How to Water an Areca Palm (How Often to Water It) and What to Do When the Leaves Turn Yellow

The areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) is a very valuable ornamental plant. Many gardening enthusiasts grow it in their home courtyards or bedrooms. It is not only beautiful in form and able to decorate the home environment, but it can also increase the humidity of the surrounding environment, which is extremely beneficial to human health. However, growing it well is also a question that gardening enthusiasts care about very much, and watering is a very important point in cultivation.

How to Water an Areca Palm (How Often to Water It)

1. Spring and autumn: These two stages are much the same. The temperature conditions are similar, and the growth rate is similar as well. So the frequency can be controlled at about once a day.

2. Summer: This season is when growth is most vigorous, evaporation is fast, and it is also when water demand is greatest. So sometimes it needs to be watered twice a day. However, although the frequency is high, the amount of water must not be too much. As we said above, there must be no waterlogging.

3. Winter: This is when water demand is lowest. At this time there is generally no fixed watering frequency. You can skip watering, or judge based on the dry or wet state of the soil. If the soil is really very dry, you can water a little.

What to Do When Areca Palm Leaves Turn Yellow

1. Unsuitable soil

Indoor potted areca palms should be planted in slightly acidic, sandy loam soil. The absorption function of the areca palm's root system is poor, which causes the leaves to turn yellow.

2. Improper transplanting

When potting, part of the outer root system needs to be removed, but the outer roots are the main roots for root respiration. If handled improperly and damaged, the plant's nutrient supply will fail, and the plant will gradually wither and die. The sign of death is yellowing, drooping leaves.

3. Improper watering

The areca palm is relatively tall, and the nutrients needed by the leaves must be transported by the roots. With proper watering, the roots can absorb quickly and keep the leaves emerald green. But if the potting soil is too wet, it will affect root respiration and affect the roots' water absorption, directly causing the leaves to turn yellow.

4. Unsuitable humidity

The growth of the areca palm requires relatively high air humidity. When the air is too dry, the leaves will begin to slowly turn yellow. Throughout the entire growth period, water should be sprayed on the leaf surface and the surrounding environment 3-4 times a day to increase air humidity. But after dormancy (after the beginning of winter), watering should be stopped.

5. Too much sunlight

The growth of the areca palm requires sufficient sunlight, but from May to September it needs appropriate shading. During this period, too strong light can easily cause sunburn on the plant's leaves, which is what we commonly call sunscald. Yellow spots appear on the leaves, and they become scorched and yellow. As time goes on, the whole plant will wilt. So in summer, the plant should be kept under a shade canopy or under a large tree to avoid direct sunlight.

What to Do When an Areca Palm Has Root Rot

1. Overwatering

When growing an areca palm, watering must be moderate, just enough to meet the areca palm's growth needs. When watering, keep the potting soil moist, but never let water accumulate. This can prevent root rot.

2. Overfertilizing

Overfertilizing is also one of the causes of root rot in plants. Too much fertilizer easily causes problems with the soil. When growing an areca palm, you must pay attention to the areca palm's growth habits. Do not fertilize too much. Too much will not promote the areca palm's growth, but will instead have the opposite effect.

3. Disease

Root rot in an areca palm may be caused by root rot disease. So when growing an areca palm, in winter be sure to promptly destroy the areca palm's dead and diseased leaves, so as to prevent pathogens from overwintering and causing the areca palm to develop root rot.

What to Do When Areca Palm Leaves Droop

1. Supplement light and water

Move the areca palm to a place with ideal light for care. If there are continuous rainy days, you can supplement light artificially to ensure sufficient sunlight.

Water in time. After watering, the drooping leaves of the areca palm can return to their original state.

2. Increase temperature and control fertilizer

Move the areca palm to a warm place. In winter, the indoor temperature can be appropriately increased. Control the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, and appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to ensure sufficient nutrients.

In fact, the number of waterings and the amount of water cannot be generalized. They must be combined not only with its own growth habits, but also with the specific season and the actual surrounding environment. So gardening enthusiasts who want to grow it well need to put in a certain amount of effort.