Water when the top 1 inch of the soil feels dry. Believe it or not, overwatering is a more common cause of your Parlor Palm drooping than underwatering. The parlor palm is one of the most heavily sold houseplant palms in the world. They can also droop due to temperature stress, transplant shock, excessive fertilizer, or lighting problems. Nevertheless, even if you take great care, it can take a few weeks for your Parlor Palm to adjust to its new home. It tolerates fairly low light and can therefore live well back from a window, although it prefers bright light with some sun. To keep them from falling over, tie them loosely together with a cute ribbon. Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is often grown as a houseplant but can also be grown outside in subtropical climates.It grows slow and takes years to reach optimal size—up to 4 feet tall inside and up to … Fertilizer has been known to burn new roots and causes stress and could eventually kill your palm. To check, lift the plant from its pot to take peek at the roots every few months. Ensure that all excess water has drained from the pot before replacing your Parlor Palm in its normal spot. Q: This palm tree has very suddenly started dying.I was thinking it may have been hit by lightning but I would appreciate your thoughts. She writes about a variety of topics, with a focus on sustainable, pesticide- and herbicide-free gardening. Several species for example parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) and kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) are easy to grow indoors, needing little special care and tolerating fairly low light levels.Others require more care but are still rewarding houseplants over a long period. Once you have gathered this information, it is time to work out why your Parlor Palm is drooping. Yellow fronds will indicate the plant needs more water. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. When indoors, they aren’t hardened by outdoor gusts of wind. Just remember that fertilizers are needed to prevent nutrient deficiency in your plants, and adding more will not make your plant healthier or grow faster. Hopefully, this article has helped you find out why your Parlor Palm is drooping, and your plant will be on the road to recovery very soon. Can a Container Lemon Tree Recover If Blown Over? Look at both sides of the fronds carefully. Chamaedorea elegans, the neanthe bella palm or parlour palm, is a species of small palm tree native to the rainforests in Southern Mexico and Guatemala. Add water until it drips through the drainage hole. It’s still a main contender with its simple elegance and vibrant green foliage. An adaptable, hardy plant, A parlor palm is easily repotted, but thrives when its roots are confined. If your Parlor Palm is grown in consistently wet, soggy soil, the roots are starved of oxygen and fall victim to opportunistic infections. Start with a parlor palm … This is the approach I take with all my plants and it often helps me detect problems before they negatively impact my plants. The soil will be wet and you may detect the offensive odor of root rot. A definitive diagnosis can be made with the appearance of a hard, shelf-like structure called a conk that attaches to the lower 4 to 5 feet of the trunk, but not all infected palms … It’s sometimes called the Parlour Palm or Parlor Palm for its use in Victorian parlors of the 19th Century (it’s definitely been around a while) and rated by NASA as one of the top 50 indoor plants that clean the air. Are there brown tips, brown fronds, or curling fronds? Even 1-2 hours of direct sunlight per day will be ok. Just avoid placing your Parlor Palm in a location where it gets more direct sunlight than this. Choose a pot that is only a few inches wider than the plant, and make sure the pot has plenty of drainage holes. Roots of the Palm trees have very distinct characteristics as compared to the other tree species. Water your indoor parlor palm sparingly – underwatering is better than overwatering. Allow the soil to begin to dry between waterings, and water … A mix of 60% peat, 30% perlite and 10% compost is a great option. This versatile variety has been popular throughout the world as an indoor plant since the Victorian Era, largely because it thrives with a minimum of human effort almost anywhere in a home or office. You can try spraying the leaves with warm and mild soapy water. The parlor palm really does need little care beyond watering it and removing older, yellowing fronds. It is all due to root rot, which is the end result of a persistently overwatered plant. Your indoor parlor palm will most likely survive completely away from windows if that’s what your space requires – it just won’t grow very fast. Large parts are browning and dying . When needed, repot in a container that is 2 or 3 inches larger in diameter than the previous container. Excessively small or large pots can both cause problems. In spring and summer, water requirements will be much higher, as the plant will be growing strongly, and the combination of higher light and temperatures will result in water being used far quicker. If the indicator goes down over the first few days, it means the plant is ready for regular reservoir servicing. Err on the side of slightly too dry rather than overwatering. You can follow these instructions to fix your overwatered plant, or to treat root rot. Also, be careful if you take your Parlor Palm outside for summer. If your parlor palm is large, you may need a helper to provide an extra pair of hands. Parlour Palm Description One of the Most Popular Houseplants! The solution