Potted palms are a classic, sophisticated addition to any houseplant collection. Browning palm fronds are a common and worrisome problem for indoor palm fans. The palm tree has brown leaves – what to do? In this article we will show you the solutions, but first the possible causes.
Causes of palm leaves turning brown
Browning of leaves is most often caused by direct sunlight and watering. Inadequate watering can lead to brown leaves, root rot and fungal infections. Low humidity, insect infestation andNutrient deficiencies are all factors, which can cause brown leaves. But don't worry! It's rarely a major problem, and we've put together a simple guide to diagnosing and treating your palm tree with brown leaves.
Natural aging of the plant
First, it's important to understand that the browning of your palm's oldest leaves is natural. Does your palm tree have brown tips on the oldest, lowest leaves, with the browning gradually spreading until the entire leaves are brown and dry? Then it is simply the end of the life cycle of the old leaves.Depending on the type of palm treeThe older leaves are at the base of the plant. If your plant is producing plenty of healthy new growth, the brown fronds at the base are nothing to worry about. Cut them off and compost them.
The palm has brown leaves: underwatering
On the other hand, if your plant works from the tips inwardsturns brown, evenly across the entire plant without showing much growth, then your plant is thirsty. Palm trees can only store a small amount of moisture in their leaves and therefore benefit from evenly moist, but not wet, soil. Take a look at your growing medium. Is it dry? Is it loose and crumbly or, worse, dried out into a single hard mass? Lift your pot. Is it unusually light? These are all signs that you need to water.
Treatment for underwatering
Luckily, an underwatered palm tree is very easy to treat. Just give her a big, hearty helping of fresh, clean water. It is best to water from below, this way the water penetrates deep into the root mass most effectively. How to water from below:
- Place your plant in a basin or tub that is at least half as deep as your pot is tall.
- Fill the basin with filtered, distilled or rainwater until it is half the height of the pot.
- Watch the magic begin: The soil in the pot absorbs the water and the water level in the basin drops. Add water until the water level is halfway up the pot.
- If theWater level has stabilized, let your palm rest in the water for at least half an hour.
- Take out the plant. Allow the excess water to drain out before putting them back in place.
- In the following hours, check the coasters and empty any excess water.
- Make sure to water your plant regularly. Water when the top inch or two of growing medium is completely dry.
Overwatering and root rot
It's an irony of indoor landscaping that an under-watered plant and an over-watered plant often have the same symptoms. If the brown leaves occur along with a boggy, unpleasant-smelling substrate, or your plant's stems are soft or mushy, your plant has likely been overwatered and developed root rot. Your palm tree's roots need oxygen or they will begin to drown and die. When the roots stop functioning, water and nutrients can no longer reach the leaves and they dry out. This also makes the plant susceptible to a number of diseases.
What treatment needs to be done?
The key to treating an overwatered palm is to assess the extent of the overwatering. If the browning is only slight and the soil smells fresh, you should set the watering can aside and allow the plant to dry out.
- Empty pots or saucers of standing water to allow water to drain from the soil.
- Inspect the roots of your potted palm tree for damage. If possible, loosen the pot and lift the plant out to examine the roots.
- If the roots appear blackened, soft, or damaged, you will need to repot them. A foul smell is also an indication of root rot.
What should you consider when repotting?
If you are repotting because of root damage, you do not need a larger pot. Your plant doesn't need empty space beyond the edges of the root mass. Your pot needs at least three well-spaced drainage holes. Potted plants are not picky when it comes to potting soil. A good potting soil with lots of organic material such as peat moss, coconut fiber orMulch is bestsuitable (bark mulch is recommended). For an overwatered palm, you can add sand or perlite to improve water flow. If the roots are blackened and slimy, they have rotted and need special care. Rinse gently and trim off any dead or dying parts with clean scissors.
The palm tree has brown leaves: too much sunlight
Most indoor palm trees are tropical species adapted to the shady soil of rainforests andprone to sunburnare. Even vigorous desert palms can be damaged by too much direct sunlight. If browning starts suddenly and only occurs on one side or area of the plant, it's time to check the lighting conditions.
Sunburn treatment
First of all, place your plant away from direct sunlight. Sunburn does not affect the leaf's ability to nourish the plant. As long as more than half of the leaf is still green, it will do its job, so leave it on the plant until its natural lifespan is over.
Avoid nutrient deficiencies
Many care instructions advise you to be stingy with fertilizer for your palm tree, and for good reason. Most indoor palms grow into trees, and an over-fertilized palm will grow at heights that are difficult to maintain. But it's easy to go too far in the other direction and starve the plant.All houseplantsneed to be fertilized regularly.
