Palm Leaves Turning Brown (Tips & Solutions)

by Becky Decker and Anita Shan · August 12, 2024

Is it only me, or are you also having the problem of healthy-grown palm leaves starting to turn brown? If yes, I know how you must be feeling. But what if I tell you I know the reason and ways to fix it? Interesting, right? Of course, it is—because everyone might struggle or have struggled with this issue.

You must have tried many solutions but didn’t get the best results. I was in the same situation but didn’t give up and found the answer, which I have explained here.

In this informative guide, you will learn all the reasons why palm leaves turn brown and how to fix them, so you can identify the problem and address it accordingly. Let’s not waste time and save our palm leaves quickly.

Understanding the Causes of Brown Spots:

Here are some main causes of palm leaves turning brown:

Watering Practices:

The palm leaves turning brown because of overwatering and underwatering.
If you overwater palm trees, there will be root rot conditions, and when not given water the leaves show tantrum by turning brown.

Light Exposure:

When the palm leave gets excessive light they start to have scorches on their leaves, with unsightly brown spots.
If they get too little light the leaves start to get fade away.
The palm trees when they get too much or not enough light exposure will create a problem.

Humidity Levels:

The palm trees originated in the rainforest that’s why they crave moist air.
In case you are providing the plant with a drier environment, which causes palm leaves turning brown.

Nutrient Deficiencies:

Palm trees love to grow with a balanced diet but when the leaves turn leaves it can be because of a lack of nutrients.
The plant having Calcium and potassium deficiencies leads to discoloration.

Palm Leaves Turning Brown (Tips & Solutions)

Nutrient Deficiencies causes Palm Leaves turning Brown:

Yes, nutrient deficiencies do play an important role, if is about palm leaves turning brown. If the palm leaves do not get the nutrients it will make the leaves look sad, discolored, and wilted resulting in brown leaves.

You need to take care of the palm trees when you want them to look healthy and vibrant. Here are the most common nutrient deficiencies resulting in palm leaves turning brown:

Nitrogen (N) Deficiency:

Nitrogen is a lifeline to palm trees because it plays a perfect role in the production of chlorophyll making the leaves have a rich, green color.
The deficiency of nitrogen in palm trees will cause the leaves to look pale, and yellowy and turn brown and necrotic.
You need to maintain enough nitrogen in the soil for which to use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

Iron (Fe) Deficiency:

The iron nutrient is essential for the palm tree because like nitrogen it is involved in chlorophyll production and other metabolic processes.
If palm trees don’t get iron they will start to have signs of stress like turning yellow overall or develop interveinal chlorosis in which veins stay green and the rest of the leaf turns yellow or white.
You can solve the iron deficiency problem by applying iron chelate or iron sulfate to the soil.

Potassium (K) Deficiency:

Maintaining the potassium will keep the palm tree strong and healthy.
If the palm tree does have potassium deficiency will lead to weak, yellowing leaves that make the palm leaves turning brown and necrotic.
To keep the palm tree in shape, just make sure to provide a potassium-rich fertilizer or add some potash to the soil.

Magnesium (Mg) Deficiency:

Magnesium is used for chlorophyll production and other metabolic processes which is important for palm trees.
The tree having magnesium deficiency will cause problems such as yellowing or browning of the leaves while the veins stay green.
You can fix the problem by using Epsom salt or a magnesium-rich fertilizer and treat the palm tree after which green leaves will come back in no time.

Manganese (Mn) Deficiency:

The palm tree used to have Manganese to help it with enzymes involved in chlorophyll synthesis and energy production.
If the palm is not getting enough manganese it will cause yellowing or brown spots on the leaves, middle, or base of the leaflets.
Here you need to treat the palm tree using manganese sulfate which will cure the deficiency and promote healthy growth of leaves.
You need to take care of nutrient deficiencies in palm trees which is key for keeping the plant healthy and preventing brown leaves.
Just make sure to maintain vibrancy and keep it free from browning or discoloration.
You need to check the soil to check for any lack of nutrients and adjust the fertilizer.
Maintaining regular fertilization and proper care is a key rule to keep the palm trees lush and green.

