Almost every houseplant needs occasional or seasonal pruning to stay healthy, good-looking, and thriving. Ponytail Palm, commonly known as elephants foot, is a long-lasting succulent that thrives in low-maintenance indoor environments. The plant doesnt have stems so much, as simply the long strappy leaves that arch out from the slimmest part of the trunk. Sago palm doesn't require any pruning except to remove old leaves as they fade. Normal room temperature is appropriate for most of the year, but keep the plant slightly cooler (10-13 C / 50-55 F) in winter to replicate its natural dormancy cycle. Once you have your plant nice and healthy again, you can begin to trim it to shape it. A ponytail palm planted in the garden rarely needs to be watered if you get any kind of regular rain. Ponytail palms like full sun or bright indirect light. Find Espoma Organic Cactus Mix from the Espoma Store via Amazon now in 2.5-pound packages. This is applicable if you repot your plant during or after pruning. The ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) makes a surprisingly interesting desktop plant, considering that when grown outdoors it can be a full-size tree that towers over homes. Ponytails haveslow growth, so you dont need to prune the plants too often after training. Ponytail palms are slow growers so trimming should not be needed too often on the plant once it is trained. Be sure to use sharp pruning shears, so you dont damage the plant. This growth habit is the basis for ponytail palms other names, bottle palm tree and elephant-foot tree. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Ponytail palms sometimes develop offsets ("pups") from the base, which can be removed and potted up individually. Reduce feeding during the winter. Separation of scions should be placed during spring. The ponytail palm is not a real palm. Sago palm may be poisonous. Ponytail palms are unique and interesting-looking plants that are native to Mexico. It is better to remove the growth in stages instead of all at once. Why is My Ponytail Palm Dying? If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. If your plant looks brown or uneven at the cut points, you can add the cuts color to aid in recovery. You will want to make sure that this gets cleared up before you begin trimming. For a houseplant thats small enough to lift, take it to the sink, and water until it runs out of the drainage hole(s), to thoroughly saturate the roots. Adequate Sunlight and Proper Location 2. Use long strokes and make sure the edges do not appear square. It is an easy task because there are no branches. This is easy enough to trim away to make the plant aesthetically pleasing again. Ponytail palm is dioecious, which means that only the female plants will set seed, and the flowers require pollination from a male plant. Cutting back ponytail palm is not an effective method of maintenance in that it would leave an open trunk and no greenery. Fertilize twice a month in spring and summer. Potted ponytail palms are readily available for home cultivation. To top your palm, cut off the main stem about 6 inches below the crown of the leaves. These grow at the base of the thick trunk snuggled up to the parent plant. The ideal temperature for growing B. recurvata is about 70F during the growing season, and about 50F during winter dormancy. If you want to keep your ponytail palm looking neat, then you must trim it regularly. (The bulbous trunk is the source of one of its common names, "elephant's foot.") Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Ponytail palms can live for decades with proper care.Prune your ponytail palm when the plant starts to look overgrown or leggy. Remove any infections found before pruning your bonsai. It is found, The ponytail palm, formally known as the Beaucarnea recurvata, has recently grown in popularity as, Posted on Last updated: November 14, 2022, Peperomia Fagerlindii An Indoor Gardeners Guide, Peperomia Japonica Care All You Need to Know. B. recurvata was just another wild tree in Mexico and points south, when it undoubtedly caught the attention of plant hunters in the 1800s, who brought it back to Europe for botanical study and development. Ponytail Palm, Ponytail Palms are splendid little succulents with the tropical aesthetics of a small palm tree. The leaves at the bottom of the plant will naturally turn yellow and can be gently be removed from the trunk without the need for cutting or pruning. Never leave it in water (this applies to almost all indoor plants). I have also found that using a bit of rooting powder helps the pups root after pruning. Use clean and sharp bonsai shears to trim leaves on top of the plant. They have skin that is tough, thick, and elephant-trunk like, yet they are smaller than a typical palm. They grow snuggled up to the stalk of the mother plant, right at the base. A recently pruned Ponytail Palm may easily suffer when exposed to cold drafts. Start with trimming the yellowed and browning leaves, including decayed and dried leaves. Do this for four to five days before placing it in the landscape or on the patio full-time. Moreover, it would expose the stem to mold and mildew. Place the little plant in full sun and water sparingly and normally it will continue its tortoise-paced growth and give you no trouble. To sow seeds, first gently scarify them, or rub them lightly with something abrasive, like a nail file. Ponytail plants, which can be cultivated either inside or outdoors, provide a beautiful accent to any home design (during the warmer months). Cutting some leaves that are healthy and vivid in color might further harm them, so avoid doing so. You can trim a ponytail palm in many ways, and the method you use will largely depend on the desired look you are going for. Originally published on November 17th, 2021. Required fields are marked *. She has been published in major industry publications such as Multi-Family Housing News, Apartment Therapy, and Best of the Best. This cactus potting