Indoor Palm Tree Leaves Turning Brown? (9 Causes & Solutions)

If your indoor palm tree leaves are turning brown, you may be wondering what is causing this and how you can fix it.

This is a common problem with these plants and has several possible causes.

However, there are also solutions to this problem, so your indoor palm tree can be healthy and beautiful again.

This article will explore some of the most common reasons why indoor palm tree leaves turn brown and solutions for fixing the problem.

Why Is My Indoor Palm Tree Leaves Turning Brown?

If your indoor palm tree is not getting the right amount of light, water, or nutrients, it may start to experience problems, such as leaves turning brown.

Palm trees are tropical plants, and they need specific conditions to thrive. They need warm temperatures, high humidity, and bright light.

There are several possible causes of indoor palm tree leaves turning brown. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.

Not Enough Light

Palm trees need at least six hours of bright indirect light every day.

When a palm tree is not getting enough light, it cannot produce the energy it needs to grow and thrive.

All the energy will go into survival mode, which means the leaves will start to turn brown and may even drop off.

Some common signs that your palm tree is not getting enough light are yellow leaves, slow growth, and brown palm leaves turning brown, especially on the tips and edges.

How To Fix It

If your palm tree is not getting enough light, you will need to move it to a brighter location.

When growing palm trees indoors, it is best to place them near a west- or south-facing window, where they will get plenty of light.

But make sure the light is indirect, as direct sunlight can be too harsh for these plants.

You may also need to supplement the natural light with grow lights, especially in winter when the days are shorter.

Too Little Water

Palm trees need to be watered regularly to stay healthy.

But if you water them too little, the leaves will turn brown and curl up.

The leaves may also drop off, and the plant will eventually die.

Some common signs that your palm tree needs more water are wilted or drooping leaves, dry soil, and brown leaves.

How To Fix It

If your palm tree is not getting enough water, you will need to water it more often.

Indoor palm trees should be watered twice a week, and the soil should be moist but not soggy.

To water your palm tree properly, soak the soil with water until it is saturated, and then let it drain.

Do not water again until the top inch of the soil is dry.

Too Much Water

While palm trees need a lot of water, they can also suffer from too much water.

If you water your palm tree too frequently, the roots will start to rot, which can kill the plant.

Some common signs of an overwatered palm tree are yellow leaves, brown leaves, or drooping leaves.

How To Fix It

Indoor palms don’t need as much water as outdoor palms, so you should allow the soil to dry out in between watering.

Water your palm tree when the top inch of soil is dry.

If you think you are watering your palm tree too often, allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.

You should also check the pot’s drainage to ensure water is not pooling at the bottom.

If the pot does not have proper drainage, the roots will start to rot, killing the plant.

You also need to make sure you are watering the palm tree properly.

Water the palm tree slowly and evenly until the water starts to run out of the drainage holes.

Water the palm tree at the base, not on the leaves.

Wet leaves can lead to fungal diseases, such as brown leaf spot or yellowing of the leaves.

Not Enough Humidity

The palm tree is a tropical plant, and needs high humidity to thrive.

If the air around your palm tree is too dry, the leaves will turn brown and may even drop off.

Some common signs that your palm tree needs more humidity are wilting or drooping leaves, brown leaves, or dry soil.

How To Fix It

If your palm tree is not getting enough humidity, you will need to increase the moisture around it.

One way to do this is to mist the leaves with water daily.

You can also place the palm tree in a room with a humidifier or near a water source, such as a sink or shower.

Another option is to group several plants to create a microclimate.

The evaporation from the leaves will help increase the humidity around the plants.

Too Much Fertilizer

Fertilizing your palm tree is important for its growth.

But if you fertilize too often or use too much fertilizer, the leaves will turn brown.

The leaves may also begin to drop off, and the plant will eventually die.

Some common signs of too much fertilizer are brown or yellow leaves, burning of the tips of the leaves, and poor growth.

How To Fix It

If you think your palm tree has been overfertilized, stop fertilizing it and flush the soil with water to remove any excess fertilizer.

You should also check the fertilizer you use to ensure it is not too high in nitrogen.

Fertilizers high in nitrogen can burn the palm tree’s roots and cause the leaves to turn brown.

Using a balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is best.

You should also fertilize your palm tree less often, one to three times a year.

Only fertilize your palm tree when actively growing, and stop fertilizing it in the winter.

Pests or Diseases

Pests and diseases can also cause indoor palm plant leaves to turn brown.

Pests affecting palm trees are spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects.

They can all suck the nutrients out of the leaves, causing them to turn brown and eventually die.

Diseases affecting palm trees include brown rot, root rot, and leaf spot.

These diseases can be caused by too much water, not enough light, or poor drainage.

How To Fix It

If you think your palm tree has a pest infestation, you can treat it with neam oil or insecticidal soap.

Depending on the severity of the infestation, you may need to treat the palm tree multiple times.

If the infestation is not too bad, you can try to remove the pests by hand.

For example, spider mites can be removed by spraying the leaves with water or wiping them off with a cloth.

If your palm tree has a disease, you must remove any affected leaves or branches.

You should also disinfect your tools after each use to prevent the spread of the disease.

You may also need to treat the palm tree with a fungicide or bactericide.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Nutrient deficiencies can also cause indoor palm tree leaves to turn brown.

The most common nutrient deficiency in palm trees is magnesium.

Magnesium helps the plant absorb other nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Without enough magnesium, the Palm leaves will start to turn yellow or brown.

Other nutrient deficiencies affecting palm trees are iron, manganese, and zinc.

These nutrients are all essential for the growth of the plant.

How To Fix It

If you think your palm tree has a nutrient deficiency, you can treat it with fertilizer.

You should use a high in magnesium fertilizer, such as Epsom salt.

You can also add iron, manganese, or zinc to the soil.

These nutrients can be found in many household items, such as coffee grounds, eggshells, and banana peels.

You can also buy fertilizer that is specifically designed for palm trees.

Temperature Stress

Temperature stress can also cause indoor palm tree leaves to turn brown.

Palm trees are native to tropical climates and prefer warm temperatures.

If the temperature gets too cold, the leaves will start to turn brown and eventually die.

The minimum temperature that palm trees can tolerate is 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

How To Fix It

If the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, you should move your palm tree to a warmer location.

Place the palm tree in a sunny spot near a window or door.

You can also use a space heater or grow light to warm the palm tree.

You can also insulate the plant by wrapping it in burlap or placing it in a grow room.

Frost Damage

Frost damage can also cause indoor palm tree leaves to turn brown.

When the temperature gets below freezing, the water inside the leaves will freeze and expand.

This can cause the cells to rupture and the leaves to turn brown.

How To Fix It

If you think your palm tree has frost damage, you should move it to a warmer location.

Place the palm tree in a sunny spot near a window or door.

You can also use a space heater or grow light to warm the palm tree.

You can trim the brown palm leaves off with pruning shears.

Final Thoughts

Indoor palm plants are susceptible to several problems that can cause their leaves to turn brown.

The most common problems are pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, temperature stress, and frost damage.

If you notice your indoor palm tree leaves turning brown, you should try to identify the problem and take steps to fix it.

Most problems can be fixed with a bit of effort and patience.

Proper care and attention allow indoor plants to be kept healthy and thrive for many years.