Ponytail palm is a tough succulent That can survive both indoors and outdoors with low maintenance. But How much light ponytail needs. And can ponytail palm take full sun!
In this article, I will answer these questions. Plus I will tell you where to place your ponytail palm in order to get the light it needs.
But before diving deep into the details I will put the answer for our main question as simple as this: how much light ponytail palm needs? Ponytail palm needs bright indirect sunlight during the afternoon period. While it needs 2 to 3 hours of morning direct sunlight.
Keep reading to know why your ponytail palm needs light. And how you can give your plant the light it needs both indoors and outdoors.
Why ponytail palm needs light
Ponytail palm needs sunlight in order to grow and sustain itself. It needs light in order to perform the photosynthesis process.
Photosynthesis is the process of turning water and carbon dioxide into a plant’s food ( sugar).
Such a process requires energy. Therefore the ponytail takes energy from the sunlight in order to perform the photosynthesis process.
The right type of light for ponytail palm
If you want to grow your ponytail palm outdoors, it is a great idea. Because the light outdoor is brighter than the indoors one.
In summer, locate your ponytail palm outdoors in a location that gets two to three hours of direct morning sunlight.
While indirect bright light during the afternoon period. In winter, since the sun will be weak it is better to locate the plant’s pot in a location that exposed to full sun.
But you can only do so if the temperatures do not fall below 50 F. If in winter temperatures fall below 50 F it is better to bring your ponytail palm indoors. Because such temperatures will damage your plant.
On the other hand, if you planning to grow your ponytail palm indoors locate it in a place that gets few hours of direct morning sunlight. While gets bright indirect sunlight during the afternoon.
A south-facing window is a great place for your ponytail palm. Because it satisfies its lighting needs.
Can ponytail palm takes full sun
Ponytail palm can be located in full sun during winter when the sun is weak. Although it will tolerate 3 hours of direct morning sunlight in summer.
But generally, ponytail palms can tolerate and take full sun. But it is better to put it in a place that guarded against the full sun during the afternoon period in summer.
Can ponytail palm grow in low light?
What is great about the ponytail palm is its ability to tolerate different levels of light intensity.
A ponytail can grow in low light during winter as long as you give it enough amount of light during summer.
This means you can put your ponytail palm in a low light place indoors during winter only if your plant was sitting outdoors during summer.
Although such an attitude can make your plant survive but not thrive. If you want your plant to thrive put it in a location that gets bright light during the entire year.
If your place doesn’t have access to bright direct or indirect sunlight during some seasons you can install grow light. Grow light will be as effective as sunlight.
The number one reason behind the death of ponytail palms is overwatering. So, note that a ponytail palm located in a low light location will consume less water when compared with the ones located in brighter locations.
Therefore, make sure to not overwater your low light ponytail.
In conclusion
In this article, I hope I told you how to give your ponytail palm the light it needs. Simply ponytail palm will tolerate both direct and indirect bright light.
But the best light you can give to your plant is 3 hours of morning direct sunlight. And bright indirect sunlight during the afternoon in summer.
While in winter give it as much light as you can. Although ponytail palm can tolerate low light indoors during winter as long it had bright indirect afternoon sunlight and direct morning sunlight during the summer.
But this is not the optimal situation. The optimal situation during winter is to give your ponytail palm the highest light level.
If you don’t have access to a bright light you can install grow light. For more detailed information and a holistic perspective on caring for potted plants and mastering Container Gardening, Get my book Container Gardening: A Step-by-Step Practical Guide.