Ponytail palm
Also called Elephant foot tree, Bottle palm, Nolina recurvata.
| Light | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 21 days in the growing season, every 45 in winter |
| Humidity | low |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Height | Up to 120 cm (47 in) tall |
| Pets | Cats safe, dogs safe |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Pony Tail entry.
Not a palm at all but a member of the asparagus family from the dry hills of eastern Mexico, and the swollen base is a water tank rather than decoration. That single fact explains all of its care: it stores its own water, so it wants a gritty compost, a snug pot, a bright position and long gaps between soakings. In winter six weeks between waterings is entirely reasonable. Do the opposite, which is what most people do because it looks like a palm, and the base goes soft and the plant is gone. It grows very slowly, lives for decades, is safe for cats and dogs, and is about as close to unkillable as a houseplant gets provided you leave the watering can alone.
Ailments observed
| A soft or mushy base to the stem | The one way to kill it: water standing around the swollen trunk. Take it out, cut away anything soft, dry it for a few days and repot into gritty compost in a smaller pot. Water far less. |
|---|---|
| Brown tips on otherwise healthy leaves | Dry air or a fluoride sensitivity, and largely cosmetic. Trim the tips at an angle if they bother you. It does not affect the plant. |
Filed underPlants that will not poison the cat, Plants that forgive a beginner, Succulents and cacti, Plants for infrequent watering, Plants for a balcony or a small space
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