Potted Christmas Palm Dying - HELP!

[Sadplantmom]

Hi all! I got this huge potted christmas palm tree on Oct 29 (prob over 12 ft tall) - I had meant for it to go out on the terrace but quickly realized that it would be too cold in NYC for it right now and brought it inside for the winter.
It’s been less than 2 weeks since I brought it home, and I’ve noticed that some of the leaves have started turning fully brown. I want to act quickly to turn this around but I am so bad with plants!
A few questions:
1. Does anyone know what could be the issue? How can I rectify this?
2. Is there anything specific I can be doing to ensure it survives?
3. How much water should I be giving it and how often? Some online forums say every day for a week after transplanting and some say to water only if soil is dry.

More info:
I placed it outside initially, but there were high winds that knocked it over so I placed it inside, not directly nearby but a few feet away from a large east facing window/ glass door, so currently it is not getting direct sun (see photos). I got some feedback that it needs a lot more light so I put it directly in front of our terrace window/glass door. I know this is an issue due to draft from the door but I figured it would benefit from light as this is the sunniest place in the apt and there is no where else to put it other than outside (too cold!). We have been having an abnormally warm winter (68F today in NYC!) so I am now reconsidering putting it outside and slowly moving it to the shade bc it is acclimating SO poorly inside. 

Browning of the leaves could be from over or under watering - I only watered it twice since bringing it home, about one liter of water a few days after I brought it in, and 3 liters today (10 days after bringing it home) as I realized it looked very dry. I know the move must have been shocking for it, but hoping this is temporary. First photo and photo on the terrace are from the first days when the leaves were very green, other photos are from the very fast progression of browning and dying fronds. I plan to cut off the dying fronds in the spring/summer as a lot of forums say it will hurt the tree to get rid of them now.

I also set up a humidifier to ensure humidity stays above 40% and will try to mist the leaves as much as possible.

THANK YOU in advance! Please help me save this beautiful tree bc it is declining SO quickly!!!

 

 

[JLM]

Four decent sized palms in one little pot, thats likely your problem. They need a bigger pot.

[Silas_Sancona]

23 hours ago, Sadplantmom said:

Hi all! I got this huge potted christmas palm tree on Oct 29 (prob over 12 ft tall) - I had meant for it to go out on the terrace but quickly realized that it would be too cold in NYC for it right now and brought it inside for the winter.
It’s been less than 2 weeks since I brought it home, and I’ve noticed that some of the leaves have started turning fully brown. I want to act quickly to turn this around but I am so bad with plants!
A few questions:
1. Does anyone know what could be the issue? How can I rectify this?
2. Is there anything specific I can be doing to ensure it survives?
3. How much water should I be giving it and how often? Some online forums say every day for a week after transplanting and some say to water only if soil is dry.

More info:
I placed it outside initially, but there were high winds that knocked it over so I placed it inside, not directly nearby but a few feet away from a large east facing window/ glass door, so currently it is not getting direct sun (see photos). I got some feedback that it needs a lot more light so I put it directly in front of our terrace window/glass door. I know this is an issue due to draft from the door but I figured it would benefit from light as this is the sunniest place in the apt and there is no where else to put it other than outside (too cold!). We have been having an abnormally warm winter (68F today in NYC!) so I am now reconsidering putting it outside and slowly moving it to the shade bc it is acclimating SO poorly inside. 

Browning of the leaves could be from over or under watering - I only watered it twice since bringing it home, about one liter of water a few days after I brought it in, and 3 liters today (10 days after bringing it home) as I realized it looked very dry. I know the move must have been shocking for it, but hoping this is temporary. First photo and photo on the terrace are from the first days when the leaves were very green, other photos are from the very fast progression of browning and dying fronds. I plan to cut off the dying fronds in the spring/summer as a lot of forums say it will hurt the tree to get rid of them now.

I also set up a humidifier to ensure humidity stays above 40% and will try to mist the leaves as much as possible.

THANK YOU in advance! Please help me save this beautiful tree bc it is declining SO quickly!!!

