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ponytail palm planting

ponytail palm planting Shop 'Ponytail palm - Beaucarnea recurvata' Care and Info

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ponytail palm planting Shop 'Ponytail palm - Beaucarnea recurvata' Care and InfoIntroducing the ponytail palm, known as Beaucarnea recurvata. Native to Southern Brazil, the ponytail palm is also known as the "elephant's foot palm or elephant foot tree" because of its enlarged lower trunk, which resembles an elephant's foot. Within the agave family, the ponytail palm is a distinct plant that, despite its name, is not a true palm. Its cascading, strap like leaves resemble a ponytail, adding to its unique and elegant appearance.

Introducing the ponytail palm, known as Beaucarnea recurvata. Native to Southern Brazil, the ponytail palm is also known as the "elephant's foot palm or elephant foot tree" because of its enlarged lower trunk, which resembles an elephant's foot.

Within the agave family, the ponytail palm is a distinct plant that, despite its name, is not a true palm. Its cascading, strap-like leaves resemble a ponytail, adding to its unique and elegant appearance. This misconception often arises because its bulbous trunk and graceful foliage evoke the look of a palm tree. Ponytail palms are actually succulents, despite popular belief. Whether it's a succulent or a true palm itself, it adds a touch of tropical flair and botanical fascination to every area of your home. 

This stunning ponytail palm succulent boasts unique features, such as long, slender leaves that cascade gracefully from its bulbous trunk.

Ponytail palms grown in gardens as landscape plants typically grow no taller than 11 feet, while indoors, they rarely exceed 4 feet in height.

The Ponytail Palm is a popular houseplant with a distinctive appearance and a thick, bloated brown stem that stores water at its thick, swollen stem and trunk base, often called a bulb or caudex.

The flowers of the ponytail palm rarely bloom when grown as a houseplant. When it blooms in late winter to early spring, it has small, nocturnal, pure white flowers that appear on long stalks that emerge from the center of your ponytail palm succulent.

The ponytail palm is a slow-growing plant with an impressive lifespan, reportedly living up to 150–200 years. Its longevity and ease of care make it a popular choice for indoor plants, offering beauty and companionship that can last for generations.

The ponytail palm Beaucarnea recurvata, is more closely related to desert plants in the Agave and Yucca genera.

When and How to Water Your Ponytail Palm

Like succulents, the ponytail palm is drought-tolerant with its fleshy, water-storing stems that can hold a lot of water.  However, their root structure is easily susceptible to overwatering, so make sure that you don't overwater, as it can lead to root rot and fungal infections.

In the spring and summer, during the growing season, the ponytail palm prefers regular watering. You'll want to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

In fall and winter, during the dormant period, to reduce the frequency of watering. The Beaucarnea recurvata growth slows down, so it won't require as much water. In spite of the right watering frequency of about 2–3 weeks, ponytail palm Beaucarnea recurvata roots can be damaged if the soil is not fast-draining. 

If you need to pot up a new ponytail palm, choose a container with enough drainage holes. Allow the soil to dry out more between waterings, but don't let it completely dry out. Aim for a balance where the soil is slightly moist but not overly wet. 

Light Requirements - Where to Place Your Ponytail Palm

When growing Ponytail palm indoors, it thrives in bright, indirect light but can also tolerate lower light levels. Placing it near a sunny window or in a well-lit room is ideal. However, be cautious of exposing your ponytail palm to direct, intense sunlight, as it may scorch the leaves. If they don't receive enough bright light, their stems may grow leggy, become paler, and develop curly leaves. So make your ponytail palm happy and give it plenty of light.

If you are growing your ponytail palm outdoors, it can withstand full sun, but it prefers to grow in areas with some partial shade and avoid prolonged direct sunlight.

Learn to adjust your ponytail palm plant to avoid burns if the location where you have Beaucarnea recurvata is exposed to too much direct sunlight. Gradually increase the exposure until it can handle the full sun.

