Ponytail palms come from hot, arid climates, so they will only truly thrive outdoors in areas that have similar conditions (USDA Zone 9 and warmer). They can survive brief cold snaps that dip into the 30s, but they don’t tolerate freezes well and likely won’t be happy if kept below 40°F for long. They are also prone to rotting from too much water, so if your winters are wet or snowy, the plant could easily get too wet and rot. Additionally, depending on where you are located, it may be too late in the season to plant it outdoors, as the shock of going from indoor temps to cold outdoor temps could damage it.
Young ponytail palms can be cut back to encourage branching, but I wouldn’t recommend trying that on one as large and as old as yours.
Though these plants aren’t particularly rare, a large specimen would likely be of interest to a botanical garden or university!
Ponytail palms come from hot, arid climates, so they will only truly thrive outdoors in areas that have similar conditions (USDA Zone 9 and warmer). They can survive brief cold snaps that dip into the 30s, but they don’t tolerate freezes well and likely won’t be happy if kept below 40°F for long. They are also prone to rotting from too much water, so if your winters are wet or snowy, the plant could easily get too wet and rot. Additionally, depending on where you are located, it may be too late in the season to plant it outdoors, as the shock of going from indoor temps to cold outdoor temps could damage it.
Young ponytail palms can be cut back to encourage branching, but I wouldn’t recommend trying that on one as large and as old as yours.
Though these plants aren’t particularly rare, a large specimen would likely be of interest to a botanical garden or university!