Question
Hi Darlene. I have had a bonsai ponytail palm for about 5 years now. I bought it from a man who told me that it was thirteen years old when I bought it. It started not looking healthy about 3 months ago, so my husband tried repotting it in potting soil, watering it, and putting it out in the sun. Never the less the base of the tree appears to look very damp and dark, and the leaves are not as green and as many as there used to be. What do you think that I should do to make healthier?
Thank you, Kelley

Answer
Kelley,

Stop watering it. It is overwatered, it should not be in standard potting soil, it should be in very pourous bonsai soil or very sandy cactus soil. In the summer it should be watered once a week, in the winter once every 2-3 weeks. It should be outdoors in full sun if possible but if it is remove the drain tray under it so it does not sit in water and try to protect it from too much rain. That base holds water making the plant not need watered very often. If the base gets really mushy it is too late the base has rotted from too much water. Good luck.

Darlene