Removing shoots from trunk of palm

Question

My ponytail palm was in a planter for four years. When I got my property, I put it in the ground where it thrived for ten years. The top quit replenishing the leaves and ‘lost its top. I thought the plant was dead, but when I went to remove it, I found shoots sprouting from the trunk. The plant is 55″ tall. Three sprouts from the top toward the ground are at 14″, 22 1/4″ and 25 1/2″. From the base going up, there are sprouts at 4 1/2″ and at 6 1/2″. If I were to cut the shoots from the trunk, no root system to ensure survival. Will the host plant survive the removal of these shoots? There are also shoots around the base, not attached to the plant, those I know what to do with. Will the host plant survive with these shoots growing from the trunk? The plant is app. 15 yrs. young. Looking forward to your reply.

Answer 1

It sounds like the shoots were once pups that just continued to grow.

You should be able to remove them without harming the parent plant, but spring is the best time to do this.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/propagating-ponytail-palm-pups.htm