Cat palm leave drying

[tanin]

Hello,

A few months ago I bought a cat palm and I am noticing that any of the leaves are drying. Not sure if it is natural or more than there should are drying.

I water when the soil is dry, the room is a southern room with much light.

Any ideas on how to save him, if he needs to be saved?

https://imgur.com/undefinedhttps://imgur.com/J8UjEtZ

Edited December 13, 2021 by tanin

[oasis371]

Cat palms are a bit unusual in the palm world. They may be classified as rheophytes, which means that they are native to areas of very wet soil conditions, think river banks with occasional saturated soils.  I think you are letting it get too dry. This one would not mind sitting in a a saucer with a bit of water at the bottom.  It may also be reacting to dry air. Any hot air ducts blowing on it? They can take some direct sun but don't need it, bright light is good enough.  Winter sun may burn it if there are no shears in the windows.  Good luck!

[Darold Petty]

I agree with the diagnosis of oasis371.  This is a very thirsty species.   Welcome to Palmtalk !  

[oasis371]

The other common if not notorious palm that frequently under watered indoors is the Majesty Palm (another water LOVER).  Unfortunately, I think there is confusing information out there on palm watering.  MOST palms appreciate a very well draining soil that dries somewhat between waterings but NO palms abide by dry roots. Even those that are native to DESERT regions (such as several species of Phoenix dates), are tapping into ground water.  And then there are the true water lovers that prefer nearly always moist soils. One size does not fit all palms. Aside from palms, I see a lot of people posting pics of plants that look chronically under watered.  Maybe we went from over water growers to under watering.  Another big issue is that some of the commonly available commercial soil mixes are TERRIBLE.  One popular brand is almost pure peat moss and becomes extremely hydrophobic in sunlight, especially outside.  You could literally be standing over the plant with a hose on it, and the soil stays desert DRY.  Good luck with your Chamaedorea cat palm!

[Scott W]

There's a cat palm at Leu Gardens that is literally growing in running water at times, definitely stays wet, so I don't see how you could ever over water this one.

[DoomsDave]

@tanin nice to meet you!

Could you provide a close up of the bases of your potted palms?

Those don't look like Cat Palms (Chamadorea cataractarum) as much as Archontophoenix, to me.

ID will help.

[tanin]

17 hours ago, DoomsDave said:

@tanin nice to meet you!

Could you provide a close up of the bases of your potted palms?

Those don't look like Cat Palms (Chamadorea cataractarum) as much as Archontophoenix, to me.

ID will help.

Here it is:

 

[DoomsDave]

5 hours ago, tanin said:

Here it is:

 

Okay it’s a Chamadorea cataractarum. A naturally clustering species in a riparian habitat ie., along streams and rivers.