My mother has had this ponytail plant as long as I can remember. She use to yell at us as kids because we would crack the leaves in half. Recently, I move to Colorado, and my mother transported the Ponytail Plant across the country (from Maine) to my new apartment. She didn't tell me that it didn't need much water, so I watered it everyday (sometimes twice) because I thought now that it was in a dry climate it was going to need a lot more water. Well, it had standing water in the pot for a few days before I realized what I had done. I have moved it outside (not direct sunlight) to help it dry out a little, but I think the damage might already be done. There are alot more brown/dead leaves under the green ones then I ever remember seeing. And the leaves that are growing out of the top don't look real healthy, some are kind of brown and silmey. HELP!!! I want to be able to yell at my kids for cracking the leaves!!!!
Dry conditions need high humidity in the air, not more water in the soil (for future ref). It may have rotted inside, so I'm not sure what to tell you. I suppose you could try watering lightly once with 'No Damp' (tiny brown bottle in any garden ctre) but beyond that and just being very patient, I don't have an answer, maybe someone else will.
Gently, pull the plant out of the soil and check the roots. My suspicion is that there has been some rot. How much will determine it's fate. If the rot has gotten itself into the bulb...give it a proper burial...it's gone. If only some of the roots are damaged, then you can often snip off the rotten parts, dust them with rooting hormone, and place the plant in some new soil. Do not water the plant for at least a week to let the roots heal. Then, very sparingly, you can add a little water once the soil is dry. A large ponytail palm can go for weeks without water, even in the growing season. When dormant, it can go for months. The bulb will store more than enough water to get through the tough times. These plants are native to the arid regions of Mexico and often do best with a little neglect.
Thanks for the advice...I pulled the plant out of the pot last night. No rot, but there was about an inch of standing water in the bottom of the pot. My mother had a brillant moment when she put it in a pot with no holes. It was supper root bound too. So I slowly and carefully pulled them apart. It is going into a new, big, sans holes pot tonight. I think it should be fine. Thanks for all the help!!!!
Do not overpot this plant! Get a regular clay pot that is only slightly larger than the base of the plant and some cactus mix at your nearest garden center. Cover the hole in the pot with either window screening or a broken shard of an old clay pot and add in some of the soil. Sit in the plant and add soil slowly pulling the plant upward to where the base of the plant is just below the lip of the pot. Using a dowel or an old window shade rod tamp down the soil around the base of the plant and fill in an as needed. Set it in a morning sunny spot and a shaded afternoon and only add a cup of water to the soil. Do not even water for a week or two. The plant will do fine. Keep this plant pot bound and on the dry side. The plant can handle it down into the mid 30s. Mine have survived the high 20s a few years ago. It is a tough plant so don't baby it!
