Splitting up Ponytail palm babies

This video is about splitting up ponytail palm babies and potting them as individual plants.
The Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), also known as the Nolina palm (based on its previous scientific name, i.e., Nolina recurvata), is a popular house plant that is easy to care for. Larger Ponytail palms are usually expensive so most often people buy group plantings of several Ponytail palm baby plants at a more affordable price. While you can grow them as a group, some end up splitting up ponytail palm plants to be grown individually.
Dividing ponytail palms is an easy process and will not take more time than you would require for repotting the individual plants. In this video I show the steps involved and provide the information required to learn how to split up ponytail palm babies. Also I start an experiment related to Ponytail palm development and discuss about basic ponytail palm care.
If you have experience with developing a large caudex on Ponytail palms I would really appreciate any advice on this subject.
#ponytailpalm #nolinapalm #beaucarnea

[@migsquirindongo]

Amazing presentation. I learned a lot on how to care for my ponytail palms. When I bought mine it came in a pot with 9 baby plants.

[@moremustard]

Looking forward to seeing the follow-up video! I have a pot with half dozen beet-sized caudexes in it and I need to make sure I pick up the right set of a half dozen pots.

[@cherylforster6796]

Great video, exactly the information I was looking for! Thanks so much for making this!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! I'm really glad it helped you. Hope your ponytail palms grow fast and strong!

[@rosiebee9574]

Very helpful. Thank you. You covered all my questions in one video.

[@barbarachandler4430]

I have a ponytail palm, a gorgeous specimen. I bought it 12 yrs ago, it was a little neglected by me, sadly. I have more than made up for it with a new pot and lots of leave brushing with my fingers, it seems to like that. It has grown quite a bit in 2/yrs, a beautiful Caudex, I’m thrilled with its growth, about 2 feet from soil level.

[@OddBonsai]

How much did it grow in diameter in the 12 years since you got it? They seem to be pretty slow growers and I'm still looking to provide the perfect conditions to get mine to grow faster.

[@barbarachandler4430]

I never measured it then, it was small but impressive, it’s grown at least half, no idea how old it was when I got it. I had repotted it at some point, years ago. when Covid hit I repotted all my plants, I had a great bay window where it grew like crazy, seemed like overnight. I was afraid the new spot for winter wouldn’t agree with it. I have fake little birds in the canopy. I never pay attention to only go up a little in size of the pot, works for me. I’ve got a Jade with a 13” too. Thank you for your interest and your videos!

[@raawrrx]

Hi! Just wondering which pot worked the best?? and do they show sign of thirst? How often do you water? I just got gifted a baby ponytail palm and researching the best care for it

[@k.spencer5135]

Just what I needed thank you

[@laurenstone9011]

Great explanation & video. Thank you!!

[@OddBonsai]

Glad it was helpful!

[@justinbales4208]

Appreciate the video, also subscribed hoping for an update wink wink 😉 curious to see which is doing better. I suspect small pots are recommended solely because it is harder to over water, yet like the game of 'telephone' or 'grapevine' extra advice gets added and subtracted down the line. Larger pots retain water longer which of course can be problematic, however a fast draining soil can compensate this imo. Nevertheless, curious as to your results!

[@OddBonsai]

Hello! They are all putting out new leaves but the caudexes haven't grown much. It's kind of hard for me to tell because I see them every day but I think the one in the larger pot is getting a bit bigger than the other two. I may be mistaken since they are very slow growers and their bulbous base didn't really grow much. I think the next video update will be sometime next year since. I hope there will be more significant growth by then so that there's a progress to show :). From what I read, smaller pots are recommended o grow a larger caudex. The reasoning behind this being that there is less room for roots and water in a smaller pot so the caudex will be forced to store larger quantities of water and grow larger faster. And this is exactly what I wanted to test with the 3 different size pots. Now thinking back, I think I should have gone with bigger pots for my medium and large size so that the size difference is more considerable. I'm also curious what will come out of the experiment. :)

[@justinbales4208]

@@OddBonsai very interesting! Thanks! I will stay tuned 👍

[@mykiglover1416]

Any updates for the ponytail plant?

[@cmh2261]

Looking for progress update too

[@wandajonesslusser5656]

Very helpful since I just purchased one I've got to separate, thanks!

[@OddBonsai]

Glad to help! Enjoy your ponytail palms!

[@jenniferoldfield347]

I couldn't find a follow up video regarding the various pot sizes for growth. Did you do one? I just purchased a ponytail palm with 4 in the pot, so will split, but am curious how it worked out for the various pot sizes.

