The most likely causes of your Parlor palm drooping are underwatering or overwatering. Check the soil’s moisture content to find out which of the two is the main issue. You might be overwatering your Parlor palm if the soil is still wet. If the soil is dry, on the other hand, it’s time to water your Parlor palm.
Root rot will probably start to appear if your Parlor palm is routinely overwatered. This occurs when your Parlor palm’s roots cannot receive adequate oxygen. This can be easily avoided by waiting until the soil is entirely dry before you water your palm once again.
Yellow and/or light green leaves
Too much sunshine exposure frequently results in yellow and/or light green foliage. It can also be the result of poor irrigation. You will also notice your plant’s drooping leaves if there is a watering problem. You must relocate your plant to a more dimly lit area if you have non-drooping leaves that are yellow or light green.
Black spots on your Parlor palm
You must swiftly relocate your Parlor palm plant to a darker location once you notice black spots on the tops of its leaves. These dark marks are sunburns brought on by exposure to the sun. Trim these dark areas to replenish the nutrients in your plant. No longer will these spots change back to green.
Brown tips on your Parlor palm
The tips of your Parlor palm’s leaves will turn brown if you’ve allowed it to dry out for too long. Water your Parlor palm immediately if you notice this happening. The brown tips can be cut off because they won’t turn green again.
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How are drooping parlor palms fixed?
Many gardeners have trouble moving or repotting their Parlor palm. You must be cautious about the soil mixture you employ and the timing of repotting your Parlor palm. It’s better to get a new Parlor palm in the spring or summer if that’s all you’re looking to accomplish. This is because your new palm will have an easier time adjusting to its surroundings—your home.
The soil mixture you select to repot your Parlor palm is another critical necessity. A potting mix for your indoor palms may be available, however some of them are primarily made of peat. For young palms that are up to 1.5 years old, only peat-based potting soil is acceptable.
Older palms need heavier soil, though.
Peat, perlite, castings or leaf litter (humus), sod/turf/compost, and some sand would make up the ideal mixture. Your Parlor palm will require heavier, richer soil as it ages. As you will replant your Parlor palm every three to five years, this will help it maintain its health.
Your Parlor palm’s repotting time is also crucial. Repotting your Parlor palm during the summer, when it is developing new roots and getting ready for winter, is not advised. Repotting your Parlor palm should be done in early to late spring, between March and May. Young Parlor palms can be replanted every year, while older ones should only be done every three to five years.
Additionally, if your Parlor palm is in good health, you will need to move it into a pot that is around 2 (5 cm) bigger and has more room on top of the pot. By doing this, you can add some new soil and stop having to replant your palm frequently. After repotting, keep your Parlor palm in the shade for a few weeks. So that it doesn’t experience post-repotting shock and begin to droop or drop leaves, move to a lighter place gradually.
#2: Lighting issues
Direct sunlight is not ideal for parlor palms. In fact, too much sun might damage your palm and cause it to droop. Unbelievably, the Parlor palm can even grow in the shade and doesn’t require special lighting. Keep your Parlor palm partially shaded indoors. However, they can endure only a few hours of direct sunshine at most.
The best windows for Parlor palms, particularly in the summer, would be those facing north-west and north-east. In the summer, be sure to shield your Parlor palm from direct sunlight. One potential solution to your issue is drooping brought on by too much sunlight.
#3: Under or overwatering and dry air
One of the frequent reasons Parlor palms droop is underwatering. The parlor palm needs high humidity and consistently moist soil, especially in the summer. In the summer, give your plant plenty of water and mist the leaves once a day. They require more humidity, so this will help. You should spray your Parlor palm’s leaves in particular if the air in your location is dry.
Remember, though, that excessive misting and watering might cause fungal and bacterial infestation. You must therefore permit adequate air exchange in the space where your Parlor palm is located. Regularly open the windows to let fresh air in.
