Is Your Ponytail Palm Dying? Here’s How To Save It

Ponytail Palms are a beautiful addition to any home. They’re known for their long, flowing blades that emerge from a bulb-like trunk at the base.

But they can be tricky to care for. So while they don’t require a lot of care, there are a few issues to be aware of.

One of the most common Ponytail Palm problems is overwatering, but there are a few other reasons that your plant is not as healthy as it could be.

In this post, I share the warning signs of an unhealthy Ponytail Palm and the best ways to revive your plant.

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Why Is My Ponytail Palm Dying?

As I said above, overwatering is the most likely reason that your Ponytail Palm is dying. Root rot and stem rot can happen if your plant has been overwatered. The stem becomes mushy, and the leaves will turn yellow when this happens.

Dehydration, on the other hand, leads to a limp trunk with brown-tipped leaves.

Other causes could be the wrong potting soil mixture, the wrong pot size, too much fertilizer, not enough light, or pests.

Have You Been Watering Your Plant Properly?

The most frequent cause of a Ponytail Palm’s issues is watering. You could be watering too much or not enough.

Ponytail Palms (Beaucarnea recurvata) are desert plants; they like to dry out. If you don’t wait until the soil feels completely dry, then you are likely watering it too much.

The leaves turning brown could mean that your Ponytail Palm is not getting enough water.

How Can You Tell If Your Ponytail Palm Needs Water?

Your Ponytail Palm is actually a succulent plant. The bulging trunk is called the caudex, and it stores water.

If the leaves start to become brown and crispy, it likely needs water.

If you notice the caudex shrinking or getting wrinkly, then it definitely needs water.

Check the potting soil every week or two by sticking your finger into the soil. If you feel any moisture at all, then you don’t need to water.

Ponytail Palm Overwatering Signs

Excess water eventually causes root rot and stem rot. It’s hard to recover from root and stem rot, so watch out for the warning signs so that you can catch it before it’s too late.

Yellowing at the tips of the leaves is a warning sign of overwatering. If this happens, stop watering immediately. Wait until the soil is completely dry before you water it again.

Droopy leaves, or a squishy base at the bottom of the plant, are two other signs of overwatering.

Does Your Ponytail Palm Have Root Rot?

You’ll need to inspect the root ball to discover if your Ponytail Palm is suffering from root rot. If it does, then the roots and lower portion of the stem turn brown. The caudex will feel mushy and soft.

To check the roots, dig carefully into the soil. If they appear brown instead of white, then you have root rot.

How To Save a Ponytail Palm With Root Rot

If all the roots are brown and rotten, then it may be too late to save.

However, if there are some white, healthy roots left, then you may be able to revive your plant by repotting it.

How To Repot a Ponytail Palm With Root Rot

Gently remove the plant from the pot.
Use a sharp, clean knife or pruning shears to cut away the brown roots.
Choose a pot that’s only a little larger than the caudex. Larger pots take longer to dry out, which causes overwatering problems. Also, make sure the pot has a drainage hole.
Use a potting mix designed for succulents or cacti. You want extremely well-draining soil. You might want to mix in some sand, pumice, or perlite to improve drainage even more.
After you add your plant to the new pot, firm up the soil with your fingers so that the plant stands upright and isn’t wobbly.

Pro-tip: Wait a month after repotting before you fertilize your Ponytail Palm.

Ponytail Palm Dehydration

Underwatering your Ponytail Palm is not as common as overwatering, but it does happen.

When you underwater your plant, it becomes dehydrated. If your Ponytail Palm looks sad and droopy with brown-tipped leaves, it likely needs water.

If severely dehydrated, the caudex also shrinks in size and may become shriveled.

Dehydration is easier to fix than overwatering, so don’t despair! A good bottom soaking will likely perk it back up.

How To Water Your Ponytail Palm From the Bottom

Fill up your sink or a basin with 3 to 4 inches of tepid water.
Place your plant – pot and all – in the water.
Let it soak for about 45 minutes.
Stick your finger in the soil. It should feel moist up to the top 2 to 3 inches. If not, water it from the top to help thoroughly saturate the soil.
When the soil is evenly moist, remove the plant from the water and allow it to drain thoroughly before placing it back on its saucer.

Does Your Ponytail Palm Have Drainage Issues?

If your Ponytail Palm is suffering from being overwatered, you may also have drainage issues. Proper drainage is critical for a healthy Ponytail Palm. Drainage problems could be due to the pot, the soil, or both.

Container

If your pot isn’t draining well, it may be time to change the container.

Never plant a Ponytail Palm in a pot without holes to drain the water. It must be in a container that has drainage holes if you want it to thrive.

You also want to select a pot that isn’t too large because they take too long to dry out. Plus, Ponytail Palms prefer to be crowded, so use a container no larger than 2 inches wider than the plant’s base.

And don’t allow your plant to sit in a saucer of water. Instead, pour out any water that accumulates in the saucer.

Soil

Your Ponytail Palm wants to be in well-drained potting soil. Heavy soil will not drain properly, and your plant will stay too wet. As we’ve already discussed, wet soil leads to root rot.

Succulent or cactus potting mixes are a good choice. You can amend the mix with perlite, sand, or pumice to improve the drainage if you choose.

Fertilizer Issues

Overfertilization can be another issue with Ponytail Palms.

It’s best to apply a half-strength fertilizer once or twice a month, only during the growing season (spring to fall). Then, cut back to monthly feeding during the winter months. Use a cactus or succulent fertilizer like this one.

If your Ponytail Palm develops brown tips, but the leaves are straight, that suggests it has been overfertilized. If that happens, then cut back on the frequency that you feed your plant.

Insufficient Light

Without enough light, your Ponytail Palm will starve because it can’t feed itself.

Thin, soft, and droopy leaves are a sign that your plant isn’t getting enough light. Also, you may notice the leaves bending instead of curving. This is because they are too narrow.

Ponytail Palms grow best in bright light, so choose a location with as much sunlight as possible. Put it in a sunny spot – a room with southern or western exposure is ideal – near a window, but not directly in the sun.

Pest Issues

Occasionally, pests such as spider mites, scale, or mealybugs infest Ponytail Palms.

With spider mites you may notice tiny webs on branch tips around the Ponytail Palm. Yellow leaves are another symptom of spider mite infestations.

If you notice tiny brown or black waxy bumps on the leaves, then you have scale.

And, if you see white fuzz on your Ponytail Palm, then you likely have mealybugs.

You can treat all three pests with neem oil or insecticidal soap.

Final Thoughts

The best way to prevent your Ponytail Palm from dying is to catch any problems early.

Root rot is the most dangerous problem and the hardest to treat. Therefore, it’s better to err on the side of underwatering than overwatering.

A healthy Ponytail Palm is one of the loveliest houseplants to have in your home (plus, they’re pet-safe!). If you pay attention to the condition of your Ponytail Palm and its watering requirements, it can live for many years.