I have four Pony tail palms that are in container but I forgot and left them outside when the temp went tdouwn to 20 for two nights. Now the leaves are wilted .Should I cut the leaves off as they are turning brown or should I cut the plant itself back ? They may be gonner but maybe with alot of luck they will live.
Help with Pony Tail Palm
flowerpower57
Jan 17, 2008
Are they going to be spending any more time out in the cold? If they are then I would do nothing further until spring--the damaged leaves can help protect the rest of the plant from any future cold snaps, plus you don't want to stimulate new growth which would be more easily damaged by the cold. If you're going to be keeping it indoors for the rest of winter though then there's no harm in cutting off the dead leaves.
flowerpower57
Jan 17, 2008
I will keep them indoors for the winter.So cut the leaves off but don't cut the plant back ?
Mine used to be a houseplant, then I planted it inground in fall 2006. Leaves got brown w/ freezes, and as ecrane recommends here, i left the "uglies" so they served as protection thru the rest of the cold season. The following spring, I removed the damaged leaves and the plant started producing new leaves immediately.
I also have a variegated one planted outside and leaves look awful. I am so afraid that the var. will not be as hardy as the regular ponytail. I am holding my breath on that one. Hurry up, Spring!
This message was edited Jan 18, 2008 9:30 AM
I'm picturing the ponytail palm that I used to have, and mine didn't have branches, it was just the main trunk with the leaves coming out of the top, so it doesn't strike me as the sort of plant that you can really cut back. I could be wrong though.
You can cut them back and they will just branch at that point... but wouldn't til spring or it's good and warm... cutting them back now will just provide a large window for rot to start, if it hasn't already. Not sure how much those wimpy leaves actually protect the plant from cold, but I would probably leave them on, unless you are now going to move the plant indoors. I strip the leaves off mine when I remove them, but that I certainly wouldn't do still spring. Cutting them off is less traumatic, but does little to improve the looks of the plant... so why do it? Wait for it to be warm and strip them off.