[@lisawaller7620]

Can I keep them narrow & small ? I have a metal vase that had glass/ acrylic inside which broke. I cut a coconut fiber mat to fit as the vase is 12 " deep but very narrow point at bottom, then it pumps out to about 4" and narrows again ( bottle necks to about 3" then flares again to 4" ring at top. I thought I might fill half way with crushed stone then soil mix. The other pieces I'll leave in a bigger pot.

[@aliasgarden5876]

Nice share good video

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you so much!

[@marybarr4800]

Awesome information

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! Glad you found it useful.

[@Skyler-lc3in]

I just bought a plant with 5 pups. As you know, it is now fall and it going (if not already in) dormancy. Can I still divide or is it best to wait until spring?

[@MrChadsGrandma]

Spring

[@iancoofoo]

Thanks for the video. Very informative and helpful! When will you be posting an update with how each of them are doing?

[@OddBonsai]

My initial idea was to post an update video once it became clear if potting them in different size pots made a difference or not. This has only partially happened so I'm thinking of letting them grow for one more season and making a video toward the end of summer this year.

[@kaatgirl240]

Thank you, very informative.

[@OddBonsai]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks!

[@lisawaller7620]

Thank you so much

[@trish6091]

Thanks for sharing this video. Is there an update on how the three ponytail palms grew?

[@OddBonsai]

I did not get to make an update video yet but I will surely make one. All three plants grew quite a bit since I made the video.

[@trish6091]

@@OddBonsai thanks for the reply. Looking forward to watching the update when it’s posted!

[@autumnstorteboom9179]

Thanks for Posting! I received a combined pot a couple years ago, and I think it's time I separated the bulbs so they can really grow. Has there been an update on the caudex growth?

[@OddBonsai]

I haven't had the time to make an update video but as a small spoiler I can say that the pot size really matters :)

[@amberb5773]

@@OddBonsai Im patiently waiting for an update as i just purchased a 4 inch pot with 6 or 7 "bulbs" 😁 Thank you for your video!

[@_foxxy._]

@@OddBonsai has there been an updated video yet please?

[@mauricebrown24]

Excellent video! I just ordered a couple baby ponytails. Wrong time of the year? It's fall, how should I plant them, as far as watering them with a very, very, very weak fertilizer and water solution? Thanks

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you! With tropical plants that grow almost all year round and particularly with succulents it's hard to say when is the right time for a repotting operation. Especially if you keep them inside in a somewhat controlled environment I would say you can do this anytime. Do you plan on planting them indoors or outdoors? After planting I recommend that you wait a little longer until watering o let the roots recover from any damage you might cause unintentionally. As far as fertilizing goes I think your approach is fine. I tend to do something similar myself. Good luck with your pony tail palms!

[@EstairiaH]

So which pot worked best?

[@OddBonsai]

I want to reveal the actual result in a future video done over a period of several years but I will say this: Most plants love to have more space for their roots. :)

[@allanis_the_great]

can you submergre the caudex in soil?

[@mykiglover1416]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@Myrtuscommunis]

Interresting. Thanks for the tip. 💚👍 I will try it next days. 😀

[@OddBonsai]

Glad you found it useful. 👍 It's a simple process. You can't go wrong.

[@paulashuger4295]

Thank you so much. 🙏👏❤️🥰😍😘💕🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@teamwhite9642]

Súper useful thank you!

[@OddBonsai]

Glad to hear it helped! Thank you!

[@goodlights7729]

Hi,any update on this?

[@AMe-qd8oh]

Thank you for this video on splitting. Any updates on how they are growing?

[@OddBonsai]

Al three are growing well. Hopefully I will be making a new video sometime this year once I have enough footage.

[@juditg85]

I really enjoyed your video. I know you posted this 2 years ago. Are you still planning on posting an update? I just got my first Ponytail palm, and I have 8 pups in a 6 inch pot. I am trying to figure out if I should divide them all or just let them be together. @@OddBonsai

[@lizfraley816]

This was very helpful!!! Did you share the results from the different size pot experiment? I'd be very interested in hearing the results as I will be separating my plant in the next few weeks. Would cactus soil be acceptable?

[@OddBonsai]

I did not make a new video yet but I'm planning to. What I can say is that pot size helps a lot if you want your ponytail palm to grow faster.

[@eronhonez]

@@OddBonsai Are you saying that a late get or smaller pot is better?

[@OddBonsai]

@@eronhonez Larger pot is better for fast growing ponytail palms, but it does bring on some disadvantages too. I plan on discusing them in a future video.