Use containers with drainage holes, and always discard any water that remains in the saucer. The soil of the parlor palm must always be moist (although it can occasionally dry out between waterings in the winter), but you must never overwater it or leave any water in the saucer. Avoid muddy ground. Additionally, remember to wipe the leaves of your Parlor palm once every two to three weeks, or once per month during the winter.
Your Parlor palm won’t need as much water in the winter, so cut back on how often you water it. Water less frequently because it won’t be actively growing and because the temperature will be lower.
Please be aware that how frequently you water your Parlor palm will depend on the type of pot it is in, the soil mix, and the humidity of the environment. For instance, unglazed porous clay pots typically have a greater rate of water evaporation. Water evaporation through the sides of pots made of plastic or glazed terracotta will be slowed significantly. Sandier soil will dry out more quickly than heavier peat/clay soil.
You’ll also need to water your Parlor palm more frequently in dry weather, and be sure to spritz its leaves every day. Give it a dip in the shower or thoroughly sponge-clean its leaves once or twice a month.
Finally, remember to water your Parlor palm appropriately and spritz or clean its leaves, but never overwater it or leave water in the saucer. Your Parlor palm’s thrichomes and stomata will be cleared if you wipe the leaves (from both sides) (breathing). It will therefore enhance the respiratory mechanisms in your palm and lengthen its life.
#4: Using cold water for watering
Another error that could result in your Parlor palm starting to droop or dying is watering it with cold water. Palms are native to tropical or subtropical regions of the planet, thus they require warm air and water. The Parlor palm’s roots will be able to “remain active and pump water to the plant” if you water it with warm water; otherwise, there is a greater chance of rotting roots and an underwatered Parlor palm.
Make sure the water is around 86 degrees Fahrenheit while watering your Parlor palm (30 C). You cannot water your Parlor palm with cold or room temperature water. Use a basic water/liquid thermometer like this if you are unsure of the water’s temperature. In this manner, you may control the temperature of the water used to water the Parlor palm.
Your Parlor palm’s development and general health will be enhanced by providing it with warm water to water. To prevent causing early growth in the winter, however, stay away from using excessively warm water. To avoid overtaxing the root system in the winter, it’s preferable to use water that is room temperature, or about 72 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (22 to 24 degrees Celsius).
#5: Pests and diseases
Unfortunately, illnesses and pests can harm Parlor palms. The Parlor palm will begin to droop and may even die if untreated. Spider mites and thrips are two of the most prevalent pests that can harm Parlor palm trees.
The size of a pepper grain, spider mites are extremely tiny. They can, however, cause a great deal of harm to the Parlor palm by removing vital nutrients and leaving behind webbing and white blotches. Because they are so tiny and come in a variety of colors, periodically inspect the leaves for spider mites. This insecticidal soap might help you naturally get rid of spider mites if you discover any. In very mild cases, finger massage and horticultural oils may also be helpful.
Thrips feed on foliage, which causes leaf stippling and silvery areas. They frequently attack immature, vulnerable portions of the plants and have a tiny, black dot appearance. You can get rid of thrips if you see any by using insecticidal soap.
Root rot is another potential reason for a drooping Parlor palm. It can develop root rot if you consistently overwater your Parlor palm, leave water in the saucer, utilize soil with poor drainage, and don’t give adequate air exchange. In this scenario, the roots will begin to decay, making it impossible for the palm to absorb water and nutrients through the roots.
There will be a bad scent and black roots. The palm may begin to develop yellow leaves and even brown tips as a result of root rot. In this situation, you would need to cut off the palm’s decaying roots and move it into a new pot and soil mixture.
#6: High temperatures or sudden temperature changes
Direct sunlight and high temperatures are not good for parlor palms. Your Parlor palm may become very droopy and eventually die with exposure to excessive sunlight, dry air, and extreme temperatures. Keep the Parlor palm away from windows that receive direct sunshine because doing so risks killing the plant. Parlor palms need to be misted every day, so sunlight on the water droplets on the leaves can burn people.
