Question
I have this lovely plant, I was told it is called an Elephant's foot, nicknamed ponytail? It is my first attempt at a house plant and I am very happy to say it is doing great, for the most part. It has gone from 8 inches approx. to 18", and I have not changed it's location, it is in bright sunny spot, gets water about once/twice a week, I wait for soil to dry before watering. Anyway, I noticed the tips of the leaves are turning dry and brown so I have been clipping them off. I am thinking maybe the pot is too small? the width of the pot is 6" and the width of the bulb base is 4". Any suggestions as to why this is happening and what to do? I have the same soil that it came in and have not replanted it ever.
Thank u for all ur help, I really do love this plant!

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,
  Congratulations! It sounds like you are off to a good start growing houseplants.
The most common cause of browning leaf tips is water quality. I recommend using distilled water.
A lot of plants are sensitive to the fluoride, chlorine and hard water deposits found in most tap water. Water softeners add a lot of salts to the water which can also harm plants. By using distilled water you can avoid the problems that can be caused by water quality.
Be careful watering your plant. Ponytail Palms do best if the top 1/3 of the soil is allowed to dry between watering, however never allow all of the soil to dry out completely.
For most plants the general rule is to allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry between watering then water just enough for a small amount of water to drain out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Adjust watering to fit the needs of specific plants.

One of the most common causes of plant failure is unnecessary repotting. Some signs a plant needs to be repotted is little or no new growth, roots growing on top of the soil and an almost constant need for water. Another way to check if a plant needs repotted is to carefully lift the plant out of the pot. If there is little or no soil visible in the root-ball and in the bottom of the pot the plants needs repotted. Never repot a plant into a pot more than 2 inches bigger than the pot it was in. The soil in a pot that is too big can stay wet too long and cause root rot.
When you do repot make sure you use a well draining potting soil. I usually use a commercial potting soil like Miracle Gro and add extra perlite and vermiculite to increase drainage and air flow to the soil.

Since you are just starting out growing houseplants I suggest you check out my Myspace page at;  myspace.com/experthouseplants

I have many blogs on houseplant care that you may find helpful. I know how hard it is to find good, reliable information on plant care and the plant care tips and information on my Myspace page is a good start. I even have a blog on the care of Ponytail Palms (That is the common name used most often for your plant).


I hope this helps. If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to ask.
     Thanks
       Tracy