Plant guide:ðī Palm
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Leaves
Brown Leaf Tips on Palms
Commonly affects: Various palms (Arecaceae)
The tips of palm fronds turn brown and dry while the rest of the leaf stays green, often the most common complaint with indoor palms.
Potential Causes
- 1Low humidity, especially in centrally-heated or air-conditioned rooms
- 2Salt or fluoride buildup from tap water accumulating in the soil and leaf tips
- 3Underwatering or inconsistent watering
- 4Underlying root stress from a pot that's too small or soil that's depleted
Solution Steps
- 1Increase humidity with a humidifier, pebble tray, or regular misting
- 2Flush the soil periodically with plain water to clear salt and mineral buildup
- 3Switch to filtered or rain water if tap water quality seems to be a factor
- 4Trim brown tips with clean scissors for appearance, cutting along the natural leaf shape rather than straight across
Prevention Tip
Brown tips on an otherwise healthy palm are almost always a humidity or water-quality issue, not a sign of a dying plant.