[@Skyler-lc3in]

​@OddBonsai good to know!! I just got a 6 in a single pot. Also great vid!!

[@excuseme8346]

I have extremely large ponytail palms with multiple base ball stems in each pot. I need to propagate them. The plants are about 6-7 feet tall in the pots and have 3 separate pots of them. Any suggestions?

[@OddBonsai]

Sounds like a lot of ponytsil palm pups. Not sure I understand correctly but if the pups on your ponytails are the size of a baseball then they are big enough to be detached from the mother plant. You will have to use a sharp knive for this. Then I would wait a week for the cut wounds on the pups to dry up before potting. Use a succulent type soil and only water when the soil is completely dry. I hope this is the info you were looking for. Good luck with your ponytail palms!

[@excuseme8346]

@@OddBonsai Yes, I believe you answered my question. The caudex in the pots are the size of grapefruits and bigger and 6-7 feet in height. I need to separate them and will follow your advise. I don’t do anything special other than water them when their dry, feed Miracle Grow, partial sun in the summer and garage them during winter with grow lights. I love them, so easy to grow. I sincerely thank you for the knowledge and response.

[@OddBonsai]

Oh, now I get it. You just want to divide your 3 ponytails like I did. Then most probably they are not connected so you just have to separate them. No knive required in this case .The roots will most probably be all tangled up so you'll have to remove the soil and pull them apart bit by bit like I did. Some roots will break but don't worry. Since no cutting will be involved you can pot them directly. Good luck!

[@excuseme8346]

@@OddBonsai thank you 😊

[@OddBonsai]

You're very welcome!

[@MaybeBonsai]

Nice palms Stefan, goes well with your fingers!

[@OddBonsai]

Hahaha, love the pun! 👍 I've been growing them all my life.😁

[@MaybeBonsai]

@@OddBonsai oh thank god, I thought the pun was a little far fetched but good thing you got it haha

[@OddBonsai]

I must admit I didn't got it right on the first read but after reading again it seemed quite evident!

[@MaybeBonsai]

@@OddBonsai as long as it is within 3 reads I think it is acceptable haha

[@TimH-pu2dd]

Very helpful video. I have four ponytail palms together in one pot, where they have been since I received them six years ago. They seem to be doing well, but do you recommend they be separated into separate pots? The cascading effect of the leaves is much more appealing when the plants are in a cluster like this, but I do want to separate them if it's better for the plants.

[@OddBonsai]

Having them growing together should not affect their health. Their bulb like base will slowly deform to adapt to the available space as they grow into each other. I've seen pictures/videos of groups of 2-3 ponytail palms fused at the base growing outside. Eventually you will get four trunks which you can cut back if you like it more on the bushy side. So in the end it's more a matter of the shape you prefer to grow them into. Hope this helps.

[@TimH-pu2dd]

@@OddBonsai Thank you so much. It helps beaucoup!

[@nickiedeshotel8058]

Can you post an update as to what these three plants look like now please? Thank you!

[@jarheadbonsai]

I have one of these babies currently. 😎💪💪

[@OddBonsai]

Cool, how long have you been growing it for? I'm looking for potential ways of boosting the growth of my Ponytail palms. So if you notice something that seems to work please let me know. 👍

[@jarheadbonsai]

@@OddBonsai Laura got me a little baby about 6 months ago i think. Its tiny. Lol

[@OddBonsai]

I looked back at your videos and found the one on your Ponytail palm gift. Great gift idea: baby plants to celebrate the pregnancy!

[@gloriabosch7642]

Thank you I enjoyed your presentation. How long does it takes for the plant to grow roots?

[@OddBonsai]

I'm not sure I understand the question. My ponytail palms already had roots. The most probably grew more roots after repotting but I can't say for sure how long it took. Maybe up to a couple of weeks until new growth.

[@gloriabosch7642]

@@OddBonsai Thank you for your reply. My ponytail palm has pups and I want to remove and replant them, just wondering how long it takes for a pup to grow roots.

[@OddBonsai]

Oh, I get it now. The pups should grow roots in a couple of weeks. Let the cut wound dry up for a few days before planting and watering them to avoid rotting.

[@gloriabosch7642]

@@OddBonsai Thank you! Have a great weekend.

[@mellen5598]

I cut a few babies from a bonsai ponytail but they have no roots. Do I put them in soil and not water till I see roots?

[@OddBonsai]

I would let the cuttings sit for a few days until the cut point has dried out and then plant them but only give them a little bit of water. Then only water if the soil gets completely dry (not just the surface) or if you see signs of dehidration until new growth appears.

