Hello there, Does anyone have much experience with Ponytail palms? (or Elephant foot, Beaucarnea Recurvata). I did a search for 'Ponytail' but nothing on this forum. So here goes. I have two Ponytails in huge pots indoors, both under a skylight. One is old (10+ yrs) but is absolutely thriving. The other one however is only about 3 years old and was going well until about 3 months ago, when i noticed it just wasn't living or dying, just doing nothing. Then last month it has been going a pale green and losing its 'leaves'. I decided to take it outside and plant it in the garden in a semi shade spot. However its condition was soon explained as i tipped the pot on its side -half of the head broke off, to reveal that about 1/4 of the stem was rotten. I have had this before with this type of plant, although not with this species.

Can anyone say what causes this rot? And what i should do now once it is in the garden? Of course i have cut the whole head off now, but how much of the trunk should i cut down to? Just until it isn't rotten, or a certain height above the bowl? I don't expect it to live. Maybe some Seasol and then not too much water? I really don't know.

One thing i noticed which wouldn't have been helping things was that the soil in the pot, although incredibly rich and black, was very compacted and the two small drain holes on the bottom of the huge pot (with soil it weighs about 120Kg) seemed to be choked up with mud. Maybe the poor plant drowned, or couldn't breath?

Thanks for reading and i hope someone knows what i am talking about with this plant