Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I bough a Ponytail Palm last spring at IKEA. It was flourishing on the balcony last summer. I brought it inside for fall-spring season(I live in NY) and the leaves on one side of the plant started to turn brown. I waited for a while ,and it did not stop, and I cut the brown edges off. I still keep cutting them. The other part of the plant is perfectly fine, with long green leaves. What could be the problem with the palm? Is it going to be easier for the plant if I cut off the long leaves as well?
I tried putting my palm outside again, but after 2 days on the sun it started to look completely lifeless.
I really like this plant and desperately need your help. I have some pictures of it  if you'd like to take a look.
Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Irine, I would like to see the pictures, but by what you say, it sounds like you may be overwatering it; outside the amount of water you gave it was probably fine, but if you continued to water it the same way when you brought it in, the amount needed was much lower, therefore a build up of moisture results at the bottom of the container. I would repot it in a large container and change the soil, this time line the bottom with some pea stone to alleviate the problem happening again...Nick

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

QUESTION: Thank you for the answer.

I moved my palm to a large container and changed the soil 2 weeks ago. I did not line the bottom of the container with stones though. Here are the links to the photos of my palm.

http://hotimg8.fotki.com/a/24_184/234_213/Mypalm439.jpg

http://hotimg8.fotki.com/a/24_184/234_213/Mypalm274.jpg

Should I try and bring it outside again or is it better for it to stay inside for now? How often do I water it and how do I know when it needs water? When I was repotting it, the roots were really dry and lifeless and I started watering it more.

Thanks again.

Answer
Irine, I looked at your pictures, the palm looks a little stressed, but not as bad as I thaught; the pot is way too small for the palm however and that will come back to haunt you later. When you plant it make sure that it isn't placed to deep, even an inch lower then where it was originally planted (original pot when you purchased it) can be fatal; its imperative that the junction of the trunk and root system is not under soil. When you repot a plant you give it a good soaking to remove any air pockets and then only when the soil is dry at the drainage holes.  The quickest way to kill any plant is to overwater, the plant will let you know when it needs water by beginning to wilt, this it will recover from quickly with watering, but once its overwatered and the roots rot, then its too late. So to sum it up, repot in a much larger container, line the bottom with pea stone and water well, then let dry out between waterings. Nick