Ponytail palm · Beaucarnea recurvata
Non-toxic to dogs.
No water for 7–10 days post-repot, then first light water. Empty saucer after watering.
Bright indirect light for ~2 weeks, then gradual introduction to direct sun.
New crown growth expected in 3–6 weeks.
No fertilizer for 2 months post-repot.
Water: 50/50 standing tap water + distilled.
Next repot only when triggered (root-bound, collapsed structure, pot change) – time it for spring.
The growth point on one of the leaf groups looks dark and sunken – the crown for that group may be dead.
Two old leaves are still attached there. Nothing removed for now. Watch next: whether a new leaf pushes from that point. If nothing sprouts and those two leaves dry off, the group is gone. The rest of the plant is unaffected.
Acquired alongside Don Diego. Decision: repot same-day rather than let it settle – correct call for the species and the season.
Health assessment: dense deep-green foliage, brown tips cosmetic, caudex slim from greenhouse growing (normal). Overall good health.
Pot oversized; ruled out plastic inner pot and burying deeper. Settled on reduced fill volume with a shallow 2–3cm recess below the rim.
Final mix ~85% mineral: 1L zeolite + 1L keramzit + 1L perlite + ~0.5L DMP/Gardners substrate.
Bare-rooted dry, ~60 min total. Damage minimal – structural roots intact, only hair-root loss. One ant found, no treatment needed.
Leaf marks investigated: white flecks are mineral deposits (cosmetic); tan raised ovals failed the nail test – healed mechanical scarring, not scale.
Plant Collection