I bought Harry 36 years ago from a nursery when he was a round nugget of about 1 inch. He was in a square plastic pot about 1.5 inches. I repotted him several times over our 37 years together. Last month, I repotted him and changed from a clay pot to a new clay pot that has paint outside. My husband also bought coconut husk to use instead of soil. When we pulled out Harry from the old pot, he was pretty much rootless except for one very thin root. When we were cleaning him up since he was infected with mealy bugs (from a free orchid that came with a plant purchase), he looked fine with nice full base. We planted him in the coco husk mixed with soil at the bottom of pot, rooting hormones and watered lightly. Thinking that he might need water for roots to grow, I watered him one more time.
Now, about a month later, I noticed the water sitting in the plate hadn’t gone away and the leaves are yellowing. When I felt his base, the skin is separated from the base and we realized he has been drowning. We took him out of the pot and there are so many new roots, but unfortunately his base was all soggy and smelled bad. We treated him with copper fungicide and put him upright overnight in an empty clay pot and more water drained out of him. But when we lifted him out of the pot the next day, he smelled even worse with gnats and other insect congregating at his base.
Looking at the soggy mess of his base, we decided to cut the base off to see if we can save the rest of the plant. We regretted this decision but we were desperate. We are letting the cut dry out a bit and would really appreciate any advice on how to plant the cut trunk.
My husband and I got Harry during after we got married. He moved with us from NJ to TX then CA. He has morning light and seemed to love his spot. We repotted him because the 20+ years clay pot was dissolving. We don’t have kids so he’s like our oldest child- a big brother to our fur babies. We are devastated that we made errors with the new pot and coco husk and killed Harry. We are leaving the base out to see if it can recover. Our main concern now is the trunk with the original head and 2 pups. What should we do? Do we plant the entire trunk or cut the pups out? Thank you!!!
by thebaby1
5 Comments
I’m not seeing the two pups in images 2 and 3; you’re saying there’s still green, leafy stuff on Harry?
I find coco husk drains nicely with my plants but I would put a coarser substrate at the bottom like pebbles, not soil and keep an eye on the plate at the bottom, if there’s water then empty it. Letting the cutting dry a bit first is good, then try coating in a rooting hormone, I would plant it not too deep in a small pot (think about root size not plant size) with a supporting pole as it will be quite top heavy and keep an eye on it. Still let the soil dry a little between water but the lower soil should still be moist, the bark will rot easily if overwatered. I tend to use clear pots to monitor root growth but it could be a challenge to find one big enough. I’d expect it could be a bit tricky to propagate from a cutting (but not impossible) I’ve only ever propagated palms by pups.
Thank you for sharing Harry’s story—he’s clearly more than just a plant; he’s part of your family. You’ve shown so much care and love for him over the decades, and it’s understandable to feel devastated by what’s happened. But don’t lose hope just yet—there may still be a chance to save parts of him.
Here’s what you can do now:
1. Dry Out the Cut Trunk (Top Part with Head and Pups)
You made the right call to remove the soggy, rotting base. Now the priority is to let the cut dry and callus fully, which can take 7–14 days, depending on your environment. Make sure the cut surface is:
Clean (you can re-sanitize it with diluted hydrogen peroxide or copper fungicide).
Drying in a warm, bright (but indirect sun) area with good air circulation.
Not touching soil, water, or moisture during this phase.
2. Check the Trunk for Viability
Once dried, examine the trunk:
If it’s firm and not mushy, that’s a good sign.
If you see rot creeping further up, you may need to cut higher up until you reach clean, white/yellow tissue with no smell.
3. Decide: Plant the Whole Trunk or Separate the Pups?
If the trunk is still firm and healthy:
Option A: Plant the entire trunk
This can work if the trunk is healthy and not too large/heavy to balance while rooting.
Use a fast-draining mix (cactus/succulent soil with perlite or pumice), and plant just deep enough to hold the trunk steady. Do not water for at least a week after planting—let it root in dry soil.
Mist lightly at the base after a week or two if it’s firming up.
Option B: Separate the pups and root them individually
This may increase your odds of saving at least part of Harry. Use a sterile knife to gently separate the pups, especially if they have their own small bases. Let each pup’s wound callus for several days before potting in dry succulent mix.
If Harry’s pups survive, he lives on through them.
4. Avoid Coconut Husk Going Forward
Coco husk retains too much water for a Ponytail Palm. For future soil, use:
50% cactus/succulent mix
25% perlite or pumice
25% coarse sand or orchid bark
And always make sure your pot has drainage and is never left sitting in water.
5. About the Original Base
If it’s still producing roots, leave it out in dry, warm air. If it firms up and you see signs of new growth, it might surprise you.
Summary:
Let the cut trunk dry fully and check for rot.
You can try rooting the whole top or separate and root the pups.
Use a dry, fast-draining mix and do not water until roots begin to form.
Root in bright, indirect light.
Avoid coco husk in the future—stick to gritty, airy mixes.
You’re doing your best, and Harry has had an amazing life thanks to your love. If even one pup survives, Harry’s legacy continues.
Please feel free to share a photo of the trunk or pups if you want more specific guidance—I’d be happy to help further.
I really hope you get to safe your plant, what a story.. Best of luck to you!
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