Beaucarnea

A striking Beaucarnea

The Beaucarnea stands for strength and sheer resilience. Its name combines "Beau", meaning "beautiful", with "carnea", which refers to a Greek harvest festival. That sums up the hard-to-kill nature of this houseplant, which always manages to bounce back.

How much water does the Beaucarnea houseplant need?

Although the Beaucarnea doesn't look anything like a cactus, it's surprisingly similar to one when it comes to care. The Beaucarnea is in fact a very easy houseplant to look after. Its thick trunk stores water and nutrients, so the plant needs very little water. Let the potting soil dry out before you water again, and be even more sparing in winter. Too much water can lead to root rot, which is exactly what you want to avoid.

How much water it needs varies with factors such as temperature, sunlight and the size of the plant. When in doubt, give too little rather than too much. Misting isn't necessary, but it does help to remove dust from the leaves.

The perfect spot for the Beaucarnea houseplant

The Beaucarnea does best in a warm, sunny climate. Make sure the plant gets 4 to 5 hours of sunlight a day, but avoid too much direct sun. In the summer months the Beaucarnea can stand outdoors, as long as you let it acclimatise gradually. Bring the plant back inside once night-time temperatures drop below 10 degrees.

Repotting the Beaucarnea houseplant

Because the Beaucarnea grows slowly, it doesn't need repotting often. If you do decide to move it into a larger pot, do it in spring. Choose a wider pot rather than a deeper one, as that makes it easier to keep the watering under control.

Pruning the Beaucarnea houseplant

If the Beaucarnea gets too tall, you can simply saw the trunk off. Spring is the best time to do it. After pruning, the plant needs less water, and you should put it somewhere bright. You can seal the cut with wax to prevent infection, though that isn't strictly necessary. Yellowed leaves are easy to remove.

Feeding the Beaucarnea houseplant

The Beaucarnea needs very little plant food. If you'd like to give it an extra boost, do so in spring or summer. Overfeeding can burn the roots, which can be fatal for the plant.

Flowering of the Beaucarnea

Indoors the Beaucarnea will rarely flower, because light levels are too low. If it does, long white flowers appear that take a lot of energy from the plant. It's worth removing these flowers to keep the plant healthy.

Is the Beaucarnea a toxic houseplant?

No, the Beaucarnea isn't toxic, so it's safe around children and pets.

The air-purifying effect of the Beaucarnea as a houseplant

The Beaucarnea does have a mild air-purifying effect, though its modest size keeps that limited. Every little helps towards a healthier indoor climate, all the same.

Diseases the Beaucarnea can get

The Beaucarnea is generally resistant to diseases and pests. Too much water can lead to root rot, though. In draughty spots there's a chance of mealybug, which you can deal with quickly using a suitable treatment.

Buying a Beaucarnea at Green Bubble

Looking for a beautiful, healthy Beaucarnea? Then you've come to the right place at Green Bubble! We work directly with growers to safeguard the freshness and quality of our plants. Order easily through our webshop and have your Beaucarnea delivered fresh to your door, free of charge. No hassle, just the best houseplants at Green Bubble!