What is going on with my ponytail palm??
I’ve been having a lot of issues with my ponytail palm as of late. Last month I moved it into a new pot because the pot it came in was too small. But the leaves have been turning brown on the ends for a while and yesterday I noticed the base of the leaves are very light, almost yellow. I water my palm every 14 or so days with being at latest two days late from the pot change. I have a pot where you water the plant from the bottom and last watered it Sunday. Any advice on what to do or what I could be doing wrong? #PonytailPalm
2ft to light, indirect
8” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 months ago
12
Best Answer
NEVER feed a Ponytail in the fall/winter, because it’s going dormant, (or falling a sleep 🙂) You can fertilize it in the springtime, during its growing season and use a cactus/succulent fertilizer.
☀️ Kelly @BlazingFreesia is giving you the best advice. Because it’s located 2.5 feet away from a north facing window, it’s not getting the bright indirect light it requires. Especially during this time of year, when the days are getting shorter and shorter. Unfortunately, the light from a north facing window usually provides a houseplants with low light. The general rule for bright indirect light: Locate your plant close to an east facing window or 3 feet away from a south or west facing filtered window. FYI: This plant is sensitive to cold drafts from cold window or vents. (I use to live in Flint, so I know how cold it can gets there. 🙂)
💧Also, Paige it’s easy to overwater a plants while it’s going dormant. (I’ve certainly overwater a few plants while they were dormant 😒.) During this time of year, houseplants requires less and less water. So, if you’re watering your tree every 14 days you’re probably overwatering it. Most of the time, water your tree when the soil feels dry, on your index finger that has been inserted deep (2 knuckles deep) into the soil. If the soil feels completely dry, slowly water it, stopping only when water begins to drip out of the drainage hole. But, in the wintertime when its dormant, you have to make adjustments and water it occasionally or sparingly. Never let your Tree sit in the excess water that came out of the drainage hole, because that will cause it to become overwatered too.
▫️I hope your Ponytail tree will make a speedy recovery, live long and prosper. Stay warm.
☀️ Kelly @BlazingFreesia is giving you the best advice. Because it’s located 2.5 feet away from a north facing window, it’s not getting the bright indirect light it requires. Especially during this time of year, when the days are getting shorter and shorter. Unfortunately, the light from a north facing window usually provides a houseplants with low light. The general rule for bright indirect light: Locate your plant close to an east facing window or 3 feet away from a south or west facing filtered window. FYI: This plant is sensitive to cold drafts from cold window or vents. (I use to live in Flint, so I know how cold it can gets there. 🙂)
💧Also, Paige it’s easy to overwater a plants while it’s going dormant. (I’ve certainly overwater a few plants while they were dormant 😒.) During this time of year, houseplants requires less and less water. So, if you’re watering your tree every 14 days you’re probably overwatering it. Most of the time, water your tree when the soil feels dry, on your index finger that has been inserted deep (2 knuckles deep) into the soil. If the soil feels completely dry, slowly water it, stopping only when water begins to drip out of the drainage hole. But, in the wintertime when its dormant, you have to make adjustments and water it occasionally or sparingly. Never let your Tree sit in the excess water that came out of the drainage hole, because that will cause it to become overwatered too.
▫️I hope your Ponytail tree will make a speedy recovery, live long and prosper. Stay warm.
My PTP did the exact same thing (yellowing leaves that bend close to the base) even though I kept her under a grow light & close to the humidifier. Turned out all she needed was a good feed. Jacks Classic all purpose fertilizer 20-20-20 did the trick. It greened up nicely. She gets an occasional brown tip but not often.
@Coffeemae I do have a cat. I usually leave my door closed so she can’t see it but she’s been able to slip by a couple times.
Yes, I think more humidity