How to Revive a Palm leaves turning brown:

Maintain a Consistent Watering:

The most common cause of palm leaves turning brown is a sign of a watering issue that can be over or underwatering.
You need to check on the moisture level of the soil to find out the problem with the plant or you can check the quality of the browning leaves.
The change of color, texture, and location of the spots all are signs of having some problems.

Underwatering:

If the palm tree is underwater the leaves will turn brown and will get crispy.
When you check the soil it will feel dry to the touch.
You can check the soil with your finger using a wooden stick, or a moisture meter.
I will suggest you to use a moisture meter, which will give an accurate idea of what’s going deep inside the pot.
It all depends on aerated soil in which the top of the soil gets completely dry but still, the root ball is wet. In this condition, you need to check the soil when it feels dry, just check using the stick if it comes out dry, or if the moisture meter reads any less than 3 then is possible the plant is dry and just water them.
When you water the palm tree just a few days ago but still the soil has already dried out then you need to water the tree more deeply.
Here you need to give the soil a good soak and let all water drain out completely.
In case the problem doesn’t get fixed, you need a potting mix to have more moisture retention by using coco coir or peat moss.

Overwatering:

In case of palm tree is overwatering, it will have soft, dark brown spots on the leaves.
There will be chances of entire leaves getting soft and medium brown which might be squishy and darl leaf stems.
Having any of these signs, makes you check the soil with a finger, a chopstick, or a moisture meter. When you water the plant 7 or more days ago, the soil feels wet and the stick comes out wet or the moisture meter reads higher than a 4, all this means the palm tree is overwatered.
In the case of watering the palm tree more than once per week then you need to water less often but if not watering every 7-10 days still has the problem which might be with drainage.
If the pots don’t have drainage holes will cause problems.
Using bad potting mix is also the culprit, when the soil is compacted or simply too dense it will retain water for too long meaning the roots is being sitting in soaked soil.
In case of soil stays wet for longer than 10 days, you need to repot the palm tree into a well-aerated potting mix that is used to drain more quickly.

Avoid Tap Water:

The palm leaves turning brown or having tips brown is also because of the type of water they are getting.
Many plants are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals found in tap water, which causes many problems, so you need to switch to purified, distilled, or rainwater.
You can also just leave tap water out overnight to allow the chemical to evaporate so that it gets evaporated.

Avoid Temperature Stress:

If the temperature around the palm tree is too hot or too cold, it will cause the leaves to turn brown.
The palm tree getting excessive heat will cause them to dry, and light brown spots when compared with the browning caused by cold it will be darker, even black.
If the watering situation is good then you need to check for drafts or blasts of hot air from vents, doors, windows, space heaters, etc.
You need to make adjustments if anything is causing extreme temperatures around the plant.
The palm tree thrives in a certain spot of the month until winter comes, or placed near the window starts to emit cold draft.
In the case of using indoor climate control more than or if the outdoor temperature is changing will raise the problem with palm trees.

Control Humidity:

In case you are living in an arid climate or using a lot of indoor climate control then the humidity levels are not ideal for the palm trees.
Finding the leaves drying out but not having any issues with soil moisture, water quality, or temperature than it’s because of humidity.
You can use a humidity meter as the palm tree grows best at a humidity level of 40%.
If you are having less humid than this you need to make adjustments accordingly.
To help the plant with more humidity, you need to place a humidifier, keep the plant on a humidity tray, and place the plant near another plant will also help in raising the humidity through respiration, or try misting of palm plant at least a few times per week.

Natural Aging of Leaves:

In case of not finding any problem with palm trees but still turning brown which is possible due to the natural aging of leaves.
Here the leaves get to drop on their own when palm trees don’t need them.
The palm leaves turning brown and drooping is possible with the oldest leaves on the bottom.
In case of find the issue is with the bottom leaves, you need to relax here because the palm tree is getting ready for new growth.

