Beaucarnea Recurvata 13cm

Beaucarnea is a very good houseplant that is capable of living in most conditions in the house. It is a desert plant that lives in Mexico and Southern USA. It is the perfect plant for the absent-minded owner who tends to water sporadically. It has a large swelling to the main stem which it fills with water. This acts as a water reserve in its natural environment in the desert.  This swelling gives it is common name, Elephant’s foot or Pony Tail.

The great advantage of this plant is that it prefers a low humidity which most houses have especially in winter here in the UK. Surprisingly, it is not a big fan of bright direct sunlight. It does a lot better in moist compost in partial sunlight.

It is called a palm. This is an unfortunate name because it not a palm, it is a member of the Asparagaceae family which is more commonly known as Asparagus.

You could look at the purchase of a Beaucarnea as an investment in time. They are slow growing and live to a great age. In the USA I have seen plants that claim to be very old, some as much as 400 years old. At that age they really look very splendid indeed.

In the house I would tend to use them as specimens. Place them in a big pot that allows the stem base to swell and just allow them to do their thing. They require an occasion feed with general plant fertilizer in the growing season and very little else. Repot every other year, primarily just to add fresh compost which will help nutrient uptake. They do appreciate a hosing of with the shower head occasionally to wash off any dust. This makes the leaves shine and aids photosynthesis. Apart from that – plants really do not get any easier.