Parlour Palm - Brown leaf problem

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Charlie, May 30, 2006.

  1. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    I have a Parlour Palm in our sitting room. It stands approximately at 6.5 ft. I water it regularly and it doesnt sit in direct sunlight although it does get some sun late in the afternoon. I also feed it. This is a new plant and ever since buying it it has gone back. The leaves are begining to go brown on some of the branches and have died altogther on others. I must be doing something wrong because this is a replacement for one that had exactly the same thing happened to it. That plant has now gone brown all over save for a couple of small shoots low down. I cant believe that once the leaves have gone brown they will ever come back again so I am going to cut those off (on both plants) However does anyone have any suggestions as to how to stop this happening again?
     
  2. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I dont disagree with MF, but Charlie are we on the right plant here, you dont usually see them that tall.
    Its not a howea or kentia palm is it?
     
  4. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] You may be able to ID it from the link I gave you if it isn't a Parlour Palm... [​IMG]
     
  5. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    I thought it best to show you the offending plant. The first four shots are of the new palm minus a few branches that went brown, you can see in one of the shots some brown spots which I have left. The last two photos are of the remaining branches of the old palm to show you what the new one was begining to resemble. I have now started to mist every day and water more. Could you tell me what the palm actually is because I was lead to believe it was a Parlour Palm.
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  6. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    Pete having now looked at www.thepalmcentre.co.uk I can see that mine is definately the Howea palm. Thank you.
    However it does say that this palm can withstand anything which mine has not. I do though think that I have not given it enough water!
     
  7. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Be careful not to overwater, as MF says humidity is the best form of moisture along with keeping the compost damp.
    It probably can withstand neglect, but it wont look very good.
    I think a lot of the problem is one of getting used to its new enviroment, it was probably grown under very ideal conditions of warmth and humidity, then when we buy them and put them in our houses they need to acclimatise.
    Unfortunately its not easy to recreate these conditions indoors, so give it time to settle down, with no direct sun, but good light, and spray if poss.
     
  8. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    [​IMG] Charlie, have a look at this care page. I think it may have your answer... ;)

    http://www.plant-care.com/kentia-palm.html

    This link works, I double checked it..! Scroll down the page & I think you will see your answer... [​IMG]
    If for some reason it doesn't work. Copy & paste it into your browser.... :rolleyes:
     
  9. Charlie

    Charlie Gardener

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    Yes thanks Marley I have ID'd it to be the Howea however it also says that you should remove only the brown leaf and not the stem. My problem is that all the leaf is brown and the stem green so I cut off the stem at the base i hope it doesnt cause too much of a problem. I'm talking about the old palm here - on the new one I only cut back the stem on a couple and they were small ones. I've left the other one branch that has brown leaf on it as you can see in the photos. I'm inclined to think that Pete is right when he says that the change of environment causes the problem. It would tally with the old palm that had sat for years in one spot in another house and was then moved to this airy and light flat. I have to say that the conditions in the old place could not have been worse. Dark, hot and smokey and it thrived!
     
  10. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    ;) Hey, you know Charlie, you may have put your finger on the problem. You are giving it too much of the GOOD LIFE. :rolleyes: Just mist it daily & feed & water occasionally & keep out of direct sunlight... Allot of these thrive on neglect.... :eek:
     
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