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Yellowing Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
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Posted by bookwurm140 (My Page) on Mon, Jan 26, 09 at 17:03
| I've had a ponytail palm for a little over a year now. It's about two feet high but was in an extremely small pot that looked like it was about to burst, so I repotted it three months ago in a slightly larger pot. At the recommendation of the gardening "expert" at Home Depot I used regular house plant potting soil. The roots were so compact and seemed to be glued into the rocks that I couldn't loosen them and ended up just packing the fresh soil around the root ball. The ends of the oldest leaves have begun to yellow and die, and although there is plenty of new growth at the crown I am a bit worried.
After some research I've discovered that ponytails need much sandier, quicker-draining soil. Would you recommend repotting with some sort of cacti mix or trying to separate the layer of glued rocks from the plant? Is there any other advice I can get on making this plant more comfortable? (I live in dry Utah, and it is winter -- I have pebble trays beneath all of my plants and mist them a few times per day.)
Thanks in advance for the help! :) |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Yellowing Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
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| I would defindtly repot it it will stay way too wet in that cheap soil. Use a miracle grow and sand solution. |
RE: Yellowing Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
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| All right, thanks a bunch! |
RE: Yellowing Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
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Ponytail palms like a fast draining soil so a cactus soil is good. They don't need to sit on a pebble tray for humidity they like warm and dry and don't like to sit in water. I had a Sago that had stones stuck around it. I also tried to get them off and when I did I found that the center had rotted. I have several Ponytails and a lot of the tips of the older leaves are brown but as long as there is new growth it should be ok. Be careful during the winter not to water it too much.
Hope this helps and that it does well for you! |
RE: Yellowing Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
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| One thing to keep in mind with a ponytail palm is that the base stores a lot of water. Allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. These plants need to be watered very thoroughly only every 1.5-2 weeks and they like to be somewhat potbound. Use a palm fertilizer, and just add a cup or two of sand to your potting soil and make sure your pot allows the water to drain. A screen in over the hole rather than taking up room with rocks works. They don't grow well in rocks, but a layer at the top of the soil can make a nice looking mulch and keeps the soil from crusting. No need to go to a lot of expense. They are not fussy plants. Providing humidity is a good idea, but I wouldn't continually spray as it could lead to other diseases. Hope you enjoy your palm. It's one of my favorites! |
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