Question
QUESTION: I have a large ponytail tree, about 2.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide. We went on vacation for 5 days, I made sure to water it prior to departure. Now that we are back, it looks like it's dying. Many leafs started to turn yellow, it's very weak and slanted to one side. Is there anything I can do to bring it back?

ANSWER: Hi Vlad, its not from lack of irrigation, for Ponytails have a reservoir (that big bulbular bottom), which is nice, because they don't require watering that often; I'm wondering if when you watered it before you left you didn't inundate it and thats the problem; is it in a container? and how much water did you give it? let me know...Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Nick, thank you very much for your reply. I normally water the plant every
7-10 days. I have it in a container, with a plastic pan below it. I always make
sure the while watering, the pan gets filled up all the way with water. I leave
the plan in that state for 2-4 hours so that it can drink enough water. Is that
what you mean by "inundate". I have no idea what's going on with the plant,
nothing new was introduced to it's cycle, I only got a couple of more plants,
that's about it. Do you have any other thoughts? Thanks, Vlad


Answer
...therein lies the problem, you must take that pan away, Ponytails need very little irrigation; I think its getting too much water to its rootball, which is very sparse, just water it from top and then not again until it is dry to touch. regards Nick