Madagascar Palm Kokedama

Pachypodium lamerei Shaped by Scarcity The Madagascar palm is not a true palm. It is a spiny succulent from Madagascar, built for bright sun and long stretches without rain. Its thick trunk stores water to carry it through drought, and a crown of long, narrow leaves grows at the very top. The spines covering the trunk once kept grazing animals away. The Japanese kokedama form suits a plant like this. The trunk rises from roots bound in a hand-formed moss ball, where its desert habit makes it an easy keeper. Full Sun and Infrequent Water Give it as much light as you can. Six hours of direct sun is the minimum, ideally in a south- or west-facing window. Turn it every week or so, since it leans toward the brightest light and grows crooked if left facing one way. Water it like a succulent. Let the moss ball go completely dry before soaking it again, which usually means about once every two weeks, and far less through winter. Overwatering is the fastest way to lose this plant. A soft trunk or darkened roots almost always means the ball stayed wet too long. Each kokedama includes your choice of a white or gray patina tray  Handling and Safety Move the Madagascar palm succulent with care. The spines are sharp, so wear gloves or wrap the trunk in newspaper when you reposition it. Any broken surface weeps a milky sap that stings skin and eyes, so keep it away from children and pets. Some leaf drop in winter or in a dim corner is normal. A heavier drop usually means too little light or too much water. IN A NUTSHELL 6–8 hours of direct sun in a south- or west-facing window daily. Keep above 50°F and bring indoors before frost. Soak the moss ball only when fully dry, roughly every two weeks and less in winter, then squeeze out the excess. Handle with gloves; the spines are sharp, and the sap irritates skin and eyes.