Ponytail Palm
Nolina recurvata
A unique succulent with a swollen, bulbous trunk and long, recurving, strap-like leaves.
The essentials at a glance
-
Watering
Every 14 days
-
Light
Full sun
-
Humidity
20–40 %
-
Temperature
10–30 °C
How to care for your Ponytail Palm
Everything you need to keep your Ponytail Palm healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.
The Ponytail Palm is a distinctive and extremely low-maintenance plant, known for its bulbous base that stores water and a crown of long, slender, arching leaves resembling a ponytail. It thrives on neglect, preferring bright light and infrequent watering, allowing its soil to dry out completely between waterings. It makes an excellent indoor plant and a drought-tolerant outdoor specimen in warm climates.
Watering your Ponytail Palm
Every 14 days
Top watering
How to know it needs water
- Soil completely dry
- Trunk appears slightly less plump
How much light a Ponytail Palm needs
Full sun
Full Sun
- Direct sun tolerated
- 6 to 12 h a day
- Orientations that suit it
- South, South-east, South-west, East, West
Humidity and misting
20–40 %
Low Not required; thrives in dry conditions.
Feeding and fertiliser
Every 90 days
Fertilize sparingly in spring/summer; avoid over-fertilizing.
- Recommended feed
- Balanced liquid fertilizer · 5-10-5
Repotting your Ponytail Palm
Every 24 months
Repot into a slightly larger pot with well-draining succulent mix; avoid deep potting.
- When
- Spring
- Potting mix
- Cactus and succulent mix
- Mix in
- perlite, coarse sand, pumice
The tell-tale signs
- Roots filling pot
- Watering frequency increases
Pruning your Ponytail Palm
As needed Remove brown leaf tips or dead lower leaves with clean shears.
Through the year
Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 27 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 11 in the growing season.
- 25 J
- 22 F
- 20 M
- 14 A
- 13 M
- 11 J
- 11 J
- 13 A
- 14 S
- 18 O
- 22 N
- 27 D
Active growth · Days between waterings
Toxicity
Mildly toxic if ingested, causing stomach upset.
Good to know
- Despite its name, it is not a true palm but a succulent.
- The swollen base stores water, making it extremely drought-tolerant.
Frequently asked questions about the Ponytail Palm
How do you care for a Ponytail Palm?
Water it every 14 days. Give it full sun. Ideal humidity: 20–40 %. Ideal temperature: 10–30 °C. Top watering
How often should you water a Ponytail Palm?
Every 14 days Top watering How to know it needs water : Soil completely dry ; Trunk appears slightly less plump.
How much light does a Ponytail Palm need?
Full sun Full Sun 6 to 12 h a day
Is the Ponytail Palm toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Mildly toxic if ingested, causing stomach upset. Keep it out of reach of your pets and call a vet if any is swallowed.
Why are my Ponytail Palm leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.
When should you repot a Ponytail Palm?
Repot every 24 months, ideally in spring. Repot into a slightly larger pot with well-draining succulent mix; avoid deep potting.
At a glance
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Category
- Succulent
- Placement
- Indoor and outdoor
- Mature height
- 2 m
- Growth
- Slow
- Temperature
- 10–30 °C
- Pot materials
- terracotta, ceramic
- Growth
- Reaches maturity in 15 years
These figures are for an average plant. In the app they are recalculated for yours, based on your room, its orientation and the season.
And for your plant, in your home?
In the app this plant becomes yours: a watering schedule tuned to your home, health tracking from photos, and reminders at the right moment.