 

 

Unfortunately, Christmas Palms are one of  the worst " indoor " - types of palm choices.. These like constant warmth, sun, and pretty humid conditions over what is provided in most homes ( and outdoors in many " warm " parts of the  U.S. )..  Kentia, ( Howea forsteriana ) Rhapis, ( Lady Palm ), and some ( well, several ) Chamaedorea tolerate indoor growing much better ( Handle low light conditions, and are usually less temperature / humidity sensitive )

You may be able to save this palm, but it will continue to slowly decline regardless.. Majesty Palm, another type marketed as an " interior " palm choice, also hate being indoors. 

Hope this helps, even if not exactly the answer you were hoping for,  and welcome to the forum.

[oasis371]

Unfortunately, I have to agree that this species can be temperamental indoors. First off, they are solitary palm often crowed and sold as multiples.  They also don't tolerate dryness too well, either in the air or the roots.  I think a lost a few to missed waterings, at the same time, they need excellent drainage.  Yours palm is also so tall, it's hard for those leaves to benefit from your light, as the leaves are touching the ceiling.  Having said that, I have a multiple of Adonidia that I bought in the Summer at a great price and brought into my basement about two weeks ago.  It's actually doing well (there is a mix of artificial lighting and sunlight, and it's warm down there and fairly humid too.). Still, not the easiest palm and I have had them spiral into sudden decline so figures crossed. They are also susceptible to spider mites indoors.  Ha ha..., and yet, STILL better than the dam! Majesty palms (probably the single palm that hates being indoors most of all!).  The above poster makes a number of excellent choices for interior palms (Rhapis, Chamaedorea species, and Howea). Yes, the Lady palms and Kentias can be expensive..., but they are terrific inside! I can add a few others to the list (Fishtail palms/Caryota mitis, Hyophorbes (especially the Spindle; but the Bottle would also work),  Pygmy Date (Phoenix roebellini), and Foxtail (Wodyetia), even Arenga engleri (not usually sold in the interior trade, but in NYC, lots of exotic stuff is available, or at least used to be when I lived there). I would also encourage you to start smaller and let the plant grow to fill the space.   Good luck!

Edited November 12, 2021 by oasis371

[Rickybobby]

That is a tiny pot for those palms. Whoever you know there is less soil to be soggy. However cold wet soil can cause root rot. How good is the drainage ? Or does that pot have no holes. Also some of my palms going from full sun to say indoors and artificial lighting will lost some fronds right away 

[Sadplantmom]

On 11/12/2021 at 10:23 AM, oasis371 said:

Adonidia that I bought in the Summer at a great price and brought into

@oasis371 - any tips for trying to keep this one alive? Should I just keep it inside until spring at this point? Also do you spray your palms with any pesticide or copper fungicide to keep spider mites and fungus away when they are indoors?

Thanks all for the help from everyone by the way, am trying to do everything possible to not kill this plant! Even if most of the fronds die off but the plant can survive until spring / summer when I can put it outside I would consider it a win. I don’t want to repot it right now since this is the pot it came and it is clearly in distress but if it lives I may try in the summer!

I actually was so desperate to save it that today I had a plant specialist come to my home to take a look at it and he said he noticed yellow and brown discoloring on the leaves indicative of a fungus which may be why the plant declined so rapidly in just two weeks time. He cut off the dead fronds and sprayed it down with fungicide but said it is most likely doomed. 

Do you folks have recommendations for a good copper fungicide for these types of Christmas palms? 
 

Adding some photos to show what I mean.

Edited November 13, 2021 by Sadplantmom

[oasis371]

Too cold to put it outside at this point, they are very tropical (and I still have a lot my palms outside).  I don't think this is a fungus, and no, I never use any chemicals on my plants (indoors or out), other than insecticidal soaps.

P.S., "cold wet soil can cause root rot",  in a NYC apartment in mid November, it's more likely to be roasting to death!

[Sadplantmom]

@oasis371 - apologies for the million questions, but wondering what you think this might be if not fungus?

Did I mess up by pruning the dead fronds??

Thanks again for all the advice! 
 

this is how brown it was for reference:

 

Edited November 13, 2021 by Sadplantmom

[oasis371]

You have four solitary palms in one small pot. No, they are not the easiest of palms, but the fact that they declined so very quickly leads me to think that they were not getting enough water.

Sorry, but I don't think it will make it.

[NOT A TA]

5 hours ago, Sadplantmom said:

any tips for trying to keep this one alive?

 

5 hours ago, Sadplantmom said:

am trying to do everything possible to not kill this plant!

