skip to main content

planting a pony-tail palm outside...

14 years ago

Has anyone done this? My pony tail palm/tree is about 5 feet tall(not counting the leaves), almost 9 when the new set of leaves is still straight up. I usually keep the tree outside on the shady side of the patio during summer. I was wondering if it would hurt the plant if i put it into the ground for a few months, then re pot it for winter. I would never leave it outside in NE. Also have a sago, and chinese fan palm I may plant outside, summer only...Any thoughts?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

hort_lvr_4life
14 years ago
Well, it is a desert plant so I can't see why not. The only thing that might make me think twice is because I read the root system goes deep because it is a succulent - it might be difficult to dig back up depending upon how quickly the root system gets established. I also read it's a slow grower too, though. Since it'll only be for the summer, it might not get established *that* much.

South or west sun is great for it as well as soil with great drainage.

I am ordering seeds of this through Park Seed this year and I live in Lincoln so thank you for asking the question - it made me do my research!
watergal
14 years ago
If it's in a cheap pot, you could just dig a hole in the ground and sink the plant, pot and all, in the hole. Then just put the potted plant back inside in the winter. I used to do this with tropical hibiscus. The only problem is that you can get soil stains on the outside of your pot. The hibiscus roots used to grow out the drain holes into the ground sometimes, but I just whacked them back when they had to come out in the fall. I'm guessing ponytail roots grow a lot more slowly, so that may not be an issue.

Be sure to acclimate it to the outdoor sun gradually, but you probably knew that.
Related Discussions
Pony Tail palms
Q
Comments (30)
There are several perspectives re whether or not it makes a difference when you repot a plant. Some people think you should be able to repot whenever you feel like it, with impunity, others feel that working with the the plant's natural rhythms so as to take advantage of the plant's strengths and avoid unnecessary stress by performing heavy work (repotting, root pruning, heavy pruning) not when the plant is in the weaker portion of the growth cycle, but when it's more robust. Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't much care what we think is fair, choosing instead to force the plant to pay a penalty in terms of longer recovery periods and higher susceptibility to insects and diseases during that longer recovery when appropriate attention isn't paid to timing. Spring (as in early spring) isn't a good time to repot your PT or most other succulents and houseplants. In most cases, plants are at their weakest in early spring, which is more than enough reason to avoid repotting until they've stored some energy reserves and longer/brighter days ensure maximum food-making ability. Father's Day is easy to remember, or the summer solstice. Both are good target days around which to plan heavy work like hard pruning and repotting, with its root work. I regularly run into folks who are very quick to tell you how much difference 'when you repot' DOESN'T make; but their reasoning tends to center on the idea that because their plants didn't die after they repotted over Christmas vacation, there is no reason not to take advantage of that time frame (or something similar). That's faulty reasoning. Strong people in good general health recover much faster from surgeries than weak people whose health is questionable. To think that plants are different in that regard isn't logical. So, in the end, I can say with a great deal of confidence that when you choose to repot DOES matter. It may not determine life or death, but it's hard to envision any justification for levying unnecessary stress on a living thing of value unless it was required to ensure it's continued viability. Learning to work with your plants natural rhythms not only benefits the plant, it also helps the grower feel more in tune with the needs of the plant. We all have that nurturing bone, and one of our greatest rewards comes from knowing we're being good nurturers. Learning about timing is a step toward increased rewards. Al
...See More
Pony tail palm & Majesty Palm
Q
Comments (38)
Thanks a lot for the compliment Bananafan! I appreciate it! I definitely try to make the best of my climate. Luckily there is a lot of moisture year round by me so that does give me the opportunity to grow a lot of vegetation. Every year I get more and more species of plants, it's hard to keep up with them all after a while, but so far I've managed pretty well. Not sure what purple sedum you are referring to (is it the purple heat vine?), but that, the arborvitae and the passion vine are all cold hardy here so they are one of the easier plants for me to grow! Arborvitaes are a little bit overused here so I'd rather have something else in my yard other than them, but they look nice and are expensive (and just as expensive to dig up and replace) so I'll be probably be keeping them for many more years! The passion vine is probably my favorite bloom. Not only is it cold tolerant, but it's a fast grower too. I got it as a small plant for 2 dollars at a local nursery in July 2010. Now they cover a huge portion of my pool fence and there are seedlings popping up around my yard (they dont seem too invasive though). I know that the Pacific Northwest has some of the best gardening in the country and it is definitely cool year round so I would agree that cool climates are actually great for a lot of flowering plants! It gets pretty hot by me in the summer so that does limit the number of flowers I can grow a little bit.
...See More
Adventure with a Pony Tail Palm
Q
Comments (1)
Once there is a few inches of stem you can usually root them
...See More
Pony tail palm stump
Q
Comments (6)
Ha, Well I joined gardenweb in 2012 when I was 13 mostly for stupid pond questions. Then somehow ventured out to this Forum and asked stupid plant questions. I refuse to look at most of my old posts and I feel bad for the people who had to deal with me! Though, I'll probably be saying the same thing down the road. Thus makes me 16. I'd have alot more things and Such if I was 'allowed' to. So I'm pretty limited to the things I 'can' purchase. Instead of a 20 gallon fish tank it would be a 55, my pond wouldn't be 60 gallons but 1,000, I'd probably have alot more plants and I'd have zebra finches. Though free food is nice. Thanks asleep! Looks so sad.
...See More
Mentha
14 years ago
Last week I visited a house with one the size of a car in the front yard, and about 1.5 stories high! It can be done, but I'm not sure if your climate will be as acomedating as Southern CA.
aeblocker_cox_net
12 years ago
I have a Pony Tail Palm that I use to bring in during the winter. Last winter I left the potted palm outside. We had a very cold long winter. I placed the palm on the west side of the house under oak trees. Then this spring,
I moved the plant to the East side in full sun. I thought this plant was dead. It had no leaves and the trunk which is about 3ft tall seemed lifeless. I felt that possibly the plant had frozen during the hard winter. I repotted in a larger pot, and watered it thourghly, at first every other day for about a week. Then to my supprise, little green shoots began to appear around the main trunk 3/4 way up the ball. I had not seen this before. Now that I have learned much about this plant, I want to plant outdoors. The plant survived the winter, but the main trunk no longer has palms. I think I will keep it potted, and move it again this winter to a sheltered area and out of the Northeastern wind. I think this plant may be aclemated enough to leave it outdoors. In the Florida Panhandle, we are the coldest city in the state during winter, and the hotest city in the state during summer.

