Ponytail palm care guide

The ponytail palm is not a palm. It is a succulent, a cousin of the agave. Its swollen trunk stores water, and a fountain of long, curly leaves sprouts from the top, like a ponytail. It loves sun, forgives neglect, and is safe for cats and dogs.

Light

Give it your sunniest window. A south or west window is best. It handles bright, indirect light, but it grows slow there.

In low light, the leaves get thin and floppy. A plant moved outside for summer needs a week or two in shade first, or it sunburns.

Water

The swollen trunk holds water for weeks. Water when the soil is dry all the way down. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

In winter, it may need water only once a month or less. A soft or wrinkled trunk base means rot from too much water. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use cactus and succulent mix. A heavy terracotta pot with a drainage hole helps the soil dry and keeps it from tipping.

Ponytail palms like to be root-bound. Keeping it in a small pot keeps it small. Repot only every three to four years, in spring. Keep the swollen base above the soil. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F). It can spend summer outside in sun. Bring it in before nights drop below 10°C (50°F).

Feeding

Feed two or three times in spring and summer with a balanced or cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Trim brown leaf tips with clean scissors if they bother you. Pull off dead lower leaves.

Cutting the top off makes the trunk sprout several new heads of leaves. Do it in spring, and only if you want a branched look.

Propagation

Older plants sometimes grow small offsets at the base of the trunk. Cut one off with some roots in spring, let it dry for a day, and pot it in cactus mix. Wait a week before watering.

Most ponytail palms grow from seed.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Soft, wrinkled trunk base	Root rot from too much water
Brown leaf tips	Normal, or dry soil left too long
Yellow leaves, wet soil	Too much water
Thin, floppy leaves	Not enough light
Pale, scorched leaves	Sunburn after a sudden move into sun

Pests

Pests are uncommon. Mealybugs, scale, and spider mites can show up. Look where the leaves meet the trunk.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists ponytail palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Cats love to chew the long leaves, which is harmless but hard on the plant.

Varieties

Ponytail palm is sold under one main name. Small plants often come several to a pot, sometimes braided together.