root rot on Ponytail Palm
Quick answer
If your Ponytail Palm has root rot, the most likely cause is: The bulbous trunk (caudex) stores significant water; frequent watering leads to soil saturation and anaerobic conditions, causing root and stem base decay.
Start here:
- 1. Remove plant from pot and trim all mushy, brown, or foul-smelling roots back to healthy white tissue.
- 2. Repot in a well-draining cactus or succulent mix amended with 30-50% perlite or pumice.
Why Ponytail Palm gets root rot
Beaucarnea recurvata
The bulbous trunk (caudex) stores significant water; frequent watering leads to soil saturation and anaerobic conditions, causing root and stem base decay.
How to reverse root rot on Ponytail Palm
- 1
Remove plant from pot and trim all mushy, brown, or foul-smelling roots back to healthy white tissue.
- 2
Repot in a well-draining cactus or succulent mix amended with 30-50% perlite or pumice.
- 3
Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes and is not oversized.
- 4
Water only when the soil is 100% dry, typically every 3-4 weeks.
Keep root rot off this Ponytail Palm
Allow the trunk to show slight shrinking as a watering cue; use unglazed terracotta pots to help wick excess moisture.