Looking for an easy office plant? Try a ponytail palm! It’s anything but high-maintenance like it’s long name. It’s great for busy people who don’t have the time to mist or constantly water. This unique palm, or Beaucarrnea recurvata, is an upright houseplant with ribbon-like leaves and a bulbous root ball. Accustomed to the arid, desert-like regions of Mexico and Guatemala, the ponytail palm uses its swollen base to store water during times of drought! Despite their name, they are not truly palms, but succulents in the agave family! In its natural environment it can grow up to 20-40 feet tall. As a houseplant here in central Oregon, it’s rare to see them surpass 3 feet. 

All it needs is well-draining chunky soil, bright light and a drink every couple of weeks. Shoot for roughly every 3 weeks in the summer and 4-6 weeks in the colder months. We suggest setting it in a tub of water and letting it soak up as much as it needs from the bottom. This will help you avoid rotting its neat trunk. Make sure you err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering! 

Ponytails are especially tough when it comes to temperature fluctuation. They can handle cold drafts coming from your doors or windows, and stay unaffected by heat waves! All in all, these are long-living, unique specimens that you can neglect (to a certain degree) without killing! These palms are very slow-growing, which makes them great for bonsai-enthusiasts. If you want them to grow faster, give them more light. You may notice its trunk leaning one way or the other if they’re not getting enough sun. If this is the case, try rotating it 180 degrees so it can grow towards the light and straighten out. We recommend them as table top plants. They are striking and funky, sure to catch eyes and turn heads!