How To Care For Your Ponytail Palm Bonsai Tree

Beaucarnea Recurvata Bonsai Care

About The Ponytail Palm Bonsai Tree

The most striking feature of the Ponytail Palm is the swollen base of the trunk. The closer to the rootball you get, the more bulbous it becomes.  The larger the tree gets, the more sudden the bulging base will be.

The scaled and rough texture of the trunk looks and feels scaly like the foot of an elephant, giving it the nickname "Elephant's Foot."

The extraordinary thickening of the trunk serves as a water reservoir against dry spells, allowing the tree to go up to four (4) weeks without water. 

This makes it remarkably forgiving as an indoor bonsai tree, suitable for the frequent traveler (or forgetful home gardener.)

Placement

Like most palm trees, a ponytail palm bonsai is tropical.  That means it wants to stay warm all year long.

When the outdoor lows are around 50 degrees F, place your ponytail palm bonsai tree on a windowsill indoors.  South facing is best, east or west is second best, and you should avoid north if you can (or just use an indoor grow light.)

When the temperatures are above 50 degrees, your ponytail palm bonsai tree can live outdoors.

It loves a TON of sun, so don't feel the need to protect it.  Just ensure it's well watered.

Watering

Never let the soil completely dry out.  Whenever the soil seems dry, thoroughly water your tree until the water runs clear from the bottom.  In the growing season, this can be daily. 

If you need help, a good moisture meter will guide you.

Humidity

When your ponytail palm bonsai tree is inside, using a humidity tray is recommended.  It will prevent the water from running on the floor, and can help boost the humidity around the tree.

Fertilizing

Since your ponytail palm bonsai is in a small pot, and not the ground, it needs nutrients.  A slow release (pellet based) fertilizer is perfect for this, and can be added sparingly every 1-2 months during the growing season.

Pruning & Trimming 

Trim back the new growth to the farthest safe point that looks good to you — but never remove all of the new growth.

A regular trim will help keep your ponytail palm bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.

Repotting

Repotting must be performed periodically on your bonsai, ponytail palm included, when its root system has filled the pot.  If you can clearly see the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, it’s time to repot your bonsai.

Generally, this means every 2-3 years for a deciduous tree and every 4-5 years for an evergreen or tropical.

Repotting should be done in mid-summer, when the tree is at it’s least fragile state.

The ponytail palm tree, along with all of its soil, should be removed from the pot.  From there, you can trim away no more than 1/3rd of the root mass (1/4th is preferred.) 

Then you can repot the tree in the same pot, or give it a newer / bigger pot to thrive in.

After repotting, your ponytail palm bonsai should be thoroughly watered.

Diseases, Insects & Other Pests

Your ponytail palm bonsai can be treated for pests like a normal ponytail palm tree.  Just remember, your tree is miniature and will need a much smaller and more gentile dose of treatment.