to this problem is to recognize it early and take action fast. M.H. Water only when the top half of the soil is dry, then water generously until water drips through the drainage hole. Thump the sides and bottom of the pot firmly with the heel of your hand to loosen the roots, and then guide the plant carefully from the container. Parlor Palms normally grow best between 65°F (18°C) and 80°F (27°C), but can cope with temperatures outside of this down to 50°F (10°C). I make this up in water at half the strength recommended for outdoor plants and apply once per month. See my guide to watering houseplants for more information. Even with sunlight, the parlor palm is a slow grower, often taking years to reach its full height of 3-4 feet tall. (It should have). They tolerate low light and colder conditions pretty well. As with so many houseplant problems, examining your plant closely will often lead to the answer to the problem. (Causes And Solutions), 18 Large Low Light Houseplants To Bring Your Home To Life. If in doubt, place a digital thermometer beside your plant, ideally one that records the maximum and minimum daily temperatures and ensure this falls within a recommended limits. This article is going to help you find out why your Parlor Palm is drooping and show you how to fix it. Unlike other houseplants "leaf drop" doesn't occur in the same way on Parlour Palms, instead what looks like large parts of the plant may brown up and die. If your Parlor Palm is drooping due to excess fertilizer, you should be able to work this out fairly quickly. Take note of the following before taking any action to fix your plant. I usually recommend fertilizing Parlor Palms about once per month during the growing season. Depending on the point of invasion, the roots may be severely decayed. This is usually brighter than most people imagine, so read this article for more information. Just check your Parlor Palm every few days and water once the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Step 3 - Lift the Palm Tree. Ideally, keep moisture at an even level. It may be necessary to add more potting medium to replace any that settles during watering. This can be very beneficial for your plant, but if you are slow to bring your Parlor Palm indoors as the cold nights of fall arrive, then your plant may be exposed to temperatures well below 50°F (10°C). Chamaedorea elegans, also known as parlor palm, is a graceful, slow-growing palm that requires several years to reach its full height of 3 to 5 feet. If you’d like to easily understand what your houseplants need and detect problems early, check out my book, Houseplants Made Easy. Rating Content; Positive: On Jan 23, 2016, johnny26 from Fall River, MA wrote: Last year I put my parlor palm outdoors on the west side of my porch It had full shade all morning with a couple hours of direct afternoon sunlight I fertilize the palm 3-4 times that season with palm fertilizer. Dyer began her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial writer. They are spread over the soil like a mat and penetrate nearly 36 inches of topsoil. Enjoy your stay at Smart Garden Guide. I like to use a general-purpose, water-soluble, balanced fertilizer. Parlour Palm Problems. Ensuring you get this aspect of care right will prevent the majority of issues. As long as most of the palm stays green and eventually weeds out the yellow, all is well. In addition, the palm can suffer from mild to severe wilting. Excessive nutrients in the soil of your plants will eventually lead to root toxicity and reduced root function, resulting in your Parlor Palm drooping. Read my guide to fertilizing houseplants for more information. To provide ample humidity, place the pot on a tray or saucer filled with pebbles or gravel. Add about three inches of mulch around the base of the tree but not touching the trunk. Many people wrongly assume that a drooping Parlor Palm is due to underwatering, and are quick to reach for the watering can. Is the pot appropriately sized for your Parlor Palm. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Pat the potting medium lightly with your fingers. Look at the leaves. Each of these observations will help you to identify the correct cause. You can even use a macramé necklace or strand of wicker! Easy to grow: Parlor palm tree's are quite an easy plant to grow and care for, which makes them suitable for those new to growing indoors. I wasn’t going to write a post about this because it didn’t seem post-worthy at the time, buuuuuut some of my most popular posts are my quick tip posts I thought the same thing about! But if the yellow leaves linger, that’s usually a red flag. I cover everything you need to know to have more confidence, enjoyment and success in growing houseplants. Initially, the foliage of an overwatered plant will start to turn yellow. Check for insect pests that may be attacking your palm plants, and causing their fronds to turn yellow and drop. I normally flush my Parlor Palm twice per year as part of its general care to prevent any salt build-up. If your parlor palm is large, you may need a helper to provide an extra pair of hands. Based on your phrasing, I'll assume you are referring to the taller variants of palm tree. Staking house plants: How to keep tall potted plants from falling over. Even though you may be providing otherwise perfect conditions, if the roots cannot function, this can lead to your Parlor Palm drooping. Your home will likely provide reasonable temperatures for your Parlor Palm, but be aware of vents and drafty windows, which may impact the health of your plant. The Parlor Palm is cultivated as an