Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) - Orchid Board

Leisurely · #1 06-13-2010, 01:58 PM

I have had this plant growing in a very large pot for twenty years. It surprised me recently with this unusual bloom that I would like to share with members but I don't know where to post it or even if I should. Any suggestions.

susiep · #2 06-13-2010, 03:34 PM

Please do Jerry! Just post it here.

camille1585 · #3 06-13-2010, 03:42 PM

I'd love to see a picture! Blooms on these plants are hard to get unless they get conditions similar to their native habitat in Mexico. Seems like Florida suits it well! In French we call this plant the 'elephant footed' plant or 'bottle tree'

cb977 · #4 06-13-2010, 03:45 PM

Me too! Me too!

Jerry, you can post it here and then I'll move the whole thread

Leisurely · #5 06-13-2010, 08:32 PM

Here it is.

susiep · #6 06-13-2010, 09:20 PM

Very interesting! I am curious, will this plant die now that it has bloomed? If so, that would be a terrible shame.

Zoi2 · #7 06-13-2010, 10:04 PM

WOW what a cool bloom!
Joann

cb977 · #8 06-13-2010, 10:30 PM

That's cool

I had no idea that these bloom! Now I just have to wait another 15 years or so and I'll post mine

Thanks for sharing this, Jerry

PS- the thread is now in our Off-Topic forum

Leisurely · #9 06-14-2010, 11:21 AM

Susan, I read that it is related to the agave that dies after blooming so I guess it will be a wait and see thing. Unlike the agave that produces lots of baby plants at the base, this ponytail palm is not doing that. Maybe some of the succulent growers have some advice.

camille1585 · #10 06-14-2010, 11:56 AM

Beaucarnea don't die after flowering. Usually what happens is that the top of the tuft bearing the inflorescence will die off or do nothing (no more meristem), so then the plant will produce new tufts that allow the plant to branch off as it grows. Sometimes new growths will erupt out of the base of non blooming plants, I have seen this before on a huge potted specimen in France.