Proper Watering Techniques for Palm Trees

To keep the palm tree healthy correct watering is key to achieving the main goal. Watering the plant plays a major role in well-being and prevents browning leaves. The following are some main tips for watering palm trees:

Water deeply: In case if you are watering the palm trees lightly, just give them a good and deep watering which will encourage the roots to grow deep and help in handling all drought conditions. Just make sure the water reaches the root zone when you water the tree watering.
Water frequency: The palm trees require regular watering during the first few years when you plant them. Just make sure not to overwater that leads to root rot condition. Here you need to water the palm trees every 1-2 weeks which adjusts the watering schedule based on weather and soil moisture.
Check soil moisture: when you start watering the palm tree, check the moisture level of the soil by sticking the finger into the soil, when you feel it’s dry about 2-3 inches below the surface means you need to water them. Avoid watering the palm tree when the soil feels moist that causes the over-saturation and root problems.
Watering during the growing season: The tree used to grow best during the growing season such as in warmer months in which they need extra water that helps in the growth of the tree. You need to increase the frequency and amount of water during the growing season.
Avoid wetting the foliage: while watering the palm tree, avoid getting the leaves wet. The perfect way is to direct water the plant towards the base of the tree and the root zone. The foliage does promote the growth of fungi and leads to diseases.
Use mulch: you need to apply a layer of organic mulch on the base of the palm tree that helps retain moisture and regulate the soil temperature. Doing this helps in reducing the frequent watering and will create a better environment for growing palm trees.

If you follow the proper watering techniques, just ensure to give the palm trees with right amount of water for healthy growth. Now let’s learn about identifying and treating pest infestation on palm trees.

Identifying and Treating Pest Infestations on Palm Trees:

Yes, the palm tree does get infested with pests which can harm the health and appearance of the plant. You need to know how to spot and deal with pests which is compulsory to maintaining the palm tree shape and health. Here are some common pests that help in identifying and treating pests on palm trees.

Rhinoceros Beetle: It is a big beetle that used to munch on palm trees, causing damage to the plant. Here to get rid of these beetles, remove all the affected fronds by using insecticides.
Red Palm Weevil: They used to dig into palm tree trunks which caused irreversible harm. In case of having wilting fronds and trunk holes which indicate symptoms of red palm weevil. You need to remove the infected trees to stop the weevil from spreading.
Palm Scale Insects: If the palm trees get infested with scale insects you will have spots on leaves and trunks that look like small bumps or scales. It used to result in yellow leaves, stunt growth, and resulting in weakening of trees. For treating the insects treat them, by pruning the affected areas using horticultural oils or insecticides.
Spider Mites: The spider mites used to grow webs on palm tree leaves which causes discoloration, splotches, and leaf loss. To treat them you need to wash the affected leaves by spraying with a strong stream of water or you can try using insecticidal soaps or miticides.
Aphids: These are soft-bodied aphids which use to feed on the sap of the palm tree which causes wilting and distorted leaves. To get rid of aphids, spray the affected areas using a mixture of water and mild dish soap or using insecticidal soap.

You need to act quickly, if you are dealing with pest infestations to prevent harm to the palm trees. Make sure to inspect the trees to take quick action that will help maintain health and beauty.

Protecting Palm Trees from Extreme Weather Conditions:

The palm trees are tough plants but they do need help during the extreme weather. You need to understand some steps for protecting the palm trees which help in maintaining health and beauty. The following are some tips to keep the palm tree safe during extreme weather:

Shield them from the wind: To protect the palm trees use windbreaks or barriers that keep them safe from strong winds mainly during storms or hurricanes.
Keep them properly pruned: Make sure to remove dead or damaged fronds of the palm tree to prevent them from becoming hazards when it’s heavy winds or rain.
Strengthen the roots: You need to ensure the palm trees have strong, stable root systems for which you need to water the tree deeply and use mulch to keep the soil moist.
Support young trees: to support the young trees use stakes which will help to withstand strong winds.
Guard against frost: to guard the palm tree, cover it with blankets or burlap in case of a frost or freeze which helps in protecting them from the cold.

Final Thoughts:

Yes, it’s frustrating to see the palm leaves turning brown when you put all your effort into caring for the palm tree. But when you read all the information where just maintain its health any sign such as discoloration is a symptom of something going wrong. It is only possible when you read all signs and factors to check to determine the cause of the problem and take quick action.