Next, cut off the leaves at the base of the plant, close to the stem. Plantophiles.com is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to affiliates. It is best to use direct and indirect sunlight. This species does not require seasonal pruning to ensure good health or . Pruning shears Bleach Proper Watering Make sure to water your ponytail palm more frequently in the peak of summer, when temperatures are 90F or higher and there isn't any rain. Before you trim the green leaves, wait to figure out why some of them have brown tips and repair those leaves. Trim the leaves on the plant's top section using sharp shears. The dropping temperature and low-light conditions may quickly send the plant to shock, causing droopy and drying foliage. HayFarmGuy - Get Info About Farm Animals in Your Inbox. They would need about six hours of sunlight each day and should be kept a few feet away from the south-facing window. Usually, brown tips are a sign of too much water or fertilizer. You will want to make sure to do this early in the growing season to give the new foliage a chance to grow before it goes dormant for the winter. Sign up for our newsletter. This bonsai plant likes lots of sun but not for an extended amount of time. However, the untrimmed thick clusters of leaves may limit their growth, causing a sick-looking plant. Water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch, but dont let it completely dry out. Replant the mother. For larger branches, however, you will need to use hedge shears. He also loves to play tennis and read books. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Simply cut these leaves back to the desired length. You will see that the leaves grow in clumps and are attached at the base to the mother. When pruning your ponytail palm, be sure to make clean cuts at a 45-degree angle. Are you growing ponytail palm? You may need to trim your plant in stages because you never want to remove more than. Use sharp scissors and cut the leaves off the top of thetree. Use a very sharp, disinfected knife or pruners to separate the pup. A ponytail palm is a type of succulent plant that stores water in its leaves. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Plants Craze participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. GARDENER'S PATH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Growers often create two- and three-headed plants in this manner, for larger ponytail palms with extra interest. If your plant does start to look brown or ragged in the cut spots, you can use some pruning paint on the cuts to aid in the recovery. Moreover, a healthy-looking plant will also help deter pest and animal infestation and maintain a natural palm-like shape. Step 2: Use pruning shears or a sharp pair of scissors to remove the green leaves you want to trim. Ponytail palms prefer warm, arid temperatures, above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They are indoor plants that require little maintenance and can prune into a miniature home-based bonsai version. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Lets be clear on the difference between trimming and pruning. Like most houseplants, a ponytail palm can be susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, and scale. In addition to monitoring moisture, don't forget the liquid cactus and succulent plant food each spring. I use a set of pruners designed for Bonsai plants when I do mine. Ponytail Palm maintenance and pruning is a breeze. With some care, you can keep your ponytail palm plant looking great for years to come. Ponytail palms will thrive when slightly underpotted in a container that confines the roots. Leave the saucepan in the bowl for a few minutes, and then drain the remaining water. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. This fact does not block you from pruning any other time of the year in case you wish to. Be the first to rate this post. Generally, however, this is a difficult task to master because of a lack of roots on the offsets. Keep it out of reach of children and pets. During the winter season, cut back watering to monthly. You can find ponytail palms in one-, three-, and seven-gallon pots available from Fast Growing Trees. Apply a liquid cactus and succulent liquid plant food at planting time, and each spring. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Heres what youll need to prune your ponytail palm: -Pruning shears Continue with Recommended Cookies. Otherwise, wait 14-21 days until watering your indoor plant or until the soil feels crumbly or dry. If you find this to be aesthetically displeasing, you can cut off the offending foliage as near to its point of origin as possible, to avoid leaving partially cut stems with a chopped look. It is simple to trim the shrub to resemble a tail. Get growing tips and ponytail palm care info from the articles that follow. For growing indoors, pot a ponytail palm in a smallish container filled with a cactus/ succulent potting mix that is blended with some peat. Ponytail plants, which can be cultivated either inside or outdoors, provide a beautiful accent to any home design (during the warmer months). The ponytail palm can grow up to 20 feet outdoors but can also be trimmed into a bonsai version of itself for smaller spaces. In addition to being easy to grow, low-maintenance, and water-wise, ponytail palms are nontoxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so feel free to cultivate it near your animal friends. Also, this plant grows wider and taller in accordance with the size of the pot its in, so, the smaller the pot, the smaller the plant. Fertilize sago palm a couple of times a year in spring and summer to keep it growing its best. This plant is native to semi-desert areas of Central America, and when planted outdoors it does best in relatively sandy but organically rich soil. A humidity of 40-50% is sufficient. The tail palm (Beaucamea recurvata) is not a truepalmbut a succulent native to the desert. This will force the foliage to grow downward and resemble a ponytail. Be sure to make clean, sharp cuts to avoid damaging the plant. We earn from qualifying purchases. If you want to try, use a rooting hormone to stimulate new root growth on the offset. Do this for four to five days before placing it in the landscape or on the patio full-time. Use sharp trimming shears and trim leaves off the top of the plant. Examine the leaves for insects and diseases. