skip to main content

Pony tail palm has babies?

20 years ago

I need some advice about my old pony tail palm. I've had her for about 25 years and she's been doing real well. This summer I've noticed that she's sprouting shoots off the base. The top is still producing new leaves, but the "babies" are bothering me. I've tried to cut them off, but they just grow right back and bring more with them. What is this and what do I do about it?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

venezuela
20 years ago
Your beaucarnia wants company and has decided to fill out with side shoots, why do you want to remove them? They will make your plant fuller and I bet more attractive.
Hal Warrick
20 years ago
Where in il are you ?
I'm in decatur and mine is roughly 23
years old, chopped it down afew times but
no babies as of yet.
Hal
Related Discussions
PonyTail Palm
Q
Comments (1)
There are instructions as to how to post to the gallery (of this particular forum) on the front page (top or bottom), but you'll have to find it as I don't use it myself. You say you know it doesn't like a lot of water, yet you said you thought it wasn't getting enough water (and I presume you then watered it?), plus you said it rains constantly... which would lead me to believe it's gotten much, much wetter than it ever should (which is why people keep these in the house unless they live in the dry west). Also, repotting in midsummer is a bad thing, though I do understand why you did it. All in all, your tree sounds pretty bad, and I hope you're not emotionally attached to it because I don't think it's going to get a lot better at this point, especially with the fungus or whatever problem it seems to have on top of the rest. It might be a good idea to keep the next one indoors.
...See More
a question on a trapped pony tail palm...
Q
Comments (3)
first, thanx to the advice! second, here is an update on my poor ponytail's woahs.. so I tried with a screw driver: I don't know what these rocks are stuck on with, but let me tell you it is STRONG! I succeeded in getting some off, but still not enough to see the soil. I then tried to remove a particularly large clump of them, and succeeded only in slicing my finger, nicking the poor plant a little (just a tiny scratch), and bending the tip of my small screwdriver. These rock gluers meant business! I will try again later with a larger/sturdier screwdriver... wish me luck! -Willow
...See More
Pony Tail Palms in a grow box
Q
Comments (26)
more water generally = larger caudex but don't overdo it (in the ground these are pretty darn hard to over water, and frankly I have never managed to overwater one in a pot, either.. .but I am supposed to warn you not to rot your plant... ). Shouldn't be any rush, though... one thing that does seem to limit caudex size is multiple plants per pot, so if you want larger caudeces, you might want to do something about that. I have several plants in various sun exposures and caudex size also seems to relate to amount of sun (more sun, larger caudex). Those growing in some shade end up growing tall and skinny and take a lot longer to get a larger caudex
...See More
Pony tail palm
Q
Comments (3)
Ponytail palms are really good at handling damage. Mine was really badly damaged by scale (I mean really bad), so bad that I had to strip off every leaf except for the very middle leaves. These leaves were leaning over and could not even support itself so I had to tape them for a month. Now its slowly growing back scale free and the new leaves can finally support itself. Just goes to show how willing they are to grow. As long as its respouting, its far from dead and just handle it as you would normally, water on warm days and keep it in a nice sunny spot. Some fertilizer would really help too. Good luck!
...See More
elvis
17 years ago
I chopped the head off mine (30 years old), and after 6 months, buds appeared around the top outside edge. They are now 'ponytails' and new buds are popping out around the base where the swelling starts from the narrow trunk. Very interesting...the plant was waaaay too tall for my house before; this is a nice change :)
catcatcher
17 years ago
My PTP is 14 years old and up until 3 years ago had a single 'tail' at the top which started to rot and die off. I decided to leave it alone. When the top returned to health we named it Cousin It. Now it has about 8 large 'babies at its base that are strong and lush. At Christmastime I put a santa hat on 'It' and two large comical eyes.
sunshine1266
16 years ago
I inherited a PTP from my grandmother it's at least 7 years old. The top is dying away but I have two shoots that are thriving. Should I cut off the top or just remove the dead leaves. If anyone has advice. I really want to save it.
birdsnblooms
16 years ago
Sunshine, if the top if rotted, (soft, mushy) remove leaves..they're of no use and only taking nutrient away from healthy parts.
Make sure you don't overwater this plant..The Ponytail's bulb holds water so treat it like you would a cactus..Toni
pamelamarydesigns2_comcast_net
13 years ago
I have a Ponytail plant that is barely a year old and about 4 inches tall and it's sprouting a baby at the base! Very strange!
alavoneluvhoya
13 years ago
one of my palms has 2 heads but no base.....no trunk....and its 3 years old....is it ever going to grow a trunk or will i have 2 trunks?
birdsnblooms
13 years ago
Pam, that is strange..for such a young plant.

Alavone..What size pot is your PT potted in? If too large, it'll take longer to grow..they like a tight fit.

Has anything happened since you posted? Toni
proglobal_david_gmail_com
12 years ago
i want to know if possible,and how to replant ptp babys. plant has been cut 3 months ago and now there is 20 babys.
karensppinc
6 years ago
my ponytail is 40yrs old and too tall for our livingroom. it's slumped over and now new shoots are coming from trunk. how do I cut back the top so it will fit. I don't want to kill my old friend!

Related Stories

PETS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Summer-Loving Dog!

By Mitchell Parker

Share a photo of your pooch kicking back in the backyard, helping you in the workshop or enjoying your favorite summer getaway

DECORATING STYLES Is Your Home Ready for a 1970s Revival?

Seventies chic is a trend that’s been brewing for some time, but this year it could hit big — with a few modern tweaks

PETS So You Want to Get a Cat

By Mitchell Parker

If you're a cat lover, the joys outweigh any other issue. If you haven't lived with one yet, here are a few things to know

ARCHITECTURE How to Design a Storybook Cottage

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

A client’s request: “Build me a house where Disney meets Tudor.” The architect explores the details that make the style

HOUSEPLANTS 8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Plants

Houseplants add so much to our homes — and can thrive when grown in the right conditions. Keep these tips in mind

LIFE Houzz Call: Show Us the House You Grew Up In

By Becky Harris

Share a photo and story about your childhood home. Does it influence your design tastes today?

FUN HOUZZ Don’t Be a Stickybeak — and Other Home-Related Lingo From Abroad

By Mitchell Parker

Need to hire a contractor or buy a certain piece of furniture in the U.K. or Australia? Keep this guide at hand

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Invaluable Life Lessons From the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

The garden is both teacher and healer. Don't be afraid — dig in and reap the benefits

PETS 10 Tips for Keeping Indoor Cats Healthy and Happy

By Laura Gaskill

It's National Cat Day: Ask not what your cat can do for you (because it will ignore you) but what you can do for your cat

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

Sponsored