Question
I have a black thumb, and know very very little about plants, but I am trying to learn.  The previous owner of the house was great with plants, and so I have tons of them that I need to take care of.  

I have two trees that I have been told are pony-tail palms.  One of them is about 15 feet tall, and a single trunk.  The second one is probably about 18 feet tall, and it is a 2 stalk plant.  Both plants are currently covered in offshoots.  I imagine there are 150-200 offshoots on each trunk, and I generally just pinch them off and throw them away, but this year a few people have told me they would like to have a few of the offshoots.  From what it looks like, all I have to do is break them off, coat the bottom in a rooting hormone, and stick them in sand.  Keep them moderately watered.  Does that sound about right, or have I totally missed the mark?  

I am reading the instructions above where I am typing my email, and it asks for as much information as I can provide.  They are all in my front yard.  I live in Houston, so they get watered frequently with the rain, but I often fail to actually water them, but judging from another post I saw, they probably need more water.  They are on the East side of the house probably 10 feet from the house.  

Any help you could give would be appreciated.  

Thanks,
Jonna

Answer
Jonna,

Yes, you are right about how to go about rooting them. You can put a dozen in a large tray and pot them individually after they begin to grow roots.

As for water the ones in the ground do not need any extra water other than the rain unless you have a long dry spell in Houston. If you have a good rain at least every 2 weeks they are fine. That large bulb at the base is full of stored water. This plant is classified as a succulent and needs little water.

The cuttings you are going to take are a different matter. They do not have the large bulbs so they need water more often. i recommend that you water them well so all the soil in the pot or tray is moist but do not leave them sit in water. Drain any excess off an hour after watering them, then do not water them again until they feel very dry and light weight for 2 days. Then water again.  This is a plant that is easier killed by too much water than by too little.  

I am jealous, I'd love to have 2 large ponytail palms growing in my yard but it is not feasible in northeast Indiana. Good luck with your rooting project.  If you ever need more advice feel free to write again.

Darlene