I have had my ponytail palm about 28 years. It has grown so tall, the new growth fronds are almost touching the ceiling. It has 3 branches. Several years ago I cut the top from one and tried to replant it. Nothing grew, not even new fronds from the old branch. I am attaching a photo showing it on my balcony, where it lives about 5 months of the year. What options do I have? Is there a way to keep my palm or, do I need to start searching for a new home for it?
Pruning should be very limited on a Ponytail Palm.
Here are some articles that will help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-care.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/pruning-ponytail-palms.htm
I have inherited a very large ponytail palm that has been outside since April in WI climate. It recently is showing what I would call "dry rot" on the bulb. What is happening and how can it be corrected? The root system seems to be healthy enough but a quarter of the bulb is like a very dry sponge, porous and easily poked through with your fingers. It may be as big as a 2 inch indentation on the bulb, it looks very poor but the leafy part seems strong and healthy still. Thank you to any advice. MaryEllyn
With the temperatures in April, still quite cold and know that you most likely has some frost during that time period, your plant likely suffered some damage.
If you have soft spots that are that weak on the bulb, it does not sound well for the Ponytail.
I'm afraid there is little to do, as there is not reverse if the bulb portion of the plant is dying.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-care.htm
My ponytail plant is over 15 years old and is as tall as my ceiling. Can I save it some how. I can't keep it as tall as it is, it is starting to bend over at the top. Can I cut it some where. It only has greenery on the top portion, the bottom is just trunk. Mag
Pruning the top off is not really recommended. This leaves the stem open to disease and can rot easily. I do know that some have done so and in some cases the plant will began to grow from the cut.
If your willing to risk losing the plant make the cut where you would want new growth to began.
Good luck.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/pruning-ponytail-palms.htm
Love my ponytail, but would like to encourage the foot to grow larger, faster and more gnarly. The plant is about 14 to 18 inches tall, depending on whether you measure from the top of trunk or top of arching fronds. It was pruned so it has 3 branches (purchased at a big box home center about 2 years ago). I have it planted in a shallow 8-inch clay pot, in a mixture of cactus and potting soil. It seems to do well inside in the dark winter months and on my enclosed front porch with bright, but indirect light. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Lois
The following information should help with its overall care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-care.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/pruning-ponytail-palms.htm
I have a very old ponytail plant,20 plus years, and it is not doing well. To big for me to repot. There is one pup growing out of the trunk, nothing from the base. How do I "excavate" that pup? A picture would be best. The plant has produced other pups , all coming out of the trunk, which I just sliced off and threw away. Thank you, Joyce
This link will help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/propagating-ponytail-palm-pups.htm
Our Bonsai Ponytail leaves have all dropped and look wilted. We have had this plant for three to four years. It has been doing well until the last few months. Can't check soil as plant was potted in stones. Don't really think we have over watered it as we only water every two to three weeks. The leaves are still green. We were about to discard it and buy another until we started doing some research. Now we hoping we might be able to do something to revive it.
Since you've had your Bonsai Ponytail Palm for a few years, it's time to think about repotting it. The size of the pot, the amount of sunlight and the water situation are the three main things that will affect the growth of your palm. This article may help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/pruning-ponytail-palm-bonsai.htm
I received a ponytail palm as a gift. It is in a small decorative pot. My problem is the soil is not visible, it has small rocks at the top and they are like cemented in. I am just watering once a week, but I don't know if the soil is drying out before I am watering since I can't feel the soil. What should I do?
This is common with ponytail palms. They actually do well when they are root bound (the roots and base of the tree take up a large portion of the space in the pot). But eventually they do need to be repotted, unless you want to keep them in a bonsai form:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/pruning-ponytail-palm-bonsai.htm
This article discusses when and how to repot:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/how-to-move-ponytail-palms.htm
Once a week watering sounds like a good plan. For now, you will know if the tree is not getting enough water because its leaves will become droopy towards the end of the week. This will allow you to adjust the schedule.