This luxurious tropical beauty stands in the most honorable place in your apartment and invariably evokes admiring sighs from guests and households. But it also happens that the leaves of a palm tree suddenly begin to fade, turn yellow or dry out altogether. What is the reason for this misfortune and is there anything you can do to improve the condition of your green queen?
The most common cause of yellowing is a violation of the watering regime or some kind of problem with the root system. If you last transplanted your palm many years ago, it is possible that a change in leaf color is a signal for help. Indeed, over time, the plant becomes cramped in a small pot, the roots take up almost all the free space and suffer greatly from a lack of moisture and nutrients. No matter how you try to improve the situation with top dressing and regular watering - it's all in vain. The fact is that over time, the soil in the pot is also depleted and needs to be completely or partially replaced. If your palm is younger than three years old, it should be replanted annually. If she is five or more, a transplant is permissible once every three years.
How do you water your beauty? Once a week, little by little or rarely, but abundantly? For palms, it is very important to evenly moisturize the entire soil coma, so if you decide to water it, be sure to do it properly. Frequent but small applications of liquid only moisten the soil at the surface, leaving the main roots without access to water. But here it is important to observe the measure and not flood the unfortunate plant so that the soil will rot. Remember that excessive moisture displaces air from the ground, making it heavy and unsuitable for plants.
Pay attention to which leaves turn yellow. If the attack happened to the entire plant, most likely it lacks nutrients. Feed your palm tree with a complex mineral fertilizer, which necessarily contains nitrogen and phosphorus. If you see that the lower leaves turn yellow, this may be a common age-related change, which does not bode well at all. In palms, with age, the lower leaves gradually turn yellow and die off, but the trunk becomes stronger, higher and more beautiful. Sometimes only an experienced specialist can determine whether yellowing is age-related or not, so do not forget about regular feeding. In any case, they will not harm your palm tree.
On hot days in summer and winter, when the air is dried out by central heating, palms need to be sprayed. If you notice that the tips of the leaves regularly turn yellow and then die off, this is the first symptom of a lack of moisture. Do not forget to spray the palm tree with a fine spray bottle or wipe its leaves with a damp sponge twice a day. Also in the summer, make sure that the earthen lump is constantly moisturized.
Remember that yellowing can also be caused by pests, so carefully examine the leaves for the presence of spider mites or scale insects and, if necessary, carry out the appropriate treatment. By following these simple care tips, you will surely be able to restore your palm to its natural color and enjoy its extraordinary beauty and tropical luxury.
