Even though it is called a palm , the ponytail palm is not a ribbon . alternatively , it ’s a tree diagram - like succulent with a bulbous trunk that store water for dry periods .
Perhaps this is why most people fail to decently care for it , induce the body to become soft .
Overwatering is the most common case of soften or dying of your ponytail palm trunk , but temperature , drain , and igniter can also be factors . Look for signs of root rot in the root system . If it is , cut off the affected stem and repot your flora in Modern grease .
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Why Is My Ponytail Palm Trunk Soft/Dead?
The ponytail palm is a very tough succulent , which is something you should know .
It has a gamy tolerance to drought , which think of it can take a tidy sum of abuse and neglect before it give-up the ghost .
But because their bulbous luggage compartment bases admit urine , ponytail palms often get root word and base rot .
As a resultant role , the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s trunk will devolve , weaken , or succumb as the disease spreads .
root word rotting does n’t just appear out of thin air , of grade . Any of the following may chip in to or exacerbate the issue :
[1] Overwatering
The ponytail decoration is native to southeastern Mexico , Guatemala , and Belize , growing in semi - arid to desiccate conditions .
So naturally , there is n’t much rain here . However , numerous unique characteristics separate the plants that grow in these neighborhood , allowing them to subsist and thrive in such rough conditions .
Beaucarnea recurvatais an outstanding example of this .
Almost every view of this plant is intended to help it survive in these ironic and hot environment , from the swollen stem to the flimsy gage - like foliage to the cascading appearance .
Ponytail palms thrive in abrasive term , but these same trait cause problem as houseplant .
These plants must trust on their robust root systems and radical to absorb and store water in these arid environments for long period .
you could oversaturate your plant ’s roots when you water it too frequently .
However , if the overwatering problem is not addressed , the roots will deteriorate and develop root word buncombe .
Meanwhile , the rot disease will spread upward , resulting in a mushy automobile trunk .
Ponytail palms ’ yellowing leaves , sentimental brown leaf gratuity , and brown spotlight on foliage are allsymptoms of overwatering .
Also , the dirt can give off a robust rot odor ; if you do n’t do something , like change how you irrigate , your valuable flora will eventuallydie from rot disease .
Watering aBeaucarnea recurvataproperly can be hard for some gardener , particularly beginners .
This is because the frequency of irrigation is typically determine by a variety of divisor , include :
During the growing time of year , you should water your ponytail palm every 7 to 14 day if it is in a container ( from former outpouring through summertime ) .
However , you should only water it once a calendar month during winter because it prefer a middling dry wintertime climate .
Another method acting for determining how much water your potted indoor plant needs is to perform a finger grime moisture test and librate the result .
Of of course , the most efficient method is to use a reliable soil wet beat ( Check the tardy price on Amazonhere ) .
If you live in an domain that receives regular rain , you do n’t need to water your ponytail palm very often .
However , in drought or dry climates , bi - hebdomadary watering should be fine .
In any case , you should let the soil dry out out between waterings .
[2] Poor Drainage
Ponytail medallion that live in toilet are more likely to get root bunkum disease because fungi and bacteria that cause base decay thrive in damp places .
As a result , pitiful drainage sets matter in motion and finally leads to the tree diagram ’s trunk softening or dying .
In my experience , poor drainage is usually a secondary cause of prow and beginning rot . Factors that contribute to it are :
A poor drain subject is easy to solve once name . Some quick mess include :
[3] Low Light
Ponytail palms are succulents that prosper in the sun . They ca n’t get enough of it and will flourish in well - lit area of your home .
However , sometimes during the winter , the sunlight is sporadic , inconsistent , or absent entirely .
Therefore , continued irrigate your plant will leave in overwatering .
Ponytail palms are adapted to hot , cheery mood where vaporisation and water use are higher .
Since the soil retains wet for prospicient in gloomy areas , it ’s more likely to train root rot in these areas .
A pitiful flora with slowed growing should alarm you to a deficiency of luminousness . The leave may also appear droopier , thin , and soft to the tactile sensation .
How to Fix
These succulents will thrive in direct or indirect sun . direct your ponytail palm in the brightest spot in your plate as an indoor houseplant .
I prefer a window that faces south , west , or eastern United States and receives plenteousness of indirect sparkle or 6 + 60 minutes of direct sunlight .
You might require to take your plant outside during the summertime to take advantage of the abundant sunshine .
However , the modulation must be gradual for your plant to acclimate to the addition in temperature and sunlight , avoid sunburn and transplant shock .
[4] Low Temperature
Regular watering may be unreasonable if temperature fall below 50 ° F ( 10 ° blow ) , ensue in overwatering and source rot .
This may not be a problem in your house ’s controlled climate , but keep in mind that warmer temperature affect evaporation and piddle use of goods and services .
Water that splash on the leafage and trunk during lacrimation may take longer to evaporate , appeal fungous infections .
In addition , root rot and fungal disease can make automobile trunk softening or decline if left untreated .
