Hi Linda ! Thank you for the kind comments! Hi Key... Thank you for all of the info. I will definitely keep that option open next summer . I think I'm going to let him rest for the summer and then make a decision on sending him off to another home or cut back like you mentioned. Great idea though. I'll keep you posted! Hi Planto .. I have not seen the gentleman to whom I gave the other tree to .. Maybe it is best if I don't know.. Lol. It would hurt my feelings if he didn't take care of it , but I'm sure ( fingers crossed) that he is... Hi Toni! I did cut straight across the root ball and started with a third of the bottom lopped off. Then I started in the center and around and untangled the roots and cut the long ones off. Trimmed the top root where I exposed the newer caudex area too . Pony Tail Palms are hardy in Zones 9-11. I probably could try and plant in the ground here , but I would need to watch the low temps when they reach lower 20's. I think my tree is already showing signs. Of growth and I don't think it will skip a beat at all especially with the roots like they were and now having room , the tree will probably grow quite a bit now! Yikes! I'll keep you posted! Hope you are doing well? Everyone here is ok and ready for the warm summer temps. It is cool and raining here today almost like a Northeaster blowing .. Yuck! Hi Christopher!! Thank you!!! It was a huge job! Glad I is over though... Lol I will post some more pics for you soon. I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!! Hi Entr... Thank you for the big comments ! I really appreciate them! Take care , Laura

Thank you for your comments. It would be nice to save the tree but cutting out tile and its concrete base is not a doable option. The patio is limited in size as it is. Another negative factor is that the tree is leaning to a point that the back end of the elephant foot base is pulling away from the ground. I'm concerned that a high wind, such as those quite prevalent in Florida will cause the tree to come down and destroy the patio fence. ..... I'm wondering how much damage might be caused by pulling it straight up with some sort of a cherry picker. Lifting it over the five foot fence and hauling away to be transplanted elsewhere. ..... Thank you again for your comments. Any additional thoughts would be appreciated.

Check this thread, hopefully it will help. Best wishes to your Betta and you. Betta fish is losing his colour & not eating

I have had some experience of a damaged ponytail plant so this may help you. I was given a plant which had lost its top and had a hole in the base which looked like it had rotted in one spot. By the time I got it, the rotted area had stopped rotting and had dried to form a cavity. I suggest you use a spoon to scoop out the rotted material back to good tissue and then apply some sulphur powder or similar ( I have heard of cinnamon powder being used) to treat the rot and allow it to heal. You have nothing to lose since if you leave it, it may continue to rot the entire base. As for the removal of the top, cut it back to healthy tissue. Again, you could use sulphur powder to treat the wound. Mine has recovered and now has multiple growth points and is looking like a shrub rather than a single tall shoot. I just have to be careful when watering so as not to get water into the cavity in the base.