Natural leaf aging
An occasional yellowing or browning of the lowest, oldest leaves on a healthy Ponytail Palm is completely normal.
Diagnosis
Natural leaf aging
What's happening
Ponytail Palm constantly grows new strappy leaves from the top while retiring the oldest ones at the bottom. If only a few of the very lowest leaves are fading and the base is firm and the crown is full and green, nothing is wrong — it is simply shedding spent foliage.
How to fix it
Snip the spent leaves off close to the trunk with clean scissors for a tidier look, and carry on with your normal care. Just keep an eye on it so the yellowing stays limited to the oldest, lowest leaves and doesn't start spreading up into the healthy crown.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Ponytail Palm care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this