Ask the Expert: elephants foot plant

I have an elephants foot plant. That was the name given when I purchased the plant. The base does look more like foot, like a medium brown and rough. The “leaves” are long and thin and look similar to a spider but totally green. I love the plant and the leaves or fronds just continue to grow. At the top of the the little trunk is where the leaves crop out from small clusters of smaller versions of the foot or trunk like base.
Can you please help me identify this plant and tell me if I can remove the small ones to start another plant? If so, how would I do that? Rose

Reply:

Pony Tail Palm

Does you plant look like the one in the picture to the right? If so the plant is a Beaucarnea recurvata, also know as a Ponytail Palm.

This plant is propagated from suckers that appear at the base of the plant not from the top.  It can be started from seeds.  However, it take quite a while to get a plant of any size from seeds.

This plant is very easy to care for. Keep in mind over-watering can be a problem for this plant. Water it deeply but allow it to dry out before you water it. Give it plenty of light. When I have grown these in the past, I basically ignore them and they thrive.  I think that is why I loe this plant.

Good Luck and keep me posted.