Plant care guide
Parlor Palm Yellow Leaves: Water, Mites, Cold or Old Fronds?
Updated
Why are my Parlor palm leaves turning yellow?
A parlor palm that turns yellow is most often sitting in mix that stays too wet, or has been left to dry out. Spider mites, cold drafts and too much or too little feeding also yellow the fronds. One old lower frond fading, or one stem dying in a crowded pot, can be normal.
What to do first
Check the mix below the surface and empty the saucer. Then look at which fronds are yellow: the oldest only, one whole stem, or new and old alike. Check leaf undersides for fine speckling and webbing before you treat anything.
A yellowing parlor palm can look like it is giving up, but fronds change colour for several reasons. Some are harmless. Start with which fronds are yellow and how wet the pot is.
NC State Extension’s parlor palm profile calls it one of the most sought-after indoor palms, because it copes with dry air and dim light. It also warns that overwatering can be a problem.
Which fronds are yellow?
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Oldest, lowest frond yellowing, new fronds healthy | Normal ageing |
| One whole stem yellowing in a pot of several | That stem being crowded out |
| Yellowing on new and old fronds, mix wet, soft stem bases | Overwatering, root rot |
| Fronds yellow and dry, mix pulled from the pot edge | Too dry |
| Pale speckling, bronzing, fine webbing on undersides | Spider mites |
| Reddish-brown dead areas after a cold spell | Chilling injury |
| Brown tips on lower fronds after heavy feeding | Too much fertilizer |
Several stems in one pot. NC State explains that each parlor palm has a single stem, and growers often put three or more in one pot. Over time some stems are out-competed and die. If one stem fades while the rest are green, this may be all that is happening.
Old fronds. UF/IFAS Extension’s palm potassium page notes that potassium deficiency always appears first on the oldest leaves. It also says this deficiency is less common in container mixes than in sandy outdoor soils. Treat one old yellow frond as ageing unless the yellowing keeps climbing.
The causes to check
Too wet. Clemson Extension’s indoor palms factsheet says root rot usually comes from a mix that drains slowly or from watering too often. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s watering guide lists yellowing on new and old foliage, mushy stems, rotten-smelling mix and fungus gnats as overwatering signs.
Too dry. Clemson says palms should never dry out or stand in water. Its disorders factsheet adds that lower leaves yellow if a plant stays dry for an extended time.
Spider mites. NC State lists red spider mites and mealybugs for this palm. Clemson says mites are often a problem indoors because of low humidity and warm temperatures. The UC IPM houseplant problems page describes mite damage as yellowed leaves with tiny speckling, later bronzed and drying, sometimes with webbing.
Cold. Clemson gives parlor palms a minimum winter temperature of 16 °C (60 °F). It says cold injury shows as reddish-brown dead areas a few days later. NC State advises protecting the plant from cold drafts near windows, doors and vents.
Feeding. Clemson warns that excessive fertilizer browns the tips of lower leaves. UC IPM lists too little nitrogen as a cause of yellow-green older leaves.
What to do
- Feel the mix. NC State says to let the soil dry slightly between waterings. If it is still wet, wait.
- Check the roots if the mix stays wet or stems are soft. Clemson warns that many palms have fragile roots, so handle them gently.
- Water a dry palm thoroughly, then empty the saucer, as Clemson advises.
- Look under the fronds for mites. NC State says misting and wiping with a damp cloth can prevent or remove them. For heavier infestations, use our parlor palm spider mites guide.
- Move it away from cold glass and vents. Keep it near a north- or east-facing window, as NC State suggests.
- Feed lightly. NC State says to fertilize periodically in the growing season and not in winter. Clemson suggests a palm fertilizer with micronutrients two to three times a year.
- Remove a fully yellow frond at its base once you have found the cause. Clemson notes that palms cannot be pruned back to reduce height, because new growth comes from a single central point. Never cut the top.
Yellow fronds will not turn green again. Judge the fix by the next fronds to open.
To compare parlor palm with bamboo, kentia and areca palms, see our indoor palm types guide.
Related guides
Other parlor palm problems we cover: brown spots, brown tips, drooping.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Chamaedorea elegans
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 1508: Indoor Palms
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 2251: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders
- UF/IFAS Extension: Potassium Deficiency in Palms (ENH1017)
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Properly Watering Container Houseplants (SPES-804)
- UC Statewide IPM Program: Pest Notes, Houseplant Problems
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension and UC Statewide IPM Program guidance.