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Elephant Foot Plant (Beaucarnea recurvata): Care for a Rescued Ponytail Palm

A gardener's brother found a plant discarded on the curb. They wanted to know its identity, rooting medium, and watering needs.

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Expert Identification

The plant is an elephant foot plant (also called ponytail plant). The expert provided repotting instructions: use good indoor planting mix, 8-10 inch pot, bury to bottom of the "foot" covering all roots, stake if needed. They can grow large quickly (20+ feet in ground in FL); pot size controls growth. Water by weight: let dry between waterings, as they rot if kept too wet.

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