[@mellen5598]

@@OddBonsai thanks! I put the ends where the roots grow in cinnamon which is like growth hormone and then on a plate under dry soil. I’ll let you know what happens in a few days. I brought them into my air conditioned bedroom because it’s 100 degrees in NYC today and my other rooms are not air conditioned!

[@OddBonsai]

@@mellen5598 Hello, I just want to clear some things up. Cinnamon is not a rooting hormone. It is a good antifungal agent and since this increases the success rate when rooting cuttings people say it's a rooting hormone. Anyway, it's a good thing you did this since it will reduce the chance of rot. I don't know about the plate under the cutting. If it holds water I would remove it because it would increase the risk of rot. Cut wounds on plants like yuccas and ponytails are prone to rot when in contact with too much humidity. Hot weather is not an issue for ponytails. They thrive in hot and arid environments.

[@mellen5598]

@@OddBonsai I had potted it before I read your last comment and after reading I pulled the 3 pieces(what do you call them?) out of the watered soil and put in flat plate with a little bit of dry soil covering the bulb. I’ll wait now till I see signs of roots. Where can I send pic to you?

[@mellen5598]

@@OddBonsai I just followed you on fb and Ig

[@RennieAufdemstein]

What is your soil composition?

[@leowomaninlove]

have you ever had a Ponytail palm's top break off from falling... ugh, I'm so sad! ny Harry fell in a stupid unexpected wind storm 😔

[@OddBonsai]

Sorry to hear that. This never happened to me but don't worry. Your ponytail should recover and grow new shoots in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on it's current health state and weather conditions. Some people cut the top of their ponytail palm on purpose to get it to branch. I would keep it in a sheltered area to protect the wound from moisture as this could cause it to rot. If the damaged area is not perfect and too large you cut it straight to reduce the surface area. Then after it dries off you could seal it to prevent any trunk rot problems in the future.

[@sassynfree884]

New sub, great video...thank you!

[@OddBonsai]

Thank you for your support! I'm glad you found the video useful.

[@Jadon0521]

Nice vlog 👍

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks 🙏, I hope the video was helpful.

[@Jadon0521]

@@OddBonsai yes,my father loves your videos🥰

[@OddBonsai]

Say Hi to your father for me 👋.I try to improve my skills so that I can create good videos. So it's always great to hear that people like what I do. Thanks!

[@ajayempee]

Hey there, this was 11 months ago, are you going to make a 1 year follow up video on how the 3 ponytail palms are doing? I'll subscribe and hope I get a notification 😜😉

[@OddBonsai]

Hello, Yes it's almost a year since I repotted my pony tail palms. Time flies, but pony tails grow slow :) I can say that the one planted in the biggest pot has grown more but the other two are almost the same. I will think about making an update but I wish I had more to show.

[@ajayempee]

@@OddBonsai I still think it would be interesting to compare the two! I have ordered 2 baby ponytail palms online they will be arriving in the next couple of days so I am doing research in preparation for their arrival! It might be interesting to talk about where they have lived for the past year, how much light they got, how much they got fertilizer etc., just to give you some ideas about what you might like to talk about 😉😁🙏🏻 I'm happy to hear at least they are both still alive!

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks for the suggestions. Those are indeed important aspects to be discussed when following the evolution of a plant. Ponytail palms are very resilient plants, they tend to thrive on neglect :) Too much water is their number 1 enemy and there's of course frost since they do not tolerate temperatures lower than 5 deg. C. I'm sure your ponytails will be happy in their new home.

[@dennissuano1663]

How I wish I have ponytail Palm!😔😔😔😔

[@OddBonsai]

Hello, They should be easy to find. Supermarkets most countries usually sell them from time to time. Where are you from?

[@airsoftfairy7639]

That's a beautiful plant. Your video is nice and informative👌 Fullwatched sir &support you👍🔔✅ New friend here🙋.. Hope to see you in my world too.. Stay connected.. Thanks for sharing👍

[@OddBonsai]

Hi there, thanks for your kind words🙏. Growing plants is another hobby of yours besides airsoft? Your videos also look very informative but unfortunately I have no experience in that area so I do not understand much 😁.

[@airsoftfairy7639]

@@OddBonsai yes we love plants too.. but airsoft is my hobby.. thanks for visiting my world.. hope we stay connected 🔔👍✅ thank you

[@sarahmiller802]

Very helpful! Thank you!!

[@OddBonsai]

Thanks! I''m glad you found it useful.