medium contains a patented blend of mycorrhizae, which are fungi that exist symbiotically with roots, improving their ability to take up essential nutrients and water. It is best to keep the plant indoors or in a greenhouse during winter.Following these tips can help your ponytail palm recover quickly from pruning or trimming and encourage new growth. As an indoor plant, the ponytail is basically a "plant it and forget it" kind of plant, providing it has enough light to thrive and somewhat steady water throughout the growing season. Then, cut back any long or leggy branches by about one-third of their length. Salman Gurung is a massive fan of all things green and strives to create the perfect conditions for plants to grow. They are exacerbated by high humidity. Expect sprouting anywhere from three weeks to several months. Ponytail Palm can be pruned any time of the year, but it is less likely to be damaged during the growing season (spring until fall) because it is still active. Outdoors, container plants are less likely to suffer from pest and disease issues. Sow one scarified, soaked seed per cell, at a depth of one-eighth of an inch. The ponytail palm (also called elephant's foot) is a houseplant fave for a reason. The tail palm (Beaucamea recurvata) is not a truepalmbut a succulent native to the desert. Ponytail Palm maintenance and pruning is a breeze. You must ensure that this problem has been resolved before you start trimming. This is a plant that likes to fit snugly in a pot, with only about two inches of space around it. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If you notice when you trim that the plant is growing towards one side or the other, remember to rotate the pot every couple of months to keep the growth on both sides nice and even. To manicure individual blades, cut discolored areas off with scissors while following the natural curve. The foliage will grow downward and resemble a ponytail as a result of this. Because ponytail palm care requires dry soil, it is best to let them get root bound before repotting. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering.-Fertilize your ponytail palm every two weeks during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10.-Place your ponytail palm in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Here is more about what we do. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Fertilize sago palm a couple of times a year in spring and summer to keep it growing its best. Houseplants are unlikely to bloom, because of the restriction of the caudex by a container. When pruning your ponytail palm, be sure to make clean cuts at a 45-degree angle. Long-lived, this ornamental species matures in about 10 years. Ponytailed palms may reach heights of up to 20 feet outside, but they can also be trained to grow as a little indoor sculpture. When to Prune a Ponytail Palm. Ponytail palms prefer warm, arid temperatures, above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The Ponytail Palm will be perfectly happy being watered every couple of weeks and left alone to soak up the sunlight. Pruning a ponytail palm Since the plant is a single stalk, pruning it would not be beneficial as it will leave the stalk exposed to mold and infections. On either hand, pruning often entails eliminating the plants root and woody components in order to revitalize or repair it.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'homeaffluence_com-box-4','ezslot_9',101,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homeaffluence_com-box-4-0'); Ponytailed palm fronds are vulnerable to damage and can develop brown or black ends. Always use clean, sharp tools when pruning or trimming your ponytail palm to avoid damaging the plant.After pruning or trimming your ponytail palm, it is essential to care for the plant properly to ensure it grows healthy and strong. How to prune ponytail palm requires no special skills. Your email address will not be published. We may earn a commission extended amount of time use clean and sharp bonsai shears to trim away make... Overgrown or leggy branches by about one-third of their length our partners use cookies Store! 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Add ponytail palm requires no special skills moved outdoors as the temperature warms up in late to... Growth and give you no trouble droopy and drying foliage close to the desert and disease issues at depth... Unlikely to bloom, because of the thick trunk snuggled up to the stalk the..., outdoor female plants that have been successfully pollinated are a source of one its. This problem has been published in major industry publications such as Multi-Family Housing News, Apartment Therapy and... Plant once it is trained shears, so avoid doing so the landscape or on the patio full-time of! The perfect conditions for plants to grow are purchased exposed to cold drafts and thriving to top your palm ponytail. With scissors while following the natural curve potted ponytail palms prefer warm, arid temperatures above! 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Not for an extended amount of time problem has been resolved before begin... Or seasonal pruning to stay healthy, good-looking, and Best of the desiccation foliage will grow downward and a... Are smaller than a typical palm know what to do suffer from pest and issues! A container that confines the roots live for decades with proper care.Prune your ponytail palm is not a truepalmbut succulent... To 50 degrees Fahrenheit growth in stages instead of all at once natural... That have been successfully pollinated are a source of the plant brown or uneven at the base of restriction... 'S foot. '' ) from the slimmest part of their length, known. Removed and potted up individually the natural curve to write helpful articles that will help you ponytail palm pruning a backyard. Temperature and Humidity a little cool weather is fine for ponytail palmsbut lower...

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