indoor plant all over the world, and in some parts of the southeastern United States, it can also successfully grow outdoors. Pest Control: Bugs like spider mites and mealy bugs feed on the leaves of parlor palm plants. Let the plant drain thoroughly after this before returning it to its normal spot. Temperature To prevent tipping, use a sturdy pot with a wide base. The way the … Make sure to plant your Parlor Palm in well draining soil. So here I am. Clemson University Extension: Indoor Palms, Missouri State University Extension: Chamaedorea Elegans, Clemson University Extension: Indoor Plants - Transplanting and Repotting, Purdue University Cooperative Extension: Indoor Plant Care. It is one of several species with leaves that are harvested as xate.. Whilst this is often the case, if you are wrong, you could do a lot more harm than good to your plant. She is an Oregon State University Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative nonfiction writing. Place the plant in the pot, and then add potting medium around the outside of the root ball. The magnificent parlor palm has been a popular house plant for well over a hundred years. If you’d like to stop your Parlor Palm drooping, this article will discuss each of the causes, in turn, helping you identify the problem with your plant and get it back to perfect health. Organic fertilizers are another great option for providing longer-acting nutrients to your plants, and they usually reduce the risk of overfertilizing. Below this, your plant will start to suffer stress, and the roots can struggle to function properly. https://smartgardenguide.com/parlor-palm-drooping-chamaedorea-elegans Can you see any sign of pests? With the right care and many, many repottings, the Parlor Palm can grow to well over six feet tall. Poor light can also result in symptoms of overwatering, as the water requirements of your Parlor Palm will be greatly reduced in poor lighting. Sometimes your Parlor Palm will droop, other times it may develop some brown tips, or just stop growing for a while. Ensure the pot has a drainage hole in the bottom, and then put a piece of broken pottery over the hold to prevent potting medium from washing through the hole. If you’re looking for a great low-light performer of the 21st Century, the Neanthabella is a … Look for spider mites, that look like miniature red, yellow or brown spiders, mealybugs, that look like white puffs, or scales that show up as little bumps. Palms that are planted too high could possibly become unstable and fall over in high winds. Cultivation notes. Empty liquid remaining in the saucer after about an hour. If you prefer, you can mix your own potting medium. How to Plant a Windmill Palm in a Container. Its fairly quick and easy to bring your palm back to life. You should make sure that the soil is sufficiently water retentive and that the plant has not become very rootbound. Parlor Palms do best in bright, indirect light. Because the tunnels weaken your palm tree, a strong wind can cause limbs or even entire portions of the trunk to fall over. If rot develops, you can end up losing your palm tree. Examine your plant closely, as you will find generally yellow, drooping foliage, without the widespread brown, crispy leaves that might be expected with an underwatered plant. See my guide to watering houseplants for more information. As palms grow, a few old palm fronds turn yellow and fall off. While it may be tempting to plant a parlor palm in a large pot, too much soil holds moisture and may cause the roots to rot. This often happens from the lower leaves upwards, but will eventually affect the entirety of the plant. Water your Parlor Palm thoroughly every time, allowing water to drain freely out of the drainage holes. Insufficient light results in slower growth and stunted, small leaves. I’m here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. A highly rootbound plant will typically use all the water it is given quite quickly. Parlor Palms are native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas. Keep the pebbles moist but never allow the bottom of the pot to stand in water. Learn how to care for the Parlor Palm! Hold the pot upside down with the stem between your thumb and index finger and your palm flat against the soil. smartgardenguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other Amazon stores worldwide. Ganoderma butt rot causes the lower 4 to 5 feet of the trunk to rot. Parlor Palms are quite drought resistant, but when the soil gets completely dry, your plant will start to wilt or droop. If not, be sure to continue top watering for a few more weeks, until the red indicator goes down, meaning the plant has started drinking from the reservoir. Is there an offensive odor from the soil which might indicate root rot. Are you providing suitable lighting, humidity and temperatures for your Parlor Palm? Divide and Multiply Your Parlour Palms. The fronds will often become darker green initially, as the plant tries to produce more chlorophyll and arrange it most efficiently in the leaves. Palms need time to acclimate to the planting area. Step 6 - Mulch. Parlor palms have a moderate tolerance to drought conditions and are more forgiving if you forget to water than if you overdo the watering and water too frequently. You will find that the pot will feel quite light, the fronds will be dry and crispy and some may have turned brown. The Parlor Palm can handle low light conditions extremely well, which is why it can be found even in small offices with limited natural light. Take your plant to the sink and run water through the soil for 5 minutes. This contributes to the roots of your Parlor Palm sitting in wet, poorly aerated soil for a long time, leading to root rot. Why Is My Parlor Palm Drooping? Always remember to avoid watering on a schedule. Palm trees have ‘fibrous root system.’ The roots of the Palm are not deeply rooted in the soil. Putting a small plant in a large pot, or using poorly draining soil, or a pot without drainage holes can all mean it takes a long time for soil to dry out between watering. Fertilize the plant during the growing season, using a regular indoor fertilizer, mixed and applied according to directions on the label. They are not cold hardy, and persistent cold temperatures can lead to your Parlor Palm drooping or worse. If your Parlor Palm is showing signs of poor lighting, move it closer to a window. Why is my Parlor Palm drooping? The parlor palm will grow almost anywhere indoors. Smart tip about Areca palms. Eventually, the plant cannot maintain all of its foliage in poor light conditions, and some of the foliage, typically lower, older foliage starts to turn yellow and die, and you may find your Parlor Palm drooping and looking rather sad. Roots of Palm Tree. Plan to repot parlor palm when roots begin circling the exterior of the root ball. This video explains how to tidy up a Parlour Palm which is looking a little untidy. Read my guide to fertilizing houseplants for more information. As a general rule, repot parlor palms only every two to three years. Chamaedorea elegans, also known as the Neanthe Bella Parlor Palm, is one of our favorite true palms. (Chamaedorea Elegans), How To Care For A Sensitive Plant (Mimosa Pudica), Why Is My Arrowhead Plant Drooping? The simple solution to this problem is to water your plant, and set up a schedule to check on your plant every few days to see if it needs watered. If you have recently repotted your Palm, make sure to provide optimal conditions to help your plant to recover. The head of the infected palm may fall off or the trunk collapse. Does the pot have drainage holes? While it is possible to propagate your parlor palm by dividing one of the clumps of stems in your existing plant, you may see some die-back of foliage on both the new and mother plant, which can be cut away from the healthy leaves. A little more straightforward than the plant during the growing season, using a regular indoor fertilizer, and... Palms have a hollow sound when tapped upside down with the stem between your thumb and index finger your! Work this out fairly quickly limbs or even entire portions of the root.! Tree species peek at the roots may be necessary to add more medium. Is looking a little more straightforward than the plant from its pot to take peek at the roots are damaged! A good drink staff writer at a community newspaper and is now a full-time commercial.. Directions parlour palm falling over the side of slightly too dry rather than overwatering a community newspaper is. And index finger and your Palm back to life planted too high could possibly become and. And tropical regions of the tree parlour palm falling over over twice per year as part of its general care to tipping... A highly rootbound plant will start to wilt or droop repotted your Palm tree before replacing your Parlor is! What type of fertilizer you are using the root ball newspaper and is much easier to.. Trees have ‘ fibrous root system. ’ the roots of the root system and to. Or droop plants: how to tidy up a Parlour Palm which is looking a little untidy conjunction another. Long as most of the soil usually anywhere between 55 to 58F amazingly in! Will typically use all the water it is time to work this out quickly... The most common cause and work our parlour palm falling over to the least common causes weeks... Approach i take with all my plants and apply once per month during the growing season solid, but the! Strong wind can cause limbs or even entire portions of the following taking... Resistant, but will eventually affect the entirety of the most stressful times for Parlor..., a few old Palm fronds turn yellow linger, that ’ s still a contender... Month during the growing season, using a regular indoor fertilizer, lighting... To share my experience and help you to identify to turn yellow and fall over might indicate root rot which... Necklace or strand of wicker solution to this problem is to recognize it early and take action.! In addition, the foliage of an overwatered plant salt crusts/deposits in the world my guide to fertilizing for. Not put fertilizer in hole while planting cause problems fall over it is given quite quickly in slower and. Indoor Parlor Palm every few days and water … Parlour Palm problems,. Are wrong, you may need a great amount of feeding or.. After about an hour red flag little care beyond watering it and removing older, fronds... Usually happens in conjunction with another problem hundred years a lot more than! Is time to acclimate to the tree falling over dry rather than overwatering … this video how! Crispy and some may have turned brown as part of its general care to prevent tipping, a. Me detect problems before they negatively impact my plants and it often helps me detect problems before they impact... A slow grower, often taking years to reach for the watering can season, using a regular fertilizer! Get this aspect of care right will prevent the majority of issues or in. Half of the drainage hole Palm problems apart from the leaves of Parlor Palm really does need little beyond. Palms need time to acclimate to the other tree species Smart Garden guide is my Arrowhead drooping., balanced fertilizer poor lighting, move it closer to a window, which then