It's critical to remember that during a heatwave or periods of extreme heat, your Beaucarnea recurvata ponytail palm could still sustain sun damage or get sunburned. In this situation, you can protect your ponytail palm by moving it indoors or to a shaded area. 

Optimal Soil & Fertilizer Needs 

When it comes to choosing the right soil for your adorable ponytail palm, you need to be careful. You see, the amount of moisture in the soil can literally make or break your little green friend. You've got root and stem rot faster than you can say "cactus." That's why we at Planet Desert have got your back with our Soil cactus mix blend 1 gal 4 qt cacti succulent dirt compost growing media. This organic mycorrhiza helps grow a healthy root system that makes all those thick, swollen stems stand tall and proud.  As an okay alternative, you can create your own succulent mix by combining equal portions of perlite, coarse sand, and good natural potting soil. 

Ideally, you should look for a natural fertilizer with an approximate blend of 5-10-15 that is higher in phosphorus than nitrogen. The best choice is to use natural fertilizer, as ponytail palm Beaucarnea recurvata lasts longer and keeps your soil alive by adding other beneficial compounds and microbes that encourage ponytail palm health and nutrient absorption. 

Hardiness Zones & More

When it comes to indoor care, this Beaucarnea recurvata ponytail palm prefers average room temperatures between 65 and 75°F, making it suitable for most indoor settings. It can tolerate slightly cooler temperatures, but it's best to avoid extreme cold drafts or sudden temperature fluctuations.

The ponytail palm Beaucarnea recurvata can tolerate average indoor humidity levels, but it appreciates a bit of dry air from time to time. Misting the leaves occasionally or placing the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water can help create a slightly more humid microclimate around the ponytail palms.

If you are living in USDA zones 9–11, you can grow your ponytail palm outdoors year-round. It thrives in warm climates and can tolerate full sun to partial shade outdoors.

 In terms of temperature, it can withstand temperatures as low as 30°F for short periods, but it's generally recommended to protect it from frost and freezing temperatures.

 It can tolerate low humidity levels, making it a great choice for outdoor landscapes in drier regions. However, it's important to note that excessive humidity or prolonged exposure to high humidity can lead to fungal issues or root rot.

Remember, the ponytail palms, as slow-growing species, can't stand frost or too much humidity; therefore, they need warm, dry conditions. A balanced ponytail palm care will help you maintain temperatures and prevent too much moisture.

Wildlife - Ponytail Palm Attracts the Following Friendly Pollinators

The Ponytail Palm has small, fragrant flowers that can attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds. While it’s primarily grown as an ornamental indoor plant, providing outdoor exposure during flowering can support local pollinator populations and enhance the plant’s natural beauty.

Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Lady Bugs
Multi Pollinators
Other Birds

According to the ASPCA, the Ponytail Palm is non-toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and other common household pets. Its pet-friendly nature makes it an excellent choice for homes with animals, as it poses no significant health risk if leaves are chewed or ingested.

How to Propagate Your Ponytail Palm

The ponytail palm can be propagated through seeds or by offshoots that develop around the base of the ponytail palm plant. This method allows for quicker growth and ensures that the new plant retains the same characteristics as the parent plant. Repotting Ponytail palms is best done in the spring when the plant is actively growing. Be sure to use a well-draining potting mix to prevent root rot.

Key Takeaways

  1. The Ponytail Palm features a large, bulbous base known as a caudex, which stores water, making it highly efficient in surviving extended periods of drought.
  2. This plant is exceptionally low-maintenance and thrives in dry conditions, requiring infrequent watering and minimal care, making it perfect for busy individuals.
  3. Its long, narrow, and arching leaves cascade from the top of the trunk, resembling a ponytail, giving the plant its signature look and adding elegance to any space.
  4. The Ponytail Palm is a slow-growing plant, making it ideal for indoor settings, as it maintains its compact size for years with proper care.
  5. The Ponytail Palm is a slow-growing plant, making it ideal for indoor settings, as it maintains its compact size for years with proper care. (duplicate)

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is a versatile and low-maintenance plant that can be a wonderful addition to both indoor and outdoor spaces. With its unique appearance and ability to adapt to different light conditions, it can brighten up any room or garden. Indoors, it prefers bright, indirect light and average room temperatures. Outdoors, it thrives in warm climates and can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Don't miss out on this opportunity to add something truly exceptional to your garden. Order your very own Beaucarnea recurvata, or ponytail palm, today!

