Question
I have had my pony tail palm about 35 years and it has been in the same 14 x 18 inch pot for that length of time.  It  was about 3' tall when I bought it and it is now 8 feet tall.  The base of the plant is about 11 inches across.  I have never fertilized it.  Does this plant need fertilizer and if so what kind? Some roots are beginning to show on the top of the soil and I wonder if it needs to be re-potted.  It gets 2 cups of water once a month.  I keep a grow light on it about 10 hours a day now because I do not have a sunny window in this house.  This plant is very healthy, never been diseased, or had any type problem but I am wondering if it needs to be re-potted now since the roots are beginning to surface and the soil is full of roots.  However there is still 3 inches of soil between the bulb and side of the planter.  Keep in mind this pot is 18" deep and the plant has been in it for 35 years.  And I know that these plants rot easily if there is exta soil at the root system so I am in a quandary as wondering what to do.  Any advice?

Answer
Hi Joyce,

There is an old saying that suggest that if something is not broken, we should not try to fix it.

Your 35 year old Ponytail Palm is an excellent example of how repotting and fertilizer are often unnecessary for plants to live a long and happy life. I wish more people understood that.

The surface roots are not a cause for concern. That happens in nature quite often and plants are none the worse for it. However, I do suggest that you provide a bit more water with each monthly watering, perhaps 3 or even 4 cups. This added water will penetrate deeper into the pot and allow the roots to grow deeper into the soil.

Fertilizer is not too important and obviously yours has not suffered for lack of nutrients. If you want, you could add some fertilizer at half strength a couple of times per year, but no more than that.

Other than those minor suggestion, I do not recommend that you try to fix anything!

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.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to HorticulturalHelp.com