Bought new, the palm only has strong green fronds and, at best, the southern beauty is already growing fresh foliage. But at some point every palm tree owner notices: A fan turns yellow, first at the tip and then gradually down to the base of the leaf. If this affects several or even a lot of leaves, it is usually not a natural aging process.
Why does my palm tree have yellow leaves?
Yellow leaves on palm trees can be caused by a lack of light, lack of nutrients, over-fertilization or incorrect overwintering. A brighter location, repotting, reduced fertilization or a plant lamp in the winter quarters can help. Regular spraying with algae juice strengthens the plant.
Lack of light
Almost all types of palm trees are true sun worshipers and love it when sunlight pampers the foliage for several hours a day. If the palm is too dark, the fans will initially turn light green and later yellow. This can be remedied by changing location or using a plant lamp to compensate for the lack of light.
Nutrient Deficiency
Often the newly purchased palm tree is in a pot that is much too small and contains hardly any substrate. This causes the nutrients to be used up quickly and the plant to wither. If roots are already growing out of the drainage hole, it is high time to move the palm tree. When planted in fresh soil, the plant usually recovers quickly.
Fertilize moderately but regularly
During the growth phase, you should supply the palm tree with a suitable fertilizer (€6.00 on Amazon) every 14 days. The dosage depends on the type:
- Fast-growing varieties receive the amount of fertilizer stated on the packaging.
- Slow-growing palm trees only receive half the amount.
Overfertilization also leads to yellow leaves
An oversupply of nutrients is at least as harmful as an undersupply. If you mean too well, don't fertilize the plant at all for a few weeks. The leaf damage usually disappears on its own.
Wintering
In winter quarters, the palm tree 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 is. A plant lamp that is switched on every hour helps here too.
Tip
Regular spraying with algae juice helps maintain the rich color of the fronds. The product also strengthens the resistance of the plant.