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Amazon Customer
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Get it before it goes back out of print!
Format: Paperback
This book sat on my wish list for years while the price hovered just a bit too high for my liking. My patience has been rewarded with a back in print price that makes getting it a no-brainer. That said, I can't say I believe the main theory of this book, but it is a good start and an enjoyable read regardless. It seems to me that authors feel a need to propound an overarching and impossible-to-prove theory, in order to write some comparative mythology. I was brought to this book a long time ago after reading Charles Hapgood's Map of ancient Sea Kings. Another good author in the same vein is Gavin White, who wrote Babalonian Star Lore and several others.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2018
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Howzat
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
I'm rereading the book. It's great!
The idea of progress is a relatively knew idea within the history of humans. The idea of progress is fundamental to the ideas of Capitalism and economic growth. Many Americans blindly believe that of progress, economic growth, and Capitalism are leading to the betterment of humans. If one carefully reads the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report, it states that CO2 (and other greenhouse gasses) emissions are driving global warming and thus climate change. That report also says that economic growth and population growth are driving those emissions. Climate change is one of the "progress traps" Wright is talking about. Progress does not inexorably lead to the betterment of humans. Nor do growth economies, including Capitalism. Wright helps readers see the big pictures of how humans have interacted with the Earth in ways that destroy civilizations and threatens to ruin our host, Earth. The Myth of Progress by Tom Wessells is another good book about progress.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2018
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David S. Rush
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 4
Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up
What is the difference between our 21st century global civilization, the ancient Sumerians, the Easter Islanders of Cook's day, empirical Rome, or the Maya civilization. Answer, not much. The last four are all societies that had their heyday, become stuck in a paradigm, and then brought ecological disaster on themselves via overpopulation and over exploitation of natural resources. "Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up", Wrights quotes from some pertinent graffiti. The cost this time could be in the billions of souls. This a short book 132 pages of actual text with another 68 or so of footnotes at the end. It is a mad rush through human history exploring the collapse of those civilizations and a couple that have been more sustainable. Wright also explores the traps of progress. That is mankind becomes so good at hunting he drives his food source into extinction. Then we become so proficient at an irrigation technology we ruin the land. We become so good at weapons we create bombs that could ruin the whole world. As a race, he contends, we seem to push every technology to the brink, to our collective woe. I read with highlighter in hand. I had to restrain myself for marking whole long sections. As it is, the book now has a pink glow. Several pages have yellow tabs so I can find passages easily again. One such passage from the book summarizes it for me: "The human inability to foresee - or to watch out for - long-range consequences may be inherent to our kind, shaped by the millions of years when we lived from hand to mouth by hunting and gathering. It may also be little more than a mix of inertia, greed, and foolishness encouraged by the shape of the social pyramid. The concentration of power at the top of large-scale societies gives the elite a vested interest in the status quo; they continue to prosper in darkening times long after the environment and general populace begin to suffer." I remember as a biology major we studied the boom and bust cycle of animal populations. It was suggested in class that the human animal could follow the same cycle. The professor dismissed the idea, but not so Wright. He sees us at the high point in a few years, then the collapse unless we act now. One other passage really struck home with me: "The idea that the world must be run by the stock market is as mad as any other fundamentalist delusion, Islamic, Christian, or Marxist." That tears at the very sand we have our society built on. The sheer pace of Wright's march through history mirrors the author's urgency about how long we have to act to save our society. The countdown has already begun. The question remains, do we have the gumption to take the necessary action. The book is at its heart liberal, and rightly so. Any possible solution to forestall the potential social collapse will not be from the top of the pyramid. They long ago seemed to have forgotten the concept of usufruct; we are just borrowing this planet from our children and grandchildren. Wright holds out a glimmer of hope, but the candle is flickering.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2010
