A Tropical Spider Plant That Grows Like a Tree

Spider and Ponytail Plants

• Another spider-form plant, Chlorophytum spp., is native to South Africa but does not grow into tree form. Ponytail palm's leaves have a similar spiderlike appearance to Chlorophytum, but they extend from the top of a tree trunk. Classified in the agave family, ponytail palm is not a true palm. In its native desert habitat in Mexico, the base of the trunk can reach 4 feet across to function as a drought-adapted storage for water. Foliage is usually solid green, with some cultivars having variegations of cream and green or tints of red.

Culture

• In Mexico, ponytail palms can reach heights up to 30 feet. In the United States, ponytail palm is an extremely easy to grow houseplant that rarely exceeds 8 feet in container culture. Preferring locations with high light, ponytail palm is forgiving of extended periods of low light, especially during winter months. This bulletproof plant withstands infrequent watering and needs soils with good drainage and containers with drainage holes. Related to Yucca spp., ponytail palms have similar rough-textured leaves that can wound tender fingers like paper cuts.

Pests

• Few insects and diseases plague ponytail palm. Scale, mealybugs and spider mites may need occasional control. Mild insecticidal soap sprays and dilute horticultural oils offer organic protection against pests when used according to label directions. Ponytail palms do not like wet feet. Let soil completely dry between waterings and then water sparingly. Roots and basal trunks are susceptible to rotting from plants growing in constantly damp soil, making overwatering the most common killer of ponytail palms.

Propagating

• An amusing feature of the ponytail palm is production of pups, or offsets. These baby plants form while attached to their parent plants. Gardeners can leave the offsets attached or remove them to start new plants. Dr. Curtis Smith, of New Mexico State University, recommends air layering as a successful propagating method for ponytail palms. While still attached to the parent plant, encircle the base of an offset with moist sphagnum moss and mist daily. When roots form in the moss, remove the offset from its parent and pot separately.