Unsightly brown spots on the palm fronds can seriously spoil the visual appearance of the plant. Care errors are not always to blame for the poor condition of the plant; pests and fungi can also be the cause. In this article we would like to explore the causes together with you.
What are the causes of brown spots on palm trees and how can they be treated?
Brown spots on palm trees can be caused by sunburn, an infestation of spider mites or scale insects. Countermeasures include acclimatization, increasing air humidity and proper care of the plant, as well as combating pests with appropriate means.
Is the palm tree sunburned?
If you have placed the palm tree directly in the blazing sun after the winter rest and have not slowly acclimated it to the changed conditions, yellow and later brown spots will appear on the leaves. These are caused by the strong UV light and unfortunately do not regenerate.
Remedy
Acclimatization of palm trees should be done carefully. First place the plants in a sunny, protected place on the balcony or terrace. The southern beauties are only allowed to move to their final location after about two weeks.
Spider mites
Unfortunately, palm trees are very vulnerable and infestations with these sucking insects occur quite often. If you don't take any measures to get rid of them, the animals can even damage the plant so badly that it eventually dies. Spider mites usually hide on the underside of leaves and can hardly be seen with the naked eye. When misting, the fine water droplets get stuck in the webs. This is often the only way to find the pests.
Prevention
Spider mites love dry air. Therefore, spray the palm tree regularly in the winter quarters and increase the humidity.
Remedy
These pests can be extremely stubborn. Multiple treatments with a suitable spray are recommended (€9.00 on Amazon).
Scale insects
These harmful insects are also relatively common. Since they are still mobile when they are young and wander across the palm tree, many plant lovers only notice them when they become immobile as they get older. The pests then form large, hard-to-miss colonies on or under the leaves.
Prevention
Scale insects primarily attack weakened plants. Helps preventatively:
- Do not place the palm tree too dark.
- Ensure sufficient humidity.
- Water regularly but do not overwater.
- Stick to the usual fertilizer recommendations.
Remedy
Small lice colonies can be scraped off or washed off with a sharp knife. Specialist retailers also stock extremely effective chemical agents that quickly kill the lice.
Tip
If you don't notice any brown spots, but brown deposits on the palm tree, it is usually sooty mold. This fungal disease is often transmitted by aphids, so check the palm tree for infestation and combat the pests.