Related Stories

HOUSEPLANTS 8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Plants

Houseplants add so much to our homes — and can thrive when grown in the right conditions. Keep these tips in mind

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Invaluable Life Lessons From the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

The garden is both teacher and healer. Don't be afraid — dig in and reap the benefits

LANDSCAPE DESIGN The Garden Edge: Rethink Your Garden Pathways

By Jessica Nockolds

The right plant choices not only frame your paths with distinction, but they also take you on a journey of the senses

GARDENING GUIDES New Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want

PETS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Summer-Loving Dog!

By Mitchell Parker

Share a photo of your pooch kicking back in the backyard, helping you in the workshop or enjoying your favorite summer getaway

DECORATING STYLES Is Your Home Ready for a 1970s Revival?

Seventies chic is a trend that’s been brewing for some time, but this year it could hit big — with a few modern tweaks

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Grow a Lush Privacy Screen

By Christine Tusher

No need to wait forever for patio privacy the green way. These 10 ideas will get your screening up and running in no time

ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Spanish Eclectic Homes Find a Place in the Sun

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Flexible stucco, intricate tiles and more have kept this multicultural style going strong for a century

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

LANDSCAPE DESIGN California Says Goodbye to the Sprawling Ornamental Lawn

By Annie Thornton

New state rules will effectively limit turfgrass to 25 percent of the landscape in most new and renovated yards

Sponsored

Shylee Grossman Interiors

Industry Leading Interior Designers & Decorators in Franklin County

More Discussions

What do I do with this plant?

11

Anyone have a true Christmas cactus?

9

Why Can’t Plants Be Produced to Live?

2

repotting a dracaena with small new sprouts

1

My hoya plant was very nice,till

1