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Container Gardening

How would you recommend planting a Ponytail Palm in a tall skinny pot?

7 years ago

Hi folks,

I usually only hang out in the Cactus & Succulent forum, but this is a question that the container folks might also be able to help with. Hope it's okay that I've cross-posted.

I would like to pot 2 ponytail palm in 2 tall, relatively narrow pots next to my front door. It will be covered from rain, but full sun from noon until sunset. The pots are 27" tall 16" wide (interior dimension) and square at the top (27 x 16 x 16)

The pots are so heavy that I'm not too concerned with them being topheavy, but I don't want to make them any more top-heavy by filling the bottom with perlite. I have C&S soil, perlite, grit, turface-equivilant, and pumice to use in my soil recipe.

How would you recommend filling the pot and planting ponytails? I was thinking a few heavy rocks at the bottom, then a foot of perlite, and then a nice gritty mix.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Leslie

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Comments (5)

bossyvossy
7 years ago
What you r planning would work but personally i would have selected a wider pot to encourage growth of the ball, which I think is the most interesting part of this Palm.
LH CO/FL thanked bossyvossy
bossyvossy
7 years ago
I guess this is similar to what you envision. Looks elegant

i like this one a bit better, again to allow Palm base to grow bigger. Either will work
LH CO/FL thanked bossyvossy
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I would go ahead and repot them. You can probably run a knife along the sides to loosen those rocks from the pot. Then the whole plant can slide out much easier. Even though the rocks are glued together, I doubt that they're really stuck to the plant itself, so you can probably pull them off carefully in small chunks until you remove them all When I repotted my little ponytails, the roots were all tangled up. I just worked my fingers into the soil, breaking up the soil and loosening up the roots somewhat. Knocking away as much soil as possible. After that, I held on to the trunks of each plant and kinda wiggled them back and forth while gently pulling them apart, until their roots came free. Then you just go about repotting them like any other houseplant. Preferably using a fast draining potting mix. Ponytail palms are pretty resilient and don't mind their roots being disturbed. Just try not to break them, if you can. They're pretty forgiving, so don't fret about that. My little ponytails were crowded in their old pot, and the trunks were pressed right up against one another too, which flattened the sides of them where they were touching. But once they were repotted and had more room, their trunks rounded back out into their natural shape. Well, good luck on your repotting. Your ponytails will enjoy having more room to grow and will thank you for it.
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LH CO/FL
Original Author
7 years ago
Those pictures are amazing!

Since this is for the front entry-way, picking a pot that works in the space was a big part of the equation. Too wide, and we would have to be really careful about how we get into the front door - it will be just inches away on either side. And yes, we could pick other plants, but I think the ponytails will look spectacular for a few years until they outgrow the pots. Luckily, in my area, I can plant them in ground when they get too big. :)
Need2SeeGreen 10 (SoCal)
7 years ago
How big are the plants now? And did someone else already ask about drainage? The pots are not cache pots right? (They probably aren't but I thought I'd ask.)

I love these plants too.
LH CO/FL thanked Need2SeeGreen 10 (SoCal)
LH CO/FL
Original Author
7 years ago
I haven't bought the plants yet, but thinking we'll start them off kinda small and let them grow into the pots ;) The pots have a single large drainage hole, and they'll have bright direct sunlight all afternoon, plus heat reflecting back from the windows and front door right behind them. They won't get any rain under the overhang, so when we travel, we'll move them out so they can get some rainwater.

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