Question
Severed Roots:
I have one Pony Tail Palm that I purchased in 1989.  It is around 36" tall and has always been healthy.  Last year some time the kids knocked it over and some (most!) of the roots got ripped off the main "ball" at the bottom but it still survived.  Today I noticed that ALL the roots have now been ripped away (not sure if kids or cleaning lady knocked it over!) and the plant can now be freely picked up out of the soil.

Will the plant out out new roots into the soil and continue to live? What is the best thing I can do for this plant? I'd hate to see it die.

Spotted Leaves:
The other pony tail palm I have I received as a gift in 1997 and is around 20-24" tall. I had it in an office building where it received little light and I think was over-watered considerably in the past year by the office owner (not on purpose - he just didn't realize it only needed monthly watering).

I brought the plant home 2 weeks ago and have it in my living room near a south facing window. I've trimmed all brown parts of the leaves and removed all dead ones.  I haven't watered it since I've had it home as I want to ensure it really drys out.  I noticed in the last week that the leaves have gone quite spotty.  What is causing this and should I just leave it alone to recuperate or is there something I can do?

Answer
Hi there,

It is possible for your 1989 ponytail to develop new roots and recover, but it is tricky. The bottom of the bulb needs to be in contact with contstantly damp, but not wet potting mix. If the mix gets too dry, the newly emerged roots are too tender to survive the drought. If it stays too moist the tender roots will quickly rot. It is a delicate and tricky balance that is hard to maintain until the roots are fully developed and capable of surviving moisture fluctuations.

You might try setting the bulb in a shallow, flat pan with about an inch or two of a peat and perlite based potting mix. This may help you guage the moisture level a little better. It will need daily monitoring because the margin for error is so slim.

The spotty leaves on your 1997 ponytail could be a delayed reaction to the roots having rotted from the over watering. I suggest that you remove it from its pot and inspect the roots. If they are mostly rotted (soft and dark), then you may have to do the same with it as I recommended for your other one. If there substantial healthy roots, then the leaf spotting is probably the plants response to the dramatic change in light. In that case, you might consider moving it out of the direct sun.

For both plants, keep an eye on the new growth. That is the key to the plants' futures; if new growth is healthy then you are on the right track, even as some of the older leaves continue to decline.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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