Palm Problems
Various (Arecaceae)
Palms are slow, steady growers that want bright indirect light, consistent moisture, and protection from cold drafts — brown frond tips and spider mites are the two most common indoor palm complaints.
All Palm Problems
⚠ MinorPalm — Brown Leaf Tips on Palms
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.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Yellowing Fronds From Nutrient Deficiency in Palms
Older, lower fronds turn yellow, sometimes with distinct patterns like yellow-orange banding or spotting, while newer growth stays green.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Spider Mites on Indoor Palms
Fine yellow stippling spreads across fronds, with fine webbing visible on the underside in heavier infestations — extremely common on indoor palms.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Scale Insects on Palms
Small, immobile brown or tan bumps attach to fronds and stems, secreting honeydew and often causing sooty mould to develop on the honeydew residue.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Mealybugs on Palms
White, cottony masses cluster where fronds meet the trunk or along stems, secreting honeydew and weakening the plant.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Root Rot in Palms
The plant declines with yellowing or wilting fronds despite adequate watering, and roots appear brown, mushy, or hollow when checked.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Fungal Leaf Spot on Palms
Small, circular or irregular dark spots appear on fronds, sometimes with a yellow halo, occasionally merging into larger dead patches.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Lethal Yellowing Disease in Palms
Fronds yellow progressively from the oldest to the newest, fruit (if any) drops prematurely, and the growing point eventually dies — a serious disease mainly affecting outdoor palms in warm climates.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Ganoderma Butt Rot in Outdoor Palms
The lower trunk weakens and may show a shelf-like fungal conk (mushroom-like growth) at the base, with the palm eventually declining and becoming structurally unstable.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Cold Damage and Frost Injury in Palms
Fronds develop brown, water-soaked, or bleached patches after cold exposure, and severe frost can kill the growing point of less hardy species.
⚠ MinorPalm — Slow or Stunted Growth in Palms
The plant produces few or no new fronds over an extended period, even during what should be its active growing season.
⚠ MinorPalm — Sunburn on Newly Outdoor Palms
Fronds develop bleached, yellow-white, or brown patches after a sudden move from indoor or shaded conditions to intense outdoor sun.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Manganese Deficiency (Frizzle Top) in Palms
New fronds emerge weak, frizzled, and discoloured with necrotic streaking, distinct from the yellowing patterns of potassium or magnesium deficiency which typically affect older fronds instead.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Boron Deficiency in Palms
New fronds emerge stunted, twisted, or with a distinctive accordion-like pleating, and in severe cases the growing point fails entirely.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Potassium Deficiency Spotting on Palm Fronds
Older, lower fronds develop yellow-orange spots that progress to necrotic (dead, brown) spots, while the frond tip and margin may die back entirely in advanced cases.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Overwatering and Waterlogging in Palms
Fronds yellow or brown, growth slows, and the plant may develop a generally unhealthy appearance despite regular watering, with roots showing rot when checked.
⚠ ModeratePalm — Underwatering and Drought Stress in Palms
Fronds droop, develop brown edges, or fold inward, and overall growth stalls during an extended dry period.
⚠ CriticalPalm — Fusarium Wilt in Palms
One side of the frond, or fronds on one side of the plant, yellow and die progressively while the rest of the plant initially looks unaffected — a serious disease in certain palm species.
⚠ MinorPalm — Pot-Bound Roots Restricting Palm Growth
Growth slows or stalls, and roots may be visible circling at the pot's drainage holes or growing out of the soil surface.
⚠ MinorPalm — Thrips on Palm Fronds
Silvery streaks and small dark specks appear on fronds, with rasped, discoloured patches developing over time, especially on new growth.
Palm Care Guide
Light, watering, humidity, fertilising, repotting and propagation — everything you need to keep your Palm thriving.
Full care guide →See how growers fixed these problems
Browse real Palm grow diaries from the community — treatments, timelines, and results.
Browse community diaries →Common Palm Questions
Why are my palm leaf tips turning brown?
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.… Read the full guide →
Why are my palm fronds yellowing?
Older, lower fronds turn yellow, sometimes with distinct patterns like yellow-orange banding or spotting, while newer growth stays green.… Read the full guide →
Can palms survive cold or frost outdoors?
Fine yellow stippling spreads across fronds, with fine webbing visible on the underside in heavier infestations — extremely common on indoor palms.… Read the full guide →
How often should I water an indoor palm?
Small, immobile brown or tan bumps attach to fronds and stems, secreting honeydew and often causing sooty mould to develop on the honeydew residue.… Read the full guide →
