That's a gorgeous plant, but by arbitrarily cutting the roots, you might have done unnecessary damage (the point is there should be a point in cutting roots, not just 'because it's a bonsai'). Were the roots circling the ball badly? It will take some time for new roots to grow, and hopefully the plant won't be affected too much. Why you cut the leaves short I'm not sure either - if you didn't like it, why buy it? You're likely to get brown tips now unless your humidity (not spraying!) is very high. Forget the 'directions' - they stick the same stupid tags on every kind of plant! Plenty of light all day will keep it happy - and don't be in a rush to stick it in a 'bonsai' pot, all you'll do is restrict its growth and as it's not a real bonsai (not a tree in the usual sense) and it is so beautiful as a 'plant', why not just enjoy it as it is and instead get a real tree to bonsai? These poor things are stuck into cheap soil in cheap little bonsai pots (with the glued rocks) and called 'bonsai', but there's nothing bonsai about them and never will be though one day if you're really good you might manage to end up with a large caudex (the big ball) and less foliage. Will that look good?

I do think it deserves a new pot, but a larger one, not a smaller one!

in that case i will look into a new appropriate size pot. a garden center near me has a huge variety, so i'll try and find just the right thing. i don't think im so much looking for a "smaller" pot, but one thats more the right shape. i'll try and find one thats the same height, but wider, so it has more of the short and wide look. i'd also lke a ceramic one because they're heavier and i could put it outside without worrying about it getting blown over in the wind. it happened once in its current plastic pot.

it is getting a few brown tips... not bad though. i'm on the east edge of Kansas, so with summer coming, humidity will be on the rise and hopefully it will be satisfied. i gave it a mild dose of superthrive too to help reduce shock from all the adjustments.

i'm not sure on the root trimming... i'd just always heard of it being done and thought i'd do a little bit here. it really was a very small amount, and i mostly wanted to just get the root ball about a half inch lower in the pot. looking back, it probably was not necessary, but atleast i know now.

trimming the leaves kinda went with trimming the roots... with the space i freed up by doing so, what i want to do is get some fine white sand, fill in the new space, and then put in a little doll-house sized umbrella and some lounge chairs to give a beach scene. accordingly, i'll probably try and find an ocean blue pot to complete the look.

i probably won't have time to do it until summer break starts (i'm in college), so hopefully by then it will be recovered from any stress caused by myself or the store i got it from, and ready to go.

i have a desktop oscilating fan on low on a timer in the room to give it (as well as some veggie cuttings that i'll be planting outside soon) a breeze. is this a good idea or should i discontinue it? it runs from about 10am to 8pm.

any thoughts on my 5 shoots vs. the more common 2 or 3?

thanks again
-Jon

Hi, well... I wish I'd realized you were repotting immediately, as I would have urged you to mix in a LOT of grit of some kind for fast drainage, but... Don't ever count on a shallower pot to protect a newly potted tree from wind! It won't work, so you better use some other kind of protection. Normally, with a 'real' tree, the woody roots are wired into the pot (in a certain way) to keep it from blowing over, but your tree's a bit different and top heavy to boot. Don't put it outside until the LAST official frost of the season in your area has passed - could be a month from now (check with a local nursery). Don't use the fan because it'll dry it out more and as you're not humidifying the room it's a lousy idea. An outdoor breeze is very different from an already dry room indoors (central htg and all that, minus natural humidity). What do you have against 5 shoots? One thing in bonsai IS never to have an even number in the same pot, so you're ok there.

Hi Porshfan,

I also love Ponytail Palms and I recently bought one (a few months ago). I had one before, and I really loved it, but it was killed when I had someone else care for it while I was away. I still had the bonsai pot it was in, and I really liked the way it looked, so I wanted to buy the same sized tree and put it in the bonsai pot.

Now, please note that I am NOT an expert on plants, and I know nothing of bonsai. I'm just speaking of MY experience and just giving you my opinion.

I trimmed the roots of my ponytail just like you did (a little trim, about 1/3rd of the roots)....I did this mainly so that it would fit in the bonsai pot (I initially bought the plant in a pot similar to yours). The root trimming did no harm to it, and I plan on trimming more this summer.

I also gave mine a very similar haircut. Why? Because I wanted to! I didn't like the "stragly" long leaves, so I cut them. I don't think you did anything wrong by giving it a haircut. If I saw a plant in a store that I've been wanting or that I liked, but wanted to "fix it up" a little, I would still buy it.

Some of my tips get brown, but I don't mind...I just trim the brown tips. Just make sure you don't trim ALL the brown off...leave a tiny bit because if you don't the brown will grow back. But I must say, I'm not sure if cutting the "leaves" makes them turn brown (but again, I'm no expert)...the reason I say this is that all my spider plants have brown tips and I haven't EVER cut them, nor do I do other things that would make tips turn brown (overwater, underwater, use tap water).

I'm sure you also realized that cutting the "leaves" will make the edges blunt instead of pointy, but to me that looks a lot better than long unruly leaves. In terms of humidity, I have mine on a humidity tray, and I mist it also (misting does no harm...it may be a waste of time, but I like to do it - however, that alone won't add any real humidity).

I have 3 "shoots" on mine. Chopping the trunk causes these offshoots to develop. I'm not sure why yours has 5 and mine has 3 and others have 2. But if you like it, keep it. If you don't like all 5, that's another story. I don't know what kind of growth it would force if you cut any of them off. I personally like the way your 5 offshoots look, but it's your plant!

Anyway, best of luck with your plant. Here's some pics of mine...it's pretty similar to yours.

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Dude, you shouldn't cut any of the shoots, let it be for awhile after the cutting you've already done. Ah, college, I had a few bonsai in college, sure was fun to hit the vaporizer and then start wacking away at them. I'm looking forward to you uploading your spring break photos!

Im sure you probably dont get on here anymore, but to answer a few of your question a year later, or more, to back you up... It's ok to cut the roots, i just bought 4 for 4 dollars today at lowes in a single pot, and took them out, untangled the roots, and of course some roots came off, but i was fine with that. The reason the leaves brown, is because once a leaf is injured, the plant will reuse the carbohydrates and sugars in the leaves to use in another healthier part of the plant, its a natural conservation strategy of plants. Mine are pretty young, probaby 2 or 3 years, and only have one shoot, with no woody stem yet, planning on inducing more side shoots, once that happens, but im prepared to wait a few years, i am also going to make a bonsai type plant out of mine, and i really like your idea of the beach theme, very interesting. i wish i could see the pictures, as your guys photobucket is expired or something? I plan on getting a new camera and taking many pictures of my soon to be operation.