How to Grow and Care for Ponytail Palms

These eye-catching, minimal-care houseplants aren't actually palms—they're succulents. Let us show you how to grow ponytail palms!

Place plants in a spot with bright, indirect light.
Plant ponytail palms in Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.
Water when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry.
Feed with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food.
Grow more ponytail palms by removing them from the parent plant and repotting.

Long-lived and easy to grow indoors, the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea) is not a palm tree at all. Instead, it's a succulent. Ponytail palms are related to agaves, but while the leaves are rough to the touch, they are much less stiff and thorny than an agave. Those leaves sprout from the top of the stem in a fountain-like manner and look a bit like ponytails. Because of the plant's wide, grayish base with cracking bark, ponytail palms are sometimes called "elephant foot trees." The base of each ponytail palm tapers up to a slender, graceful trunk, which is why another common name for this plant is "bottle palm."

Where to Grow Ponytail Palms

Ponytail palms don't need much to happily grow indoors. If given a choice, ponytail palms opt for bright, indirect light. However, they won't hold a grudge if they get less than that, but they will grow slower. One of their many benefits is their drought tolerance. Indoor grown ponytail palms can go without watering for longer periods than most of your average houseplants, making it the perfect plant for people who like to travel.

You can give your ponytail palm a break from the indoors by moving it outside during the summer. Give it a few days to acclimate by placing it in a protected area, such as on a porch or patio near the house. Then, if desired, move it to an outdoor area that gets indirect light. Remember that outdoor light is much stronger than indoor light and, at its brightest, can harm plants used to growing inside.

How to Repot Ponytail Palms

Ponytail palms like to be a little crowded in their containers, so choose a new pot that's only slightly larger than your plant's root ball. Since they're succulents, you'll want to use Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix, which provides the excellent drainage that ponytail palms need.

Select a pot that is no more than 1-2 inches larger than your plant's current container. It should also have a drainage hole.
Fill the container about ⅓ full with Miracle-Gro® Cactus, Palm & Citrus Potting Mix.
Gently remove your ponytail palm from its pot and tease the roots to loosen the root ball. Then put the plant in the pot so that the top of the root ball is about an inch below the rim. Do not bury any part of the stem or the plant will rot.
Fill in around the root ball with more potting mix.
Thoroughly water the plant and let it drain before moving it to its growing spot.

How to Water Ponytail Palms

Because their trunks hold water, ponytail palms can go long periods without water. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ever water them, but you don't want to overwater them. Allow the top two to three inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then give the plant a good soak. Indoors, that means you'll probably end up watering your ponytail palm every 3 to 4 weeks. If you're allowing the plants to summer outdoors, keep an eye on the forecast and move plants under cover if several inches of rain are predicted. Do not allow plants to sit in standing water.

How to Feed Ponytail Palms

Your ponytail palm will benefit from a boost of nutrients when it's actively growing. So, feed your ponytail palm regularly with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food, following the directions on the label.

How to Prune and Propagate More Ponytail Palms

The short answer is, don't! Ponytail palms are slow growers that thrive on "benign neglect" and, when grown as houseplants, should not require pruning.

Sometimes ponytail palms will produce offsets, or baby plants, at the base of the stem. If desired, you can cut or break these off and replant them. Chances are, they will already have roots. Let the cut sides dry out for a few days, then pot them up (see above), taking care not to bury the stems.

Ready to start growing ponytail palms? They're a fun way to brighten up your home. We know you'll enjoy having this playful succulent as part of your indoor houseplant collection.