Ponytail palms, also known as elephant foot, are fantastic and cute indoor houseplants. Their caudex makes for a striking appearance.
But growing a ponytail palm outdoors is actually more common, believe it or not! You get to take advantage of the full spring, summer, fall, and winter growth cycle of this incredible plant.
Without further ado, read on for tips to make your elephant foot plant grow tall and love growing outdoors.
The ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is an eye-catching plant known for its bulbous trunk base and long, arched, bright green leaves that emerge from the top in a ponytail-like cluster. This distinctive plant is native to the hot, arid regions of southeastern Mexico.
While ponytail palms thrive in warm environments their ability to handle cold temperatures is a common concern for gardeners seeking to grow them in cooler climates. In this article we’ll explore the cold hardiness and frost tolerance of ponytail palms to help you determine if they can survive the winters where you live.
How Cold Hardy Are Ponytail Palms?
The ponytail palm is considered a cold-sensitive plant that prefers consistent warm temperatures Its ideal temperature range for growth is 60-85°F (15-29°C). Temperatures dropping below 50°F (10°C) will slow growth significantly More serious cold damage can occur once temperatures reach 32°F (0°C) or below.
According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, ponytail palms can be grown outdoors year-round only in the warmest zones of 9-11. These zones experience minimum average winter temperatures of 20-50°F (-6 to 10°C). Ponytail palms cannot withstand winters colder than this.
Plants in zones 8b and below with colder winter temperatures are likely to suffer freeze damage when left outdoors. Ponytail palms are not very cold hardy overall compared to other succulents and palm species.
What Are the Signs of Frost Damage?
How can you tell if your ponytail palm has been impacted by frost or freezing temperatures? Here are the main symptoms to look for
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Blackened, mushy, rotten stems and crown tissue caused by ice crystals rupturing cells.
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Leaves emerging dried out, brown, or blackened due to desiccation.
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White, sunken lesions on leaves that may expand.
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Stunted, yellowed, or browned new growth instead of green.
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Collapsing or dying back of leaves from the tips.
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A softened, damaged trunk if cold exposure was prolonged.
Protecting Ponytail Palms in Colder Climates
For gardeners wishing to grow ponytail palms in zones outside their recommended hardiness range, protecting the plants from winter cold is crucial. Here are some tips:
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Move container-grown plants indoors before temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C).
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Keep indoor plants away from cold drafts and maintain temperatures above 50°F (10°C).
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Cover outdoor plants with insulating frost blankets or burlap when frost is predicted.
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Apply antitranspirants to reduce moisture loss during cold snaps.
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Add insulating mulch around the base to protect roots from freezing.
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Wrap or cover the trunk with foam or other insulating materials.
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Provide temporary protective structures if very cold conditions persist.
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Choose protected microclimates against warm, south-facing walls or structures.
Caring for Frost-Damaged Ponytail Palms
If your ponytail palm does experience some frost damage, don’t give up hope! With proper care, many plants can recover surprisingly well. Here are some rejuvenation tips:
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Prune away any mushy, badly damaged leaves and stems to improve appearance and prevent rot.
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Spray with copper fungicide to prevent disease in damaged tissue.
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Resume regular watering as growth resumes in spring.
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Fertilize occasionally with a balanced palm fertilizer.
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Ensure the plant receives ample sunshine for regrowth.
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Monitor for continued decline or signs of recovery.
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Repot in fresh soil if the original soil was affected.
While severe damage can occasionally be fatal, mild to moderate cold injury is often reversible for ponytail palms. With attentive care and protection, these eye-catching succulents can brighten gardens even in cooler climates. Just provide a little extra winter insulation and care.
The ponytail palm prefers the hot, dry conditions of its Mexican desert habitat and has limited cold tolerance. While mature plants can potentially survive brief light frosts above 25°F (-4°C), cold snaps below 40°F (4°C) can damage or kill them. Freezing temperatures are especially harmful.
Careful attention to microclimate, preventative winter protection, and prompt restorative care after frost damage are key to successfully growing ponytail palms in areas colder than USDA zone 9. With prudent safeguarding measures, gardeners can enjoy this sculptural succulent as a distinctive landscape accent even in cooler regions. Just provide a little extra care when winter temperatures drop.
Growing Ponytail Palm Outdoors vs. Indoors
When you’re deciding whether to grow your ponytail palm indoors or outdoors, here are the four major points of consideration:
To reach its maximum potential – it can grow up to 30 feet tall – plant a ponytail palm outdoors.
If you want to limit its size, then planting Beaucarnea recurvata into a container indoors is a good option. If you choose a larger container, your plant may grow up to six feet tall. The smaller the container, the more you limit its growing potential.
Can ponytail palms take full sun? Of course! Outdoors, ponytail palms want full sun for as long as possible, at least eight hours a day. Indoors, you should place it in a window facing south and supplement your indoor ponytail palm with a grow light if necessary.
One benefit of growing your ponytail palm outdoors is the natural drainage. The soil will dry completely between waterings, avoiding one of the main killers of this plant – root rot!
If you’re growing indoors, you must use a free-draining cactus-style soil mix and a pot with proper drainage. Remember, this plant has a large caudex for storing water – it doesn’t need a ton from you!
You’ll only get flowers by growing your ponytail palm outside of your house. It will take a lot of time, as these are slow-growing palm trees, but small white flowers will eventually bloom.
Plant Rescue | Save Your Ponytail Palm From Frost Damage
FAQ
How cold is too cold for a ponytail palm?
This plant is hardy to the low to mid twenties Fahrenheit, and if hit by a hard freeze, it recovers slowly in the spring.
When should I bring my ponytail palm inside?
The ponytail palm thrives with bright light and can tolerate direct sun all day. It’s happy to live outdoors in the summer where it can soak up the sun! Bring it back indoors when the night temperatures start to dip.
Are ponytail palms frost tolerant?
Hardy to -5C for short periods but thrives in frost free conditions. PLANTING: Plant in full sun, or the brightest light possible indoors, in well drained soil. Very happy in dry almost desert locations but will grow very happily in humid gardens if soil is sandy and free-draining.
What is the lowest temperature for potted palms?
A palm tree’s cold tolerance can differ greatly depending on the species. Tropical palms have fairly low cold tolerance; anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can be too much for them. But more temperate species of palm trees can withstand subfreezing temperatures with little or no injury.