Question
QUESTION: I have had this Ponytail plant for around 9 months and it was growing beautifully, I was watering it once a week with a cup of water.  This plant it fairly big..probably 12 or so inches tall. In the past month or two, many of the leaves are turning brown(the whole leave.  I have been pulling them off, not cutting them.  It was on my dining room table in front of a large window.  I have since moved it closer to the window, but continuing to turn brown.  There is some new growth at the top.  I am so afraid that this plant is dying.  This was given to be by a very good friend of mine and I really love the plant and want to be able to keep it alive.  Please HELP!

ANSWER: Hi Angela,

The loss of older, lower leaves is normal as new healthy ones are added on top. As long as you are getting about as many new ones as old ones you are losing, then you have nothing to worry about. And as long as the new growth comes in healthy, then your Ponytail will be fine.

In general, Ponytails must be kept tightly potted in small pots as close to a sunny window as possible and should be watered as soon as the top inch of soil feels dry. When you water, add enough that a small amount trickles through the bottom drainage holes.

I have written an article on Ponytail Palm care that I will email for free to anyone who sends a request to me at my address below.

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



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: At first it did seem like there were equal amounts of new growth, but now seems more brown then green.  I am really concerned that I have rotted the roots..not sure if I am watering it too much or not enough.

Also, is pulling the browns leaves off(which seem at this point to be coming off rather easily) more harmful and possibly killing the plant, then to simply cut them off.

I sent an email to the address below for the article you write about Ponytail Palm care, but received an return email that did not have the article and referred me back to this page.  I would like to be sent a copy of your article on this.

Thank you and Happy New Year.

Answer
Hi Angela,

Thank you for the high ratings and nomination. Much appreciated!

I did receive the email you sent to my personal address and I have sent you my Ponytail article. I receive so many questions at my email address that the only way I can control it is by using the auto response which you, and everyone else, automatically receive.

If the pot is too big, if you repotted, or if the pot has no drainage holes, then there is a good chance roots have rotted. Otherwise, probably not. But read my article and let me know if you have any questions.

Pulling the leaves off will cause no harm.

~Will Creed