Temperatures between 65 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for Parlor palms (18-25 Celsius). Parlor palms can withstand wintertime temperatures of 54–75°F (12–24°C) from late October to late February. Parlor palms thrive both indoors and outdoors in the summer (in part shade). However, if nighttime lows in the summer are below 65 F (18 C), avoid taking it outside or bringing it inside.
Be careful not to abruptly modify the climate around your Parlor palm’s surroundings. The amount of sunlight has the same effect.
#7: Lack or over-fertilization
Parlor palms can become droopy, leaning, or even injured due to inadequate or excessive fertilization. Throughout their growth season, parlor palms benefit from routine fertilizing. Balance is important, but be careful not to overdo it too.
You can fertilize your Parlor palm about every two weeks during the growth season (mid-March to early August). Additionally, you would need to lower it once every 1.5–2 months from October to February. However, you can completely forgo fertilizing in the winter or use feeds with reduced nitrogen content or longer-lasting delayed release feeds.
For palms like these, liquid fertilizer is ideal, but there are alternative slow-release feeds that require less frequent application. Before using, make sure to read the directions. For your Parlor palms, you can use balanced, all-purpose houseplant fertilizer in addition to fertilizers designed for palms.
#8: Transplant shock
Transplant shock can affect parlor palms, especially if the root system was compromised during repotting. Especially mature plants, parlor palms don’t require frequent transplanting. Every year, transplant young Parlor palms (up to 3 years old), and every 3 to 5 years, transplant elder palms.
Make careful to allow some space above the container and add some new soil each year to make the need to transplant your Parlor palm less frequent. Additionally, using fertilizers during the growing season will lessen the frequency of repotting.
Make sure to keep your Parlor palm in the shade and water it sparingly for about two weeks after repotting. If not, you will have transplant shock symptoms, which are followed by drooping and possibly overall plant weakness.
Conclusion and extra tips
As a result of inadequate or overwatering, pests and illnesses, problems with the temperature of the lighting, rapid climatic changes, and more, Parlor palms may droop or lean. However, as they are quite resilient and simple to care for, if you stick to the advice below, your Parlor palm should be fine.
- Avert damp ground and water left in the saucer. Make sure the soil is always moist, though.
- Avoid placing the Parlor palm in the sun. Full or even partial shade is OK.
- Avoid air conditioners, drafts, and other sources of dry air.
- In the summer, spray and water the plant frequently, every day.
- Since the upper stem of the palm is where it grows, it should never be cut. The plant will eventually droop and die if this doesn’t happen.
- Don’t injure the palm’s roots when transplanting it, and exercise caution. For two weeks, place the palm in partial to complete shade and water it less frequently.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my post on the Parlor palm. See this website for more information on how to take care of the Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans/Neanthe Bella Palm).
How is a Parlor Palm revived?
Underwatering or an environment that is excessively dry are the usual causes. But you could also be the culprit if you overwater this plant, causing it to get drenched or waterlogged.
Solution – If the plant is submerged, take it out of its pretty pot and give it a thorough rinse in the sink. Mist frequently to raise moisture levels. If the plant has been overwatered, aerate the soil or just wait until the plant has had a chance to dry out before watering again. It could need to be repotted if it is severely damaged.
Solution: Remove your plant from its attractive pot and give it a good watering in the sink. Alternatively, fertilize sparingly and only once or twice in the spring and summer.
How frequently should a Parlor Palm be watered?
Here is a quick overview on what Parlor Palm plants require, along with some advice on how to maintain their health.
Can tolerate low indirect light and thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Unsuitable for direct, hot sunlight. Find out more about these lighting needs.
Water once every two to three weeks, letting the soil dry up in between applications. In brighter light, water more frequently, and in less-bright light, less frequently. Here are some further advice on watering plants.
65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer at home, up to 85 degrees. If you’re comfortable, the Parlor Palm is comfortable.