Out of the table palm varieties, the parlor palm, or the Chamaedorea elegans, is a great beginner plant due to its low maintenance and ability to tolerate most types of indirect light.
They can survive in low light where some plants would not normally thrive. If you end up forgetting to water it, you will not end up starving your palm, since it can even tolerate drought.
While they are hardy, low-maintenance plants, parlor palms may run into issues throughout their journey and growth in your home. It is important to check its leaves to see if they are browning, how they are browning or even curling.
What is Wrong With My Parlor Palm?
If you find that your parlor palm is not in the most pristine condition in your home, you should take a moment to determine what is wrong with your table palm.
You may even notice that it does not look as great as it did the first day you brought it home.
If this is the case, it is important to completely inspect your palm and see what the leaves look like to determine the issue at hand. Once you notice what the leaves are doing, it will be easier to find out what steps you need to take to address the problem.
Throughout this article, we will guide you through the possible parlor palm problems you may be facing.
These issues depend on how your plant is behaving. We will go through the following common problems such as:
- Brown, spotted leaves from too much direct sunlight.
- Light yellow or green leaves from too much direct sunlight or overwatering.
- Black spots on your parlor palm from high sun exposure.
- Drooping from improper watering.
- Curling leaves from underwatering, low humidity, or over-fertilization.
- Brown tips from underwatering your parlor palm.
- Red and brown areas on the leaves from cold weather.
- Freckles on the leaves from fungal bacteria.
- Signs of pests and small bugs like mealybugs and spider mites.
1. Spotted Brown Leaves
The parlor palm prefers darker places in a home than other table palm varieties might. It does not tolerate direct sun in any way, which is the main culprit for burning leaves and strange discoloration.
A common issue you will see if your parlor palm is exposed to too much direct sunlight is spotted brown leaves. These leaves will be practically burnt and cannot be fixed.
Move Your Parlor Palm to a Darker Spot
If you notice this happening to your parlor palm, it is important to move it to a darker spot or corner where the sun is indirect instead of directly onto the foliage.
The foliage that is burnt, should be removed and pruned from your parlor palm to encourage new, healthy green growth. When you trim the burnt leaves, your plant will no longer send nutrients and energy to the impaired areas, so new leaves can grow.
The new growth should be a rich dark green. When you see the dark green foliage on your parlor palm, you know it is in the right place and not getting burnt.
2. Light Yellow or Green Leaves on a Parlor Palm
There are two reasons why a parlor palm’s leaves can get discolored. This could be from too much sunlight or overwatering.
Too Much Sunlight
Before the leaves get burnt completely, you may notice that your parlor palm has light yellow or light green leaves.
These discolored leaves are a result of too much sun, whether it be direct or indirect.
During Discoloration, Move Your Palm to a Darker Place
The discoloration of foliage is the first sign before the leaves are completely scorched by the sun.
If you notice this, it is time to move your parlor palm to a darker place.
Discoloration from Overwatering
If your parlor palm is turning light in color and you also notice droopiness in the leaves, this could be an overwatering issue.
It is important to make sure you are waiting for the soil to dry out completely before watering your parlor palm.
How to Fix Overwatering
If the roots are not healthy and facing root rot, you can cut off the affected areas of the roots and only save the healthy roots.
Before you transplant your parlor palm completely, make sure the roots are growing prosperously.
However, if you have yet to notice any root rot, it is important to change your watering patterns before it becomes a root rot issue. Be sure to dry out the soil completely before watering your parlor palm again.
3. Black Spots on Foliage
When you notice black spots on the tips or entirety of your parlor palm leaves, you have incorrectly placed your parlor palm in direct sunlight.
Black spots are high sunburnt leaves. This is from high exposure to direct sunlight from putting your parlor palm outside or on a porch.
How to Repair Black Spots
Similar to browning leaves from too much sunlight, it is important to move your parlor palm to a darker, more appropriate place.
You will notice the parlor palm turning back to its rightful color with dark green foliage when placed in a spot it enjoys.
As for the black spots, the sunburnt leaves cannot be repaired. It is important to prune them back to encourage growth elsewhere on the plant.
4. Drooping Leaves
Drooping leaves may become a problem for your parlor palm due to underwatering or overwatering.
Drooping Leaves from Underwatering
When it comes to drooping leaves from underwatering, check the soil and see if it is too dry.
If the soil is bare-bones, it is time to water your parlor palm if it’s showing you signs too!
Drooping Leaves from Overwatering
To find out if overwatering is causing your parlor palm to droop, you should check the soil and see how moist it is.
If your soil is still moist and there is standing water, you have overwatered your parlor palm.
