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The ponytail palm ( Beaucarnea recurvata ) is an unusual plant from the eastern portions of Mexico that can reach an outside height of 15 ’ human foot and dwell for as farseeing as 350 years .
However , you ’re far more likely to turn this interesting flora indoors to avoid the hardiness zona restrictions .
Photo Credit: Instagram @ancientkkottt
Theelephant foot plantis broadly speaking low - upkeep , but its name is the source of many a woe for starter .
The simple truth is that this industrial plant is n’t a medal but , in reality , a succulent . This means it hive away water to protect itself in drought weather . It also means it ’s easy to overwater this plant if you are n’t paying attention .
How To Save Overwatered Beaucarneas?
The good word is it ’s somewhat leisurely to save an overwatered ponytail medal if you catch it in time .
Even well , it ’s quite easy to avoid overwatering in the hereafter if you practise proper watering technique .
Signs Of Overwatering
Unlike most plants , ponytail palm do n’t give very many signs they ’re in hurt before rot has a hazard to coif in .
gratefully , the few sign it does give can be pretty heavy to miss .
The first signaling might be some trunk gibbosity , but the second sign , which is a yellowing of its leaves , is a lot easier to spot .
The yellowed leaves will fall off if lead untreated , denudate your industrial plant .
At this point , action mechanism is predominant to avoid root or stem rot .
How Overwatering Happens?
The single most vulgar cause of overwatering is the calendar method .
plant , like people , do n’t get athirst on a docket .
In fact , literally 97 % to 99 % per centum of the water they absorb is used in transpiration , a biologic procedure similar to perspiration .
This means a plant ’s thirst will be immediately related to several factors , such as :
Watering on a schedule is no different than drink bottleful of water on a timer .
Unfortunately for your flora , this can lead to many pest and disease problems .
For that grounds , we powerfully advocate never using the calendar method and or else focusing on proficiency proven to work .
Salvaging An Overwatered Ponytail Palm
The near tidings is that a plant overwatered once or doubly will recuperate on its own , as long as you give the soil time to dry out properly .
However , a sternly overwatered plant will need more drastic measures .
Begin by uprooting the plant life , chuck out the grunge , and ( unless you recognise how to sterilize it right ) the pot .
Next , examine the roots for signs of root molder and slay any septic ascendant using a aseptic knife .
Symptoms admit the chase :
ensure to resterilize your knife between each cut , so you do n’t spread the infection .
Once all visible sign of rot are gone , soak the source in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts body of water for 20 minutes .
tolerate the plant life to melody teetotal for 2 to 3 day , then repot in a wise pot with new dirt .
Avoid using fertilizer for 1 to 2 month while the plant recover .
Testing the Water
Of course , the respectable way to avoid overwatering is to only water when the flora needs it .
The fingerbreadth method make examination so easy that you could literally do it while walking past your plant .
Your index digit is approximately 3 ” in long , with the two knuckles and base of the finger , each marking an column inch .
Ponytail palms have fairly mysterious roots , so you ’ll need to stick your whole digit in ( i.e. , 3 ” column inch ) , direct directly down .
If the soil feels dry down , it ’s time to water .
Alternatively , mark a popsicle stick or wooden chopstick at 1 ” inch intervals and stay put that into the dirt instead .
countenance it to persist for approximately 20 minutes , then examine the joint .
It will appear dismal where moisture is present .
Using The Soak And Dry Method
One of the most effectual lacrimation method out there is the soak - and - teetotal method .
This proficiency only want you to master one fiddling trick .
That legerdemain is pouring water supply at a very slow pace , which allows the soil to soak up any moisture forthwith .
Once you ’ve used the method a few times , the proper watering fastness will become a matter of muscle memory .
We suggest a little watering can that distribute the water , but you may literally use a boozing glass once you get the pour out speed down .
You ’ll also need to habituate elbow room temperature distill water or ( rather ) natural rain , as these are far less likely to make a buildup of toxic mineral salts in the soil .
Begin pouring , tardily working your direction around the plant so the soil is evenly drizzle .
Try not to get the plant wet , particularly in an indoor setting where the water is less potential to evaporate promptly .
Even though these tree can handle pelting , getting wet in artificial condition can increase the risk of fungous infections .
The soil will recount you when it ’s time to halt .
For potted plants , it ’s meter to give up when you see wet beginning to seep from the container ’s drain holes .
Meanwhile , both potted and garden plants will tell you to cease if you see the filth having trouble absorbing water at the same rate you ’re pelt it .
This latter star sign is why a right pour speed is significant .
Can You Use the Bottom-Up Method for Ponytail Palms?
The soak and dry method acting may be perfect for most plant , but it has one major drawback : it ’s almost out of the question to employ when a plant covers the soil with its leafage .
However , a 2nd popular lacrimation technique solves this problem , although it will only puzzle out on potted plant .
The bottom - up method involve using a deep tray or basin to water the industrial plant from below or else of above .
To use this method , merely set the full pot in your basin once it ’s athirst and satiate the basin with water .
let the wad to soak for about 20 minutes , add more water to the basin .
After the 20 minutes are up , touch the dirt surface , and if it ’s damp , the process is over .
You may involve to let it soak a little longer , checking in 5 - minute intervals .
Just be certain not to let it souse for more than an hour .
Once terminate , polish off the pot from the basin and allow any excess wet to debilitate back out of the drainage hollow .
