Is this normal?

16 years ago

"Palms" won't live this region, so this question is about a ponytail palm (not a true palm), Beaucarnea recurvata, that is inside in a bright area in the winter, outside in the summer. It is 20+ years old. It had reached almost 8' outside last fall and had become too tall to get any direct light through a large window. So, when coming in last fall it was cut off severely at the top of its bulbous base. The stem was about 3" diameter where cut. Over the winter it has developed a solid ring of 12 almost perfectly spaced new shoots. Is this normal? Should some of the shoots be removed?

TIA, hortster

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Comments (4)

desertlvr
16 years ago
Yes, they tend to sprout multiple shoots after being severely topped. Makes for an interestingly shaped plant with multiple branches.
brooklyngreg
16 years ago
I bet it looks good. Yup its normal, it will grow in fuller. Let the spouts live and remove one or so if it gets in your way.

However, if you cut the too many new spouts then the few remaining will grow tall again and you'll be back with a tree to large.
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hortster
Original Author
16 years ago
desertlvr and brooklyngreg, very much appreciate your responses. Yes, it does look good now, kind of like a green tiara on "the bulb" that is the base. Will leave them all as they all are of equal size and vigor - maybe I can coax another 20 years out of it...or more if it is slower because of the multiple sprouts.
Thanks again,
hortster
tropicalzone7
16 years ago
The new shoots are very normal. You can let some grow and if they get to look awkward then pull a few shoots off and you can try to root them.