How to Fix Drooping Leaves from Overwatering
If you have overwatered your parlor palm, check the roots for root rot. If you notice unhealthy roots, it is important to cut those roots and only transplant the healthy roots.
If you do not notice any root rot, simply change your watering habits to water your parlor palm less and allow the soil to dry out completely before watering the soil again.
5. Curling Leaves on a Parlor Palm
There are a handful of reasons why your parlor palm’s leaves may be curling. You may be underwatering your parlor palm or feeding it too much fertilizer.
You could even have your parlor palm in a draft where the humidity is low.
Curling Leaves from Underwatering
If you check the soil of your parlor palm and the soil is completely dry, you have underwatered your parlor palm.
At this point, you should sufficiently water your parlor palm without leaving any standing water. Prune the curling leaves to encourage new and prosperous growth.
Curling Leaves from Over Fertilizing
A parlor palm does not require much fertilizer or any at all.
If you have been fertilizing your parlor palm quite often or have been fertilizing it in the winter, outside of the growing season, you have been feeding your palm too much.
Overfertilization leads to leaf dehydration and the leaves drying out, causing the curling you see on your parlor palm.
How to Fix Overfertilization
To fix overfertilization, simply transplant your palm into a pot with fresh soil with little to no fertilizer.
Curling Leaves from Low Humidity
Due to its native environment in South America, the parlor palm prefers a humid environment.
It is important to check the placement of your palm to see if it is placed under a draft or in a low humidity area.
The Solution to Low Humidity
Your parlor palm will uncurl once it is placed in an environment with high to normal humidity. It is important to change where you have your parlor palm placed so it is out of a draft.
You can also add a humidifier or mist your parlor palm leaves to maintain proper humidity levels.
6. Browning Tips on Leaves
If your parlor palm has brown tips on its foliage, you have underwatered your plant. Make sure to water your parlor palm if you notice the soil is too dry.
After watering your plant, you can prune the browned leaves to encourage new, green growth.
Related: Why Does My Parlor Palm Have Brown Tips?
7. Red and Brown Areas on Foliage
If you notice the foliage of your parlor palm having red and brown spots or areas, your parlor palm is too cold.
If your parlor palm’s leaves become damaged when they are not at the right temperature.
How to Fix a Cold Injury
Make sure your parlor palm is in a room that is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have placed your parlor palm outside and the weather is dropping or low, it is important to bring it inside to maintain the correct temperature it needs.
Your parlor palm must be placed somewhere that is not under a draft or near an air-conditioning unit.
Once your parlor palm is in a new spot at the right temperature, you should prune the leaves that are injured to encourage new growth.
8. Freckles from Fungal Bacteria
If you notice spots of fungal bacteria on your parlor palm, the palm might be too cold and moist.
The fungal will not necessarily kill your parlor palm, so it is more of a cosmetic issue at best.
How to Get Rid of Fungal Growth
The best way to take care of a fungal problem is to remove the infected leaves. Once you do this, make sure to increase the air circulation around the plant to kill off any leftover fungi.
When you are watering your parlor palm, make sure to only water the soil while you are treating it for fungal bacteria.
9. Signs of Pests on a Parlor Palm
To maintain a healthy habitat for your houseplants, it is important to regularly check for pests on your plants.
Every time you are watering your parlor palm, you should check the leaves for pests like scales, mealybugs, and spider mites.
- Scales. When you notice scales on your parlor palm, you will notice immobile black dots along the stem of your plant. They can range in color and size and are usually seen in large clumps.
- Mealybugs. Mealybugs have the appearance of cotton. They are slow, but strong, traveling bugs that can move from plant to plant. They are also fast breeders and can lay almost 600 eggs.
- Spider mites. Spider mites are actual spiders that are red, brown, and small. They are difficult to see. However, you may notice the reddish webbing on the underside of the leaves or anywhere on the plant.
When it comes to treating your parlor palm for insect infestation, you can wipe down your plant with a cloth with mild soap.
After you have removed as many bugs as you can, you can spray your parlor palm with an organic insecticide to ensure you have killed the insects and gotten rid of the infestation.
How to Prevent Future Issues
When you are trying to keep your parlor palm in optimal health, you probably are wondering how to prevent any future issues or prevent any issues at all.
There are a handful of steps you can follow to ensure your parlor palm will not face any problems in the future.
- Place your parlor palm in indirect light, avoiding bright direct light or high indirect light.
- Check the soil before you water it, ensuring it is completely dry before its next water.
- Make sure your palm is not under a draft and is being misted to maintain humidity.
- Regularly check for pests to avoid an infestation.
To maintain a healthy plant, it is important to make sure your parlor palm is happy in its placement in your house and is getting the correct amount of water.
By keeping up with your parlor palm, it will stay healthy and grow prosperously.