How to water a Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

How to water

All of the soil should be dry before watering again. If the soil still is moist you risk giving the plant too much water and it can rot.

If the soil is moist - snooze this action, we will remind you again in 2 days.

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Water over the soil

Pour water over the soil, using, for example, a watering can or put the plant directly under a tap
Try to avoid getting water on the stems and leaves
Continue adding water to the pot until it starts to run out from the drainage holes
If you have a tray under the pot when watering, make sure you remove all the collected water afterwards - never let your plant sit in water
If you watered under a tap make sure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting it back

The ponytail palm can handle drought way much better than too much water, so rather skip / snooze or water a bit less each time than too water it too much
— Planta tip

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Bottom watering

Fill the plant tray with water
Make sure the soil is in contact with the water on the tray
Wait for about 10 minutes
Feel the soil to see if it absorbed enough water —> if the soil is moist throughout, remove any excess water from the tray
If it’s still dry —> add more water to the tray
Wait 20 more minutes before removing the excess

Note

Bottom watering will not wash away salts and other minerals from the soil, so make sure to also give water over the soil every now and then.

Water bath

Fill a bucket or any other vessel with lukewarm water
Lower the whole pot down in the water, stop where the stem of the plant starts. Make sure all of the soil is under water
The water will now start to bubble - wait until it stopped
Lift the pot up and let the excess drain off
Put the plant back in the cachepot or on the tray
After 1 hour, check that the plant isn’t standing in water, if it is it might get overwatered and rot

Foire aux questions

How do I know when my Ponytail palm needs water?

Your Ponytail palm needs water when all of its soil is completely dry. Watering while the soil is still moist can lead to root rot.

Is there a risk of overwatering a Ponytail palm?

Yes, Ponytail palms are very susceptible to overwatering, which can cause them to rot. They can tolerate drought much better than excess moisture, so it's always safer to water less.

What is the correct way to water a Ponytail palm from the top?

When watering from the top, pour water over the soil until it drains from the bottom. Make sure to remove any collected water from the tray afterwards to prevent the plant from sitting in water.

How does bottom watering work for a Ponytail palm?

For bottom watering, fill a plant tray with water and place the pot in it, ensuring the soil touches the water. Let it soak for about 10 minutes, then check the soil. If still dry, add more water and wait another 20 minutes before removing excess.

Can I give my Ponytail palm a water bath?

Yes, you can give your Ponytail palm a water bath by lowering the entire pot into a bucket of lukewarm water until the bubbling stops. Lift the pot to drain excess water, then check after an hour to ensure it's not standing in water.

Should I always bottom water my Ponytail palm?

While bottom watering is effective, it's good practice to also water over the soil occasionally. This helps wash away accumulated salts and minerals from the soil.

How to water a Ponytail palm from the top

Pour water over the soil using, for example, a watering can or by putting the plant directly under a tap.

Try to avoid getting water on the stems and leaves.

Continue adding water to the pot until it starts to run out from the drainage holes.

If you have a tray under the pot when watering, make sure you remove all the collected water afterwards; never let your plant sit in water.

If you watered under a tap, make sure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting it back.