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The mature plant with thick foliage would require regular pruning to minimize the tangled leaves, while a young plant would do well with minimum pruning. Thanks for reading, and we hope you have a great day! When grown outside, daytime hues perform best. On the other hand, proper pruning of branches and leaves can regulate the growth of trees, reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests and ensure their healthy and rapid growth. Ponytail palms are low-maintenance plants that do not require much care. It may take five years or more for a 1-foot-tall plant to double in size. Move your ponytail palm plant into the light and carefully inspect the plant. However, it may not happen for 10 or 20 years. It does best in dry conditions with temperatures above 60F. They are exacerbated by high humidity. On rare occasions, you may move the tail palm, a small baby plant that grows from thebaseof amother plant. In addition to monitoring moisture, dont forget the liquid cactus and succulent plant food each spring. Ponytail palms typically do not need to be pruned often, but you can trim them back as needed to keep them looking neat and tidy. Fast Growing Trees carries starter plants in six-inch pots and larger specimens in three-gallon containers. They can be shaped and trimmed to suit your dcor with a few easy steps. Place the little plant in full sun and water sparingly and normally it will continue its tortoise-paced growth and give you no trouble. After you have removed all of the dead or damaged leaves, you can trim back any of the longer leaves that are crowding the plant. The extra foliage will develop from the leaf bunchs sides to cut the limited leaves into a palm with a ponytail. Her work has been featured in numerous industry events, including the American Institute of Interior Design, the American Society of Interior Designers Annual Conference, the 2018 Interiors, and the 2019 International Home and Garden Show. With this slow-growing species, it may be years before crowded roots are an issue. As a houseplant that can achieve a height of eight feet given room to continually increase the size of its caudex, it bears noting that there may come a time when the pot becomes too unwieldy to move. The only pruning you will need to do is an occasional removal of dead leaves to keep the plant looking nice and clean. Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. It is better to suppressgrowthgradually than immediately. Water from spring to fall, allowing the soil to dry completely before watering again. The tips may also become brown in the sunlight. Fast-draining Succulent Potting Mix 4. Next, trim the top of the leaf cluster by removing 2/3rd of the top growth, which encourages vigorous growth towards the sides. The only time a ponytail palm should be pruned is if you are removing a pup from the mother for propagation. Over time, ponytail palms can become leggy and unruly, and will benefit from annual pruning. It is very beautiful and unique, and also requires some fairl. You will want to retain the pointy look of each leaf. Use long strokes and keep the edges from looking square or boxy. Add ponytail palm to your houseplant collection today and get ready to enjoy a fountain of evergreen foliage for decades to come. There may be one or more trunks with branches from which serrated recurved leaves sprout. Cutting back ponytail palm is not an effective method of maintenance in that it would leave an open trunk and no greenery. Every 7 to 14 days throughout the growth season, water. The ponytail palm leaves are sensitive to injury and tend to get dark at the ends. Basil Watering Tips: Proper Watering For Basil Plants, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. If so, the plant may be root bound, and need repotting. In addition to pruning that removes dry foliage, you may want to try your hand at bonsai. Here are some tips on how to care for a ponytail palm after pruning or trimming:-Water the plant deeply and regularly, especially during the hot summer. They are easy to care for houseplant that needs little maintenance. Separation of scions should be placed during spring. If during pruning you notice that the plant is growing on one side or the other, remember to turn the pot upside down every few months to maintain goodgrowthand also on both sides. Ponytails haveslow growth, so you dont need to prune the plants too often after training. Consider repotting only when the plant roots have grown significantly, especially in early spring. The ponytail palm bonsai tree is a great low-maintenance option for the bonsai enthusiast or even for those that are new to bonsai plants. where they meet the Ponytail Palm's trunk, with sharp, clean pruning shears. When you do water, pour water until it comes out of the drainage tray and immediately removes the tray. Water sparingly but thoroughly. If some of the leaves are green and vibrant, I would discourage trimming those leaves because too much cutting can cause more injury. In its native environment, ponytail palm receives little or no water in winter. In this article, I write about ponytail palm care as an indoor plant. For this reason, this hardy plant is sometimes called Elephants Foot. The trunk is extremely practical and will hold enough water for four weeks. She is passionate about sharing the knowledge, passion, and experience she has gained from her work and as a professional interior designer. For potted indoor plants, water a ponytail palm during the growing season every seven to 14 days. The trunk base forms an extensive light brown woody root called a caudex, which reaches 7 feet in diameter. However, a multi-stemmed tree is often desirable, and many people welcome these secondary shoots. Less is more when trimming a ponytail palm and if you are new at it, you will want to take it slow. Fertilizer Feed weekly with liquid fertilizer during the growing season, or use a slow-release pellet fertilizer in the spring. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); .slick-slider#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83656.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83656.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; } If the plant seems to be growing significantly on a single side, consider tilting the container downwards every few months to witness even growth. I hope you find it useful. Ponytail Palm Pruning Ponytail palm is a single-stemmed plant, which means that if you want to prune any base or woody material, you would literally be removing the trunk. Long-lived, this ornamental species matures in about 10 years. Keep the soil dry enough. In addition to the ponytail palm, there are 12 other species in the Beaucarnea genus. . He is a professional writer whose articles on plants and horticulture have appeared in national and regional newspapers and magazines. You can also trim back the leaves to shape the plant. If you enjoyed reading about this plant and would like to learn about more plants that can be grown and enjoyed indoors, we suggest the following: Ask the Experts, LLC. Plant, close to the desert a fountain of evergreen foliage for decades to come will that... Native environment, ponytail palm during the winter season, cut back watering to monthly crowded roots are an.. 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Extended amount of time during the growing season, cut back watering to monthly to come and. Use sharp trimming shears and trim leaves off the leaves to shape plant! Fountain of evergreen foliage for decades to come growing season, water 14-21 days until your! To trim your plant in full sun and water sparingly and normally it will Continue its tortoise-paced and! Of evergreen foliage for decades to come food at planting time, and will enough. To master because of a lack of roots on the plant looking nice and clean, but let. From Fast growing Trees PATH is a professional interior designer of roots the... Deter pest and animal infestation and maintain a natural palm-like shape palm the! May take five years or more for a few feet away from the articles that follow task. Ask the EXPERTS LLC baby plant that stores water in its native environment, palm. Times a year in case you wish to like most houseplants, a healthy-looking plant also... To trim your plant in stages because you never want to take it.. Require seasonal pruning to ensure good health or to play tennis and read books feels crumbly or dry a home-based. Dry foliage, you may move the tail palm, a multi-stemmed tree is a type of succulent food!