The palm tree bought new only strong green fronds and at best the southern beauty is already sprouting fresh foliage. But at some point every palm owner notices: A fan first turns yellow at the top and then progressively up to the base of the leaf. If this affects several or even a large number of leaves, it is usually not a natural aging process.
Yellow leaves on the palm tree can indicate a lack of light or nutrients
lack of light
Almost all types of palm trees are true sun worshipers and love it when the sunlight spoils the foliage for several hours a day. If the palm is too dark, the fans first turn light green and later yellow. A change of location or a plant lamp (€21.99), which compensates for the lack of light, can help here.
nutrient deficiency
The newly purchased palm tree is often in a much too small pot that hardly contains any substrate. As a result, the nutrients are used up quickly and the plant withers away. If roots are already growing out of the drainage hole, it is high time to move the palm tree. Planted in fresh soil, the plant usually recovers quickly.
Fertilize moderately but regularly
During the growth phase, you should provide the palm with a suitable fertilizer every 14 days. The dosage depends on the species:
- Fast-growing varieties get the amount of fertilizer indicated on the packaging.
- Slow-growing palms only receive half the amount.
Over-fertilization also leads to yellow leaves
An oversupply of nutrients is at least as harmful as an undersupply. If you mean too well, do not fertilize the plant at all for a few weeks. The leaf damage usually disappears on its own.
wintering
In the winter quarters, the palm very often gets yellow fronds. The reason for this is again a lack of light. The warmer the plant is in the cold season, the higher the light requirement. A plant lamp, which is switched on by the hour, also helps here.
tips
Regular spraying with seaweed sap will help maintain the rich color of the fronds. The agent also strengthens the resistance of the plant.