I just purchased a potted ponytail palm that has 1 large & 1 small "bulb" from which the leaves are growing. Should I try to separate these 2 bulbs before planting in the ground or leave them together (zone 10, SW Florida)? Thanks in advance.
That is totally up to you. In other words, the plants will not be harmed if left to grow together. If you want to separate the plants, you may.
When I separated mine, I just pulled them apart. The roots were incredibly tangled, though and I lost two of the six bulbs I started with. Unless you really would like them apart, I would skip the trouble.