What should you do when the leaves of a potted parlor palm turn yellow and dry up?
The parlor palm is shade-tolerant and very suitable as a small indoor potted plant, decorating the living room, study, or meeting room and adding a touch of tropical flavor to the interior. So during cultivation, what should you do when the leaves of the parlor palm turn yellow and dry up?
1. What should you do when the leaves of the parlor palm turn yellow and dry up?
1. Increase watering
The parlor palm grows extremely fast, so its growth process needs sufficient water supply; otherwise, insufficient water and overly dry potting soil will cause the leaves to turn yellow.
The growth of the parlor palm needs to be accompanied by frequent watering to keep the potting soil moist, so as to ensure the healthy growth and development of the plant.
2. Reduce light
The parlor palm likes a semi-humid, semi-shady environment, so places with too strong light are not suitable for its growth. Strong sunlight will make the parlor palm fade or turn yellow, losing its original freshness and ornamental value.
The parlor palm should be placed in a place with sufficient daily scattered light for care, which is not only beneficial to the plant's growth but will also reduce health problems caused by yellowing leaves.
3. Increase humidity
Humidity is also an important element in the growth of the parlor palm; low humidity will cause the leaves to wither.
Suitable air humidity must be maintained, and the air humidity must be high. You can sprinkle water around the potted plant to prevent humidity from dropping and ensure the normal growth and development of the plant.
4. Increase light
The parlor palm often grows in a cold and shady environment, so placing it in a place with relatively strong sunlight will make the leaves turn yellow, leading to death.
In daily care, the parlor palm needs to be placed in a place where the growing light is not strong, so as to meet the growth needs of the parlor palm.
5. Reduce fertilizing
The growth and development of the parlor palm require all the nutrients it needs, so it needs to be fertilized in time, but fertilizing must not be too frequent.
The interval between fertilizing can be relatively extended, and the amount of fertilizer applied should be moderate.
6. Treat pests and diseases
High summer temperatures can cause the parlor palm to be infected by pests and diseases, resulting in yellowing leaves, and in severe cases, the plant will wither and die.
During the growth period of the parlor palm, attention should be paid to maintaining ventilation in the environment and air permeability in the soil. If disease is found and breaks out, chlorothalonil and thiophanate-methyl can be sprayed for control.
2. Key points for daily care of the parlor palm
1. Temperature
The parlor palm likes warmth. The suitable growth temperature is 18—24°C, and it enters dormancy at 13°C. In winter, it is best not to let it go below 10°C.
2. Light
The parlor palm prefers a semi-shady place, and it is best to care for it with scattered light. If it is exposed to strong light, the leaf color will become scorched yellow, but if it is placed in a place with insufficient light for a long time, the plant will become thin and elongated.
3. Watering
The parlor palm likes water. During the growth period, the soil should be kept moist. During the dormant period, water only after two-thirds of the potting soil has dried. In addition, the parlor palm likes high air humidity. If it is too dry, the leaf tips will turn brown. During dry periods, such as autumn, measures such as frequently spraying water on the leaf surface should be taken to increase air humidity.
4. Fertilizing
During the growth period, a compound fertilizer can be applied to the plant once a month. Apply diluted liquid nitrogen fertilizer once every half month. In autumn, apply less or stop fertilizing.
5. Potting soil
It is best to plant it in loam soil with good drainage and loose fertility. You can use leaf mold, peat soil plus one-quarter sand or perlite and a small amount of base fertilizer to make a potting mix, or use 70 percent garden soil mixed with 30 percent leaf mold for potting.