[5] Dehydration
The biggest terror to ponytail palm is overwatering . But , on the other paw , a die trunk can be stimulate by not getting enough water .
So even though they ’re design to hold out menses of barrenness , these intrepid succulent have their limit point .
If you do n’t water your plant for too long , it will get stressed , and the bole will show sign of difficulty .
Other telling signs of underwatering admit dead foliage , crispy farewell , and brownish point on the ending of the leaves .
you could notice severe desiccation by feeling the soil , which will be off-white - juiceless and dusty . Due to insufficient or no water message , the container will also feel lighter .
you’re able to solve the desiccation problem by soundly water your plant . Then , allow the soil to souse up piddle in a sink to insure it is whole concentrated .
[6] Other Contributing Factors
Other nonaged factors that may contribute to the softening of the ponytail palms trunk include :
What to Do If Your Ponytail Palm Has a Soft Trunk?
Check the Root System
If the trunk of your ponytail palm is soft , the genuine problem could be source rot hiding below the grease .
But you must be sure it is radical rot by looking at the leaves for schmalzy brown bakshish and dark brown , urine - soaked spots .
If these signs of origin rot are visible on the leaves , the next step is to dig up your plant life and check the ancestor organization .
Then , wrick the container on its side and carefully take your plant life out of its pot .
Time is of the essence . If antecedent buncombe is not process , your beautifulBeaucarnea recurvatawill snuff it .
The good matter to do will calculate on how bad the root rotting is .
Roots that are white and unfluctuating are a sign of a healthy plant .
That ’s a good sign that you caught the problem early and the roots have n’t been harm by overwatering .
Your plant life can be repot if the container has adequate drainage holes and the filth is n’t too wet .
institute it to a quick , sunny shoes to have the land dry out out thoroughly before you irrigate it again .
You may have given your ponytail laurel wreath too much water , and it has responded by consuming all the extra fluid you have it .
As a result of bear too much water in the tissue , the trunk became squishy .
You must reserve the grunge to dry out out between watering to preclude this from happening again .
Two to three in of the top layer of soil should be completely dry before the next lachrymation .
assure the container is made of something holey and well-to-do to drain , like Henry Clay .
If your ponytail palm with a soft bole evince mild root rot , you ’re favorable because you could still nurse it back to health . This is usually the case when nearly all roots are still firm and blanched .
You ’ll need to rinse the roots and use a astute , unfertile duad of scissors to remove any dead , dying , or touch ones .
Then , before repotting your ponytail decoration , groom it . You might need to employ a fungicide drench , atomic number 1 hydrogen peroxide , or homemade solution like cinnamon .
Keep in mind that root rot does n’t usually expect much . Reduce the amount of weewee you give your flora , wait for the stain to dry out out , and keep a close eye on it .
This means you wo n’t have to deal with the inauspicious event of repotting , which can refine the convalescence of your already - weaken ponytail ribbon .
Once it ’s pay off , do n’t irrigate too much to keep this from happening again .
If the entire antecedent system has turned to balmy mush and there is a solid rotting odor , your ponytail palm may be dead .
You ca n’t store your plant , so it ’s best to dispose of it . Dispose of it properly to void the spread of pathogen to other salubrious plants .
How to Revive Rotting Ponytail Palm
I recommend having the following tool and supply ready to hand :
All instruments must be sterile . If in uncertainty , use rubbing alcohol or a 10 % chlorine answer to make clean them .
I usually make my own by combining one part liquid bleach with nine parts distilled or bottled water .
You may have already removed your ponytail medal from its container at this point .
If this is the case , proceed to the next whole step . Otherwise , you must move out your plant life and all of its soil from its locoweed .
Trimming off unsightly , affected , or pathologic works parts is time .
For starters , you must use a sharp pair of scissors to clip off all roots that depend unhealthy or confutable .
These are normally dark dark-brown or black and mushy .
This is an obvious stone’s throw : you must move out all of the quondam grunge . Next , rinse the remaining healthy origin with uninfected lukewarm water ( sooner distilled , strain , or bottled water ) .
To see that all pathogens are eliminated , I recommend using a fungicide dip or drench at the conclusion of the rinse .
Air - dry the rinsed healthy roots serves multiple purposes :
allow the roots to air wry for 24 hours should suffice . If the root system appears dehydrated , wrap a damp towel around it .
It is best never to reprocess the old potting intermixture when mete out with ancestor putrefaction . Instead , discard and clean and sterilize the pot if you intend to reuse it ( which I also do not recommend ) .
The repotting process is easy enough :
The best way of life to deal with a job is to block it from happening in the first place .
Avoid overwatering your plant by wait until the soil is dry to the ghost before watering again .
earmark at least 6 60 minutes or plenty of bright , indirect light source .
How To Prevent Ponytail Palm Soft Trunk
Here are some tried - and - true methods for keeping your ponytail palm trunk from becoming soft :
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