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Richard Reese (author of Understanding Sustainability)
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
A short book loaded with sharp insights
Every year, Canadians eagerly huddle around their radios to listen to the Massey Lectures, broadcast by the CBC. For the 2004 season, Ronald Wright was the honored speaker. He presented a series of five lectures, titled A Short History of Progress. In 2005, Wright's presentation was published as a short book, and it became a bestseller. Martin Scorsese's movie, Surviving Progress, was based on the book. It was an amazing success for a story contrary to our most holy cultural myths. Wright believed that the benefits of progress were highly overrated, because of their huge costs. Indeed, progress was approaching the point of becoming a serious threat to the existence of humankind. "This new century will not grow very old before we enter an age of chaos and collapse that will dwarf all the dark ages in our past." He pointed out that the world was dotted with the ruins of ancient crash sites, civilizations that self-destructed. At each of these wrecks, modern science can, in essence, retrieve the "black box," and discover why the mighty society crashed and burned. There is a clear pattern. Each one crashed because it destroyed what it depended on for its survival. Wright takes us on a quick tour of the collapse of Sumer, Easter Island, the Roman Empire, and the Mayans. He explains why the two oddballs, China and Egypt, are taking longer than average to self-destruct. The fatal defects of agriculture and civilization are old news for the folks who have been paying attention. It has become customary for these folks to believe that "The Fall" took place when humans began to domesticate plants and animals. Wright thinks the truth is more complicated. What makes this book unique and provocative is his notion of progress traps. The benefits of innovation often encourage society to live in a new way, while burning the bridges behind them as they advance. Society can find itself trapped in an unsustainable way of living, and it's no longer possible to just turn around and painlessly return to a simpler mode. Like today, we know that the temporary bubble of cheap energy is about over, and our entire way of life is dependent on cheap energy. We're trapped. Some types of progress do not disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, like using a rock to crack nuts. But our ability to stand upright freed our hands for working with tools and weapons, which launched a million year process of experimentation and innovation that gradually snowballed over time. We tend to assume that during the long era of hunting and gathering our ancestors were as mindful as the few hunting cultures that managed to survive on the fringes into the twentieth century. But in earlier eras, when big game was abundant, wise stewardship was not mandatory. Sloppy tribes could survive -- for a while. Before they got horses, Indians of the American west would drive herds of buffalo off cliffs, killing many at a time. They took what they needed, and left the rest for legions of scavengers. One site in Colorado contained the carcasses of 152 buffalo. A trader in the northern Rockies witnessed about 250 buffalo being killed at one time. Wright mentioned two Upper Paleolithic sites I had not heard of -- 1,000 mammoth skeletons were found at Piedmont in the Czech Republic, and the remains of over 100,000 horses were found at Solutré in France. Over time, progress perfected our hunting systems. Our supply of high-quality food seemed to be infinite. It was our first experience of prosperity and leisure. Folks had time to take their paint sets into caves and do gorgeous portraits of the animals they lived with, venerated, killed, and ate. Naturally, our population grew. More babies grew up to be hunters, and the availability of game eventually decreased. The grand era of cave painting ended, and we began hunting rabbits. We depleted species after species, unconsciously gliding into our first serious progress trap. Some groups scrambled to find alternatives, foraging around beaches, estuaries, wetlands, and bogs. Some learned how to reap the tiny seeds of wild grasses. By and by, the end of the hunting way of life came into view, about 10,000 years ago. "They lived high for a while, then starved." Having destroyed the abundant game, it was impossible to return to simpler living. This was a progress trap, and it led directly into a far more dangerous progress trap, the domestication of plants and animals. Agriculture and civilization were accidents, and they threw open the gateway to 10,000 years of