QuestionQUESTION: I inherited a 30 year old Ponytail Palm. I've only had it two weeks and my heater broke, so the plant was subjected to a night of temps around 30 degrees. Now it's leaves have turned to a light shade of green and seems wilted. Can I save this plant ? It's really important that I try anything, it was my grandmothers and then my sister's plant who just recently passed. I'll do whatever I can to save it. Thanks !!!! I'll send pictures if it helps.
ANSWER: Don't panic Kathleen, it has shocked from the cold, but it should come back as long as the root ball didn't freeze; plants show symptoms like that when they are cold stressed. Make sure the root system isn't saturated, if so, remove it and replant it; pony tails don't need a lot of water, and their root system is very limited, so keep the faith and strip any brown leaves off and keep the soil only slightly damp and allow to dry out between waterings. Time will tell how badly damaged it is, but mother nature has a knack for bringing them back, as long as we don't exacerbate the situation by overwatering. regards Nick
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QUESTION: Dear Nick,
Thanks for your help. The Ponytail Palm is done turning brown I think now. Most of the long leaves have turned brown the only green remaining is at the very center top part of the plant where the leave originate. Should I clip all the brown to this point or cut it completely back ? The roots were dry when I checked after the freezing, and I've only watered it once a week since then. Thanks again for all your input! I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that this will survive.
Answer....strip all the brown fronds off, its the new growth that we want to watch, if the roots are really dry then give it a once good watering, then back off until it shows some growth; glad to help Kathleen, as I say to most my questioners, your plants problems are mine too:)
