You will recognise it by its beautiful plume of leaves. Nolina is a lovely houseplant that is a striking decoration for modern interiors. In summer, you can put it outside. In addition to its unusual appearance, it has the advantage of being resistant to air pollutants, such as tobacco smoke or fumes from gas cookers. Learn more about this exotic plant and how to care for it. With these, the nolina will reach and maintain its form for up to 20 years!

Nolina and her nicknames

Bent aeolian, beucarnea recurvata (Beaucarnea recurvata), is commonly referred to as elephant's foot or elephant's foot. The plant has also been given other nicknames: bottle tree, monkey tree, lumpy trunk, horse's mane and water palm. It is native to Mexico. In Poland it is grown as a pot plant as it is not frost resistant. In summer, however, it can easily decorate your balcony or terrace. Its close relatives include the very well-known domestic yucca. The biggest ornamental feature of the nolina is its thin and moody leaves, which form a dense plume. They are perfectly in keeping with the enduring grass fashion. Also decorative is the plant's woody trunk, which allows it to store large amounts of water. In young specimens, they resemble an elephant's foot - hence one of the names of the nolin. Growing in pots, beucarnea flowers sporadically. Only older specimens produce inflorescences.

Ponytail palm - cultivation

Ponytail palm is an extremely hardy plant. Its cultivation at home is relatively easy. You only need to meet a few basic requirements.

✔️ position

Bent Nolina prefers a bright, but not directly sunny position. Smaller specimens can easily grow on windowsills, whether an east, west or south window. However, it is important that they are not exposed to harsh sun, which can burn the nolina. The plant does not like draughts. In summer, it can be displayed on a balcony, terrace or in the garden taking care to keep it sheltered from the wind.

✔️ temperature

Room temperature is optimal for the nolina. In winter it can be lower, around 15°C - it is best to move it to a cooler, bright room.

✔️ substrate

A permeable, fertile substrate with an acidic to slightly alkaline pH will be best for bent nolina. A substrate for yucca and dracaena or a universal soil mixed with sand will work well for planting. A drainage layer of at least a few centimetres should be added to the bottom of the pot.

✔️ watering and fertilising

There is very little that can harm the Nolina. Overwatering is pretty much the only thing. So water it carefully, only after the top layer of soil has dried well. Do not leave water in the saucer either. Nolina bent in the wild experiences periodic droughts, also some time in a dry substrate will not do it any harm. During the spring and summer months, it is a good idea to feed occasionally with a fertiliser with a high potassium content.

How fast is Nolina growing?

Nolina does not grow very fast. Instead, it is a long-lived plant. In its natural habitat, it grows up to approx. 8 metres high. Its narrow ribbon-like leaves reach a length of approx. 1.8 metres. Properly cared for, it can grow in a flat for up to 20 years! The most common specimens in home cultivation are 30-60 cm. With proper care, it can grow up to 2m. This size is only reached by the elephant foot after several years.

Problems in the cultivation of Ponytail palm

Although it is a low-maintenance plant, sometimes symptoms can appear that worry you. As a rule, however, these are not a cause for concern and you only need to look at the care. Small changes should cure the situation. Withering leaf tips is a problem that most often affects noliums. There can be several reasons for this. If you notice that your nolina has dry leaf tips check whether it has been overwatered or overfertilised. The reason could also be that the air is too dry, in which case a humidifier, gently sprinkling the area around the plant or placing a dish of water next to it will work. As we have written, the nolina can be put outside in summer. However, this should be done gradually, as sudden exposure to the sun can burn the leaves. Bent Beaucarnea is also extremely resistant to diseases and pests. Sometimes, however, it is attacked by spider mites or scale insects. In this case, clean the plant's leaves of pests with a cotton swab soaked in a solution of water and alcohol. If necessary, a suitable disease and pest treatment can be applied.