monotony, drudgery, misery, and ecocide. Wright says that civilization is a pyramid scheme; we live today at the expense of those who come after us. For most of human history, the rate of progress was so slow that it was usually invisible. But the last six or seven generations have been blindsided by a typhoon of explosive change. Progress had a habit of giving birth to problems that could only be solved by more progress. Progress was the most diabolically wicked curse that you could ever imagine. Maybe we should turn it into an insulting obscenity: "progress you!" Climate scientists have created models showing weather trends over the last 250,000 years, based on ice cores. Agriculture probably didn't start earlier because climate trends were unstable. Big swings could take place over the course of decades. In the last 10,000 years, the climate has been unusually stable. A return to instability will make civilization impossible. Joseph Tainter studied how civilizations collapse, and he described three highways to disaster: the Runaway Train (out-of-control problems), the Dinosaur (indifference to dangers), and the House of Cards (irreversible disintegration). He predicted that the next collapse would be global in scale. Finally, the solution: "The reform that is needed is... simply the transition from short-term thinking to long-term." Can we do it? We are quite clever, but seldom wise, according to Wright. Ordinary animals, like our ancestors, had no need for long-term thinking, because life was always lived in the here and now. "Free Beer Tomorrow" reads the flashing neon sign on the tavern, but we never exist in tomorrow. The great news is that we now possess a mountain of black boxes. For the first time in the human journey, a growing number of people comprehend our great mistakes, and are capable of envisioning a new path that eventually abandons our embarrassing boo-boos forever. All the old barriers to wisdom and healing have been swept away (in theory). Everywhere you look these days; people are stumbling around staring at tiny screens and furiously typing -- eagerly communicating with world experts, engaging in profound discussions, watching videos rich with illuminating information, and reading the works of green visionaries. It's a magnificent sight to behold -- the best is yet to come! Richard Adrian Reese Author of What Is Sustainable
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Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2013
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Richard Clark
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Wright is right
The fact Wright attacks popular concepts of progress is enough to merit five stars. Until 1955, when I was 25, I naively believed progress was inevitable, natural, and simply a part of human nature and society. I attended the Earl Lectures that year. Swiss Theologian Emil Brunner presented three addresses on "Faith, Hope, and Love" at Berkeley, California. Westminster Press published his series in a book given the same title. I shall quote a few remarks. Brunner traced the burgioning faith in progress to the nineteenth century, when "Darwin's theory of evolution seemed so to support and enlarge this optimistic evaluation of progress as to see it in a cosmic perspective." But the doctrine of progress is not the same as evolution. "Although this idea of progress had a success for which the word 'triumph' is hardly an exaggeration, there were warning voices raised against it, voices of men of weight and importance who were not willng to accept the new doctrine," he said. "It was a new doctrine because it was not known to antiquity, it was not known in the time of the Reformation, it was unknown in all Asiatic culture. It was a new thing! The idea of progress became an axiomatic conviction which needed no proof and could not be disproved." At one point, Brunner said, "Since Hiroshima the world does not believe in progress anymore." The end of WWII was still fresh in our memories, and I suppose that's why he said it. We know, today, that it didn't take long for much of the world to revive and renew its faith in progress. And now it's stronger--and more dangerous--than ever. I'm not opposed to every aspect of progress. Progress, when it moves in wholesome and healthy directions, is a blessing. I'm glad my dentist is able to fill--and save--my teeth without pain. And when it came time for my doctor to pull my cataracts and replace them with implanted lenses, I marveled at the miracle. It was a quick and painless operation, and now I have wonderful vision. It's that dogmatic idea of progress based on greed and cold indifference to global warming that concerns me. It's that ongoing waste of limited resources, whether they be animal, vegetable or mineral, that concerns me. We are pulling the carpet from beneath our feet, and the king is pulling hardest of all. And who is the king? Ignorance! Ignorance is king!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2008

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