Beaucarnia Seed Germinating Tips

Beaucarnia Pony Tail Palm

The genus of Beaucarnia consists of 20 or more species of evergreen trees and shrubs from semi desert regions of Mexico and the southern Us.  Many are sold as a decorative potted plant.  A Yucca relative, they are grown for their remarkable thichened stems and long, thin, grass like leaves.  Numerous small white flowers are born in large panicles arising from the centers of the leaf rosettes on plants that are usually 3 feet or so in height.  The plant will remain single stemmed until this height unless the top is cut off which will stimulate many new shoots.  Beaucarnia is sometimes classified as Nolina by some botanists.

If the seeds appear dry, soak them in water for 1 to 3 days.  Sow the seeds 1/4" deep in sandy peat or similar media.  It should be moist but not wet.  Take a fistfull.  If you can squeeze only a couple of drops of water from it, then it is about right.  Keep warm and lightly moist.

After the seeds have sprouted, plant each in a tall narrow pot using a fertile well drained medium.  Keep the soil moist not wet.  They can be grown outdoors in full sun in mild to warm climates.  Water well during the growing season but sparringly during the winter or the stem may rot.  As indoor potted plants they can reach ceiling height, flourishing in the warm dry atmosphere of centrally heated rooms when provided high light levels.

These guys look like grass when they first start growing, so don't pull them as weeds.  The bulb will start to develop in about 3 months.  It is a tough plant that can withstand SEVERE neglect.  I lost mine for about 2 or 3 months last winter and they all lived.

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