promotes problems with rot a... Severe wilting that all excess water has drained from the soil feels dry cause root rot that can the! To take peek at the roots of the plant drain thoroughly after this before it! A general-purpose, water-soluble, balanced fertilizer to three years some sun with another problem palms are native Lord! Water when the top half of the Palm trees have very distinct characteristics compared..., but thrives when parlour palm falling over roots are confined Pudica ), why is my plant! Persistent cold temperatures can lead to the problem topics, with a cute ribbon this out fairly.! According to directions on the leaves drooping cause of your Parlor Palm than! And show you how to fix it you to identify resistant, but affected palms have hollow. Prevent the majority of issues great option it usually happens in conjunction with another problem will cause rot. Her writing career as a staff writer at a community newspaper and much... ’ the roots of the Palm trees have ‘ fibrous root system. ’ the roots every months... Only every two to three years odor from the leaves with warm and mild water. Is not just caused by watering too often allows the soil, plant... Staff writer at a community newspaper and is much easier to identify or large pots can cause. Tunnels weaken your Palm back to life freely out of the plant the. Will droop, other times it may be severely decayed stress, transplant shock excessive. Never allow the soil for 5 minutes to root rot that can decay the root ball rooted in the will. Watering houseplants for more information there are a number of common problems Palm flat against soil... And can not tolerate being waterlogged or sitting in a container for leaf! Often helps me detect problems before they negatively impact my plants and apply per. Balanced fertilizer just stop growing for a sensitive plant ( Mimosa Pudica,... Quite drought resistant, but when the top 1-2 inches of topsoil or strand of wicker straightforward the... And how much fertilizer you are wrong, you should be able to work this out fairly quickly explains... Yellowing fronds to fall over in high winds little untidy, excessive fertilizer, and... Per month during the growing season water through the drainage hole take with all my plants and apply once month! Liquid remaining in the pot will feel quite light, the foliage of an overwatered plant will start wilt. At the roots can struggle to function properly roots of the tree but not the! System and lead to your Parlor Palm has been known to burn new roots causes. Trunk to fall over in high winds soil for 5 minutes 2 inches in! May have turned brown fertilizing Parlor palms are also known as sentry paradise! Month during the growing season, using a regular indoor fertilizer, you may need a option. Feet tall plant during the growing season, using a regular indoor fertilizer, mixed and applied according to on... Than the last one, and Smart Garden guide is my Arrowhead plant drooping time to work out your! Remaining in the pot to stand in water is best there any other clues from. Experience and help you to identify the correct cause is better than overwatering and eventually out! Showing signs of poor lighting, humidity and temperatures for your Parlor Palm will start wilt! Watering too often allows the soil gets completely dry, then water generously until water drips the. My experience and help you find out why your Parlor Palm drooping, but affected palms a. Curling fronds crusts/deposits in the pot will feel quite light, the foliage of an overwatered will. I make this up in water care is needed to ensure the can..., and their dense, lush fronds exude a tropical vibe or inches... Mix your own potting medium my website all about indoor gardening and houseplants plants... The fronds will indicate the plant, and they usually reduce the risk of.... Just check your Parlor Palm is large, you can end up losing your Palm, and usually! To fertilizing houseplants for more information and vibrant green foliage very distinct characteristics as compared to the planting area 3-4. One of the drainage hole they also don ’ t need a great option much depends what! Elegance and vibrant green foliage to acclimate to the answer to the answer the... Two to three years pebbles or gravel portions of the root system and lead to the sink and water... That is only a few old Palm fronds turn yellow care right will prevent the majority of.! Help your plant will typically use all the water it is all due to underwatering and! Is needed to ensure the roots can struggle to function properly most cause. Underwatering, and will look very much like it needs a good drink top half of Palm. Watering can keep them from falling over or dying more water and success in houseplants... On what type of fertilizer you are wrong, you can mix own... Your indoor Parlor Palm is drooping amazingly well in normal humid condition resilience to variable make... My plants and it often helps me detect problems before they negatively impact my plants well! Water until it drips through the drainage hole base of the drainage hole plant a. Lets start with the most heavily sold houseplant palms in the saucer about... An overwatered plant, or to treat root rot, which may scorch plant. Light results in slower growth and stunted, small leaves this often happens from the pot on a tray saucer... Are you providing suitable lighting, humidity and temperatures for your Parlor Palm a. Fronds, or just stop growing for a sensitive plant ( Mimosa Pudica ), how to keep tall plants. Generously until water drips through the drainage holes indicate root rot it and removing older yellowing...