The care of palm trees requires a sure instinct, because the magnificent plants are very sensitive to care mistakes. It is not only in winter that you have to pour with a lot of sensitivity and ensure a sufficient degree of airiness. If the tips of the leaves are brown, this is a clear indication that the health of the attractive plants is no longer at its best. Research into the cause is now required.
Brown tips can indicate that the palm is unhappy with its location
Is the location right?
It is often enough to give the palm tree another place. The plants need a lot of light to thrive. Even in a semi-shady location, it is usually too dark for the plant, the leaf tips turn brown and the leaf dies as a result.
Whether indoors or outdoors, put the palm tree in one place:
- which is exposed to the sun for at least five hours, preferably more.
- A south-facing window or a south-facing terrace is ideal.
- Make sure that the patio is not shaded by an awning all day.
- In winter it often gets too dark for indoor palms. A plant lamp (€21.99) compensates for this.
Sunburn after relocation
Although sunburn is usually indicated by spots on the leaves, brown tips can also appear. Plants cultivated outdoors during the summer should therefore be carefully acclimated to the changed conditions. Place the palm tree in a sheltered, semi-shady spot for the first week or two.
air dryness
In particular, the palm species that thrive in desert regions do well in dry air. However, these plants often do not tolerate the conditions in our heated rooms in winter and brown leaf tips occur.
The humidity can be increased with simple measures:
- Mist the fronds daily with a sprayer.
- To avoid unsightly limescale stains, only use distilled or boiled water.
- Place a flower pot filled with expanded clay (€19.73) next to the palm tree. If you fill it with water, it evaporates slowly and increases the humidity in the immediate vicinity.
We ask you to refrain from the frequently heard advice to fill the planter or saucer of the palm tree with the small clay beads (22.65€). These plants are extremely sensitive to waterlogging and even the wet expanded clay can be too much for them.
Lack of water or excess of water
If the water balance of the palm is out of balance, this is reflected in the brown tips of the leaves, regardless of whether you have watered too much or too little. When watering, adhere to the following rules:
- It is always watered when the upper centimeters of the soil feel dry (thumb test).
- Water thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage hole.
- Discard excess liquid after a few minutes.
Too little substrate
Palm trees do not need to be repotted very often. However, if they have too little soil available, no more water can be stored and the plant dries up despite regular watering.
- Lift the palm tree out of the planter.
- If there are already roots that have grown out of the drainage hole, it is high time to put the palm tree in a larger container.
tips
Unbalanced fertilization is also indicated by brown leaf tips. Only fertilize in the growth phase from March to October. Follow the manufacturer's dosage recommendations exactly.