Question
Pony Tail Palm
I have a ponytail palm bonsai that is approx 18" tall and is doing well- so well it is bushing out ALOT! What are some guidelines on trimming it back? I pull off any leaves that are yellow, but there are not many to pull.. I have taken to cutting some of the leaves where they "spout" out- but it seems like I will always need to cut them because they will have that cut edge as they grow.
AnswerJennifer,
Your palm looks quite healthy. The more sun the plant get and the less water you give it the leaves will tend to grow less long so will need less cutting. The plant should be treated like a cactus. It should be grown in full sun and with very little water. It should not have more than 1 cup of water per week during the summer and 1 cup of water every 2-3 weeks during the winter. That will keep the leaves a lot shorter so you will have less pruning to do. You can cut off one of the side shoots at it's base, dip it in rooting hormone, insert it in a pot of slightly moist sand and set it in a sunny location. It should root within a month giving you a second plant. Good luck.
Darlene
