Learn to Propagate Ponytail Palm From Cuttings Like a Skilled

The ponytail palm is not an actual palm tree nonetheless is a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), and is commonly grown as a house plant. This tropical tree (Beaucarnea recurvata) can attain as a lot as 30 ft in peak, nonetheless when grown indoors stays at a far more manageable dimension, usually under six ft. It is sometimes grown in containers with a small trunk protruding from the soil. This trunk is a bulbous type with a tricky ground, incomes the ponytail palm the nickname of elephant’s foot.

This plant is easy to develop indoors and requires little or no care. Ponytail palms are very slow-growing, so after propagation, they’ll take a while to get greater and may take as a lot as 5 years to develop a foot in peak. This generally is a residence plant for growers who don’t ideas collaborating within the prolonged recreation. Nonetheless over time the rewards are worth it for this pretty and low-maintenance plant.

Beneath, we’re sharing one of the simplest ways to propagate ponytail palm so you can have further cuttings to develop your houseplant assortment.

Methods for Propagating Ponytail Palm

There are mainly three alternative routes to propagate a ponytail palm: seeds, stem cuttings, and offset (or “pup”) division. Propagation from seed is not the favored methodology, because it might take as a lot as a 12 months for seeds to germinate. The pups are like small vegetation that sprout from the trunk of the palm; they’re massive sufficient to cut as soon as they’re on the very least 4 inches prolonged.

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Best Time to Propagate Ponytail Palm

The easiest time to propagate a ponytail palm from divisions or stem cuttings is all through spring or summer season season, when the plant is on probably the most energetic time of its yearly progress cycle, as this progress energy will lend some vigor to the propagation effort. To propagate from a pup, it is a should to buy one, or await one to develop, which may take a while.

Learn to Propagate Ponytail Palm

Propagating ponytail palm from stem chopping or pup is significantly troublesome because of there aren’t any roots on these plant divisions. Using a rooting hormone powder is extraordinarily helpful. Moreover, you want a small (6 to 8-inch) pot with good drainage (terracotta is sweet for this objective), and potting soil.

In case you should not have a ponytail palm to get a division from, ask spherical a neighborhood gardening or plant group on social media.

1. Decrease a stem or pup using clear snips or a knife. If using a stem chopping, it must be on the very least 4 inches prolonged. Decrease barely under a leaf node.
2. Trim any leaves from throughout the bottom of the chopping. This varieties a sort of “stem” for rooting throughout the container. Depart on the very least two or three leaves on the best.
3. Let the highest of the reduce stem or pup dry out for a day. This will likely allow the reduce ground to heal which may forestall root rot.
4. Use rooting hormone powder. Dip the highest of stem chopping or bottom of pup in rooting hormone powder.
5. Place the division in a container with potting soil. Use a lightweight sandy soil with good drainage, like cactus soil. The soil or planting medium must cowl the underside two-thirds or so of the division. You probably can add some pebbles to help keep the chopping in place.
6. Water frivolously. After planting the model new division, solely water when the best inch of the soil ground feels dry. Be careful to not overwater, significantly with a small container.
7. Place the container in a vivid spot. Make sure to place the pot in a vivid, sunny spot. It could be moved exterior as quickly as temperatures warmth up.
8. Wait until the division. As quickly because the division begins to positioned on dimension, which may take a few weeks, you can switch it to an even bigger pot.