| + | '''''Beaucarnea recurvata''''' (often called the '''ponytail palm''' in English, even though it is not a true [[Arecaceae|palm]]) is a species of ''[[Beaucarnea]]'' often grown as a [[houseplant]] in temperate latitudes. Successful cultivation requires winter minimum temperatures of above 10°C, rising to around 30°C in summer. The ponytail palm is native to the states of [[Tamaulipas]], [[Veracruz]], and [[San Luis Potosí]] in [[Mexico]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's Guide |first=Gary |last=Irish |publisher=Timber Press |year=2000 |isbn=9780881924428 |page=187 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YbVYuq73I0wC}}</ref> |
− | Beaucarnea recurvata, Lem. (B. tuberculata, Roezl, Nolina recurvata, Hemsl. N. tuberculata, Hort. Pinceneclitia tuberculata, Lem.). Becoming 30 ft. high, slender- branched above, swollen at base: Lvs. green, thin, smooth-edged, recurving, ¾ in. x 3-6 ft.: infl. nearly sessile; fls. Ain. long: fr. unknown. S. E. Mex. I. H. 8, p. 58. G.C. 1870:1445; III. 46:4. D.G. Mag. 1871:288. Gt. 28:210. Gn. 19, p. 372. R.H. 1911, p. 207.—Tender in Cent. Fla. | + | Beaucarnea recurvata, Lem. (B. tuberculata, Roezl, Nolina recurvata, Hemsl. N. tuberculata, Hort. Pinceneclitia tuberculata, Lem.). Becoming 30 ft. high, slender- branched above, swollen at base: Lvs. green, thin, smooth-edged, recurving, ¾ in. x 3-6 ft.: infl. nearly sessile; fls. Ain. long: fr. unknown. S. E. Mex.—Tender in Cent. Fla. |
− | | + | ''Beaucarnea recurvata'' needs full sun to light shade, with a well drained soil mix. A soil mix consisting of 2 parts loam to 1 part peat moss to 2 parts sand has been used successfully. To this mix, small gravel may be added to ensure good drainage. In a container, plants are very slow growing and very drought tolerant. Plants can be watered every three weeks during the growing season and fertilized once during this period. During the winter months, the plants should be watered only enough to keep the foliage from wilting (this usually equates to 1 dose of water during the winter). Over-watering is the single most frequent cause of failure when growing ''Beaucarnea''. The ponytail palm is a very slow growing tree. |