I have removed the dead flower from the centre of my ponytail palm and it looks as though the centre will not grow anymore. I have others in the garden that will need flowers removed when they die so do you have any advice on how to do it.
Here is a link that will help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-flower.htm
My ponytail palm is covered in pups. Whenever I read about how to transplant palm pups, the instruction is to dislodge them carefully with earth. These pus are not growing in the ground. They come straight out of the bulbous part of the stem. If I dig them out with the roots, the bulbs will be left with gouged holes. If I slice them off, I fear I will be left with a handful of separated "leaves". What should I do?
Use a clean knife to remove the pups.
You can treat the cut area with Neem Oil if you feel the area is vulnerable to insects or disease.
Generally the parent plant is just fine from pup removal.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/propagating-ponytail-palm-pups.htm
My partner trimmed the leaves back on my ponytail plant, cutting off the lovely pointy ends, so that the leaves are now flat ugly leaves. How do I get them back to their former glory? I am thinking of removing all the existing leaves so that the plant can grow fresh leaves, will this work?
Usually if the leaves need a bit on trimming to clean them up, a sharp clean scissors is used to cut them into a a clean pointed shape.
Unfortunately the leaves will not correct the flat cut themselves.
Ponytails are sensitive to injury and you may find the leaves darkening and possibly dying.
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/pruning-ponytail-palms.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-care.htm
My ponytail palm was in a large pot for about 40 years. It did bloom once. Now I stuck it in the ground, and it is growing well, but I would like to see it bloom. It gets full sun.
Proper care and time is the best advice for blooming.
Here is a link to refresh you on the care.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-flower.htm
My ponytail palms have developed white specks on the leaves. Also, the tips of some of the leaves have turned brown. I am very careful not to water too much. Thanks for your help. I have them inside with indirect lighting.
Brown tips are almost always the sign of soil that is staying too wet, also known as overwatering. The question to ask is not how often to water, but how to know when to water. The answer is water when the soil in the bottom of the pot is almost dry (completely dry if the plant is in lower light.) In order to find out how much moisture is in the pot, you need to test the soil. You can use a thin wooden dowel or bamboo kebob skewer as a tester, pulling it up and running it between your fingers to feel for soil dampness. Or you can use an electronic moisture meter: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-moisture-in-plants.htm
I have several smaller ponytails. Some have a larger caudex, others have no caudex at all. Is there a way to encourage the caudex to grow larger? One nursery told me it just comes with age, but my plants with the largest caudex are also my youngest. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
Proper care and growing conditions and your plants will grow.
Here is a link to refresh you on the care requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/ponytail-palm-care.htm
My ponytail palm is covered in pups. Whenever I read about how to transplant pups, the instruction is to dislodge them carefully with earth. These pups are not growing in the ground. They come straight out of the bulbous part of the stem. If I dig them out with the roots, the bulbs will be left with gouged holes. If I slice them off, I fear that the the pups will not grow. Can I use the hormone that produces roots on the ponytail pups? Instructions are not clear. What should I do?
These new plants are not true pups as they are growing out from the bulb, not next to the bulbous mother.
You can trim them off and treat the wound with a fungicide. I would not to all at once. The plant will be stressed and susceptible to disease as you mention.
You also can leave them and grow a multiple trunked Ponytail.
I true pup will be in the soil and have roots.
I was not able to find much information on rooting the cuttings if you so attempt.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ponytail-palm/propagating-ponytail-palm-pups.htm