Question
We have a 30 inch ponytail plant (indoors) that is doing well, but the roots are so shallow that the plant is falling over and will probably uproot.  I could add several inches of soil to the current pot to make it stable.  Will burying the bulbous trunk in soil hurt the plant?

We have had the plant for at least five years and have done nothing to it except water it.  The pot is about 10 diameter, giving the plant quite a bit of space.

Answer
Hi Frank,

Adding soil to the top of the rootball is not a good way to stabilize your plant. It won't work that effectively and there is a danger of rotting the bulb by covering it with damp soil.

If the roots are very shallow, that is because the soil is not being watered deeply enough or because the soil is not drying properly so that lower roots are dying back due to root rot. The plant could be loose in its pot if the pot is more than an inch or two wider than the bulb itself.

So you really have to correct the underling cause if you want to save the plant. Adding soil will not do that.

If you can post a photo here or email one to me at my address below, I might be better able to diagnose the problem. Make sure the photo shows the pot and the entire plant.

I have written an article on Ponytail Palm care that I will email for free to you (or anyone else) who sends a request to me at [email protected].

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at:
A link to PlantCareExperts.com

or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to PlantCareExperts.com