Bloomist

Madagascar Palm Kokedama

Name: Madagascar Palm Kokedama
Brand: Bloomist
SKU: 65796520
Price: 80.0 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

Regular price: $80
Regular price: ~~$100~~
Sale price: $80

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45 in Stock, Ready to Ship

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SKU: SKU: 65796520

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.

All live plants are non-returnable / non-refundable / not eligible for discounts.

Details

Material: Plant, wrapped in moss, with Small Grey or White Patina Tray
Botanical Reference: Pachypodium lamerei

Because it’s a living piece, every kokedama varies slightly in structure, leaf spacing, and moss texture.

Product Care

Learn how to care for your Kokedama on our care page.

Light

The Madagascar palm is a desert succulent that wants as much direct sun as you can give it.

Best Placement: Six or more hours of direct sun daily, in a south- or west-facing window. The more light it gets, the stronger and more upright it grows.

Rotate Regularly: Turn the plant a quarter turn every week or so. It leans toward the brightest light and will grow crooked if it always faces the same way.

Insufficient Light: Pale color, wide spacing between leaves, or heavy leaf drop all point to too little light. Move it to your brightest window.

Why Light Matters: This plant evolved under relentless sun in southern Madagascar. Strong light keeps the trunk firm and the leaf crown full.

Watering

The Madagascar palm stores water in its trunk and prefers to dry out completely between waterings.

How to Water: Soak the moss ball in room-temperature water only when it is fully dry, usually about every two weeks. Let it absorb for 10 to 15 minutes, then squeeze out the excess before returning it to the tray.

Winter Watering: Cut back sharply in the cooler months, when growth slows and the plant uses far less water. Often once a month or less is enough.

Critical: Overwatering is the most common way to lose this plant. A soft trunk or blackened roots almost always trace back to a ball that stayed wet too long.

Avoid Standing Water: Never let the moss ball sit in a pooled tray. The roots rot fast in constant moisture.

Temperature and Humidity

The Madagascar palm wants warmth and dry air, and it has no tolerance for frost.

Warmth: Keep it above 50°F at all times. It is happiest in the warm, bright conditions of a sunny room.

Frost Warning: Cold will damage or kill it. If it spends summer outdoors, bring it in well before the first cold night.

Dry Air Preference: As a desert plant, it handles dry indoor air without trouble and needs no misting or added humidity.

Handling and Safety

This plant defends itself, so handle it with care.

Sharp Spines: The trunk is covered in stiff spines. Wear gloves or wrap the trunk in a few sheets of newspaper when you move or repot it.

Irritating Sap: Any broken surface weeps a milky sap that can sting skin and eyes. Wash it off promptly and keep your hands away from your face.

Keep Out of Reach: The spines and sap make it a poor fit for homes with curious children or pets. Place it where it will not be brushed against.

Leaf Drop

Some leaf loss is normal and not always a problem.

Seasonal Drop: The Madagascar palm often sheds leaves in winter or in lower light. New growth returns as the light increases.

When to Worry: Heavy or sudden drop usually signals too little light, a watering problem, or cold stress. Check those conditions in that order.

Troubleshooting

Soft or Spongy Trunk: Overwatering and the start of rot. Stop watering, move it to bright light and warmth, and let the ball dry out fully. Catching it early is the only reliable fix.

Stretched Growth or Pale Leaves: Too little light. Move to a south- or west-facing window with six or more hours of direct sun.

Heavy Leaf Drop: Often cold or low light in winter. Some seasonal drop is normal, but sudden loss in warm months points to a watering issue.

Wrinkled or Shriveled Trunk: Underwatering over a long stretch. Soak the ball and resume a regular dry-then-soak cycle.

Blackened Roots or Base: Root rot from standing water. Remove it from any pooled water and let it dry, then trim affected roots if you repot.

No New Growth: Usually low light or winter dormancy. Hold off on extra water and wait for brighter days.

General Care Notes

The Madagascar palm is a slow-growing desert succulent that rewards a hands-off routine. It wants strong sun and infrequent watering, and it will not survive frost. Most trouble comes from too much water or too little light, so when in doubt, give it more sun and less to drink. Handle it carefully and it will hold its sculptural form for years.

Madagascar Palm Kokedama