 

5 hours ago, Sadplantmom said:

I don’t want to repot it right now since this is the pot it came and it is clearly in distress

Put them in a bigger pot.....now...... OR,  watch them die of starvation & thirst. Those plants are waaaaay to big for that pot.

[JLM]

Its declining pretty rapidly it seems, if action is not taken now on getting it at least a new pot, it probably wont make it.

[Sadplantmom]

Thanks all! Was only reluctant to repot since I know this only stresses the plant more, and it was truly thriving in this pot when I bought it (lush green, no brown at all on the fronds and this is the pot it came in - I did not plant it in here) so I assumed the decline was due to adapting to living in a new space (my apartment/indoors) rather than the pot which is a variable that has stayed the same. 

Does anyone have an idea how big of a pot this palm would need or a rule of thumb to follow when deciding on pot size?

The current pot is approximately 17" in diameter. 

Secondly, does anyone have tips for cheap places to get a large but stylish pot? I've already spent a good amount of money on this palm and trying to keep it alive and can't afford a $300 pot especially if he palm does not survive  

[JLM]

10 hours ago, Sadplantmom said:

Thanks all! Was only reluctant to repot since I know this only stresses the plant more, and it was truly thriving in this pot when I bought it (lush green, no brown at all on the fronds and this is the pot it came in - I did not plant it in here) so I assumed the decline was due to adapting to living in a new space (my apartment/indoors) rather than the pot which is a variable that has stayed the same. 

Does anyone have an idea how big of a pot this palm would need or a rule of thumb to follow when deciding on pot size?

The current pot is approximately 17" in diameter. 

Secondly, does anyone have tips for cheap places to get a large but stylish pot? I've already spent a good amount of money on this palm and trying to keep it alive and can't afford a $300 pot especially if he palm does not survive  

I would imagine that a 20"-25" diameter pot would do for now. Dont wanna go from a small pot to a huge one. Unfortunately i cannot provide sources for pots this large, you can always try looking at Lowes or Home Depot for one though.

[Fishinsteeg234]

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but I think you may need to construct an indoor grow tent with artificial lighting and added heat & humidity. The lack of light, low humidity, and temperature shock are most likely the issues you are experiencing. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to keep all kinds of outdoor plants indoors through the winter months. Good luck 

[oasis371]

A typical NYC city apartment does not need added HEAT in the winter.  All too typically they are as hot as he// in the heating season, which may be part of the problem.

My own Adonidia spends the warmer months (mid April-mid October outside on the deck), then in my basement when a combination of natural light and artificial. They do NOT appreciate drying out at all in my experience.

Edited November 19, 2021 by oasis371

[Rickybobby]

Watering everyday indoors will kill that palm so fast. I just keep my soil damp. No flushing in the winter the soil will stay too wet too long and too cold 

[KsLouisiana]

On 11/13/2021 at 8:36 PM, NOT A TA said:

 

 

Put them in a bigger pot.....now...... OR,  watch them die of starvation & thirst. Those plants are waaaaay to big for that pot.

So you think I was growing perfectly fine for years in this pot and then boom as soon as it hits its new conditions it rapidly dies? Probably not...just sayin. I wouldn't encourage her to waste money on an expensive pot that won't help

[Johnny Palmseed]

@Sadplantmom Are the brown areas soft and mushy or dry and crispy? I’m guessing the latter which means it’s not getting enough moisture-whether in the ground and/or air. And where did you get this plant? Was it bought in Florida while on vacation or from a local nursery? If it had been in humid conditions or watered daily up until when you purchased it, then the amount of water you have given it is not enough. Changing the growing conditions rapidly will trigger declines in just about anything. The pot truly is small and the roots probably make up most of what’s in there with very little potting soil This leads me to believe that it is very thirsty and deficient in nutrients. Unfortunately, all you can do now is possibly stop the decline. You will not be able to encourage any real growth to make up for the dying fronds until next spring/summer. Cutting off the dead fronds is fine if they have no green left.

[ZPalms]

Just off topic but isn't the ceiling not high enough for a palm this big, won't it eventually have nowhere to go and start squishing up against the ceiling? I know nothing of Christmas palms but does the pot constrict their growth or make them slower?

Edited December 11, 2021 by ZPalms

[Dimimelbourne]

I got a Burretiokentia palm that looked green and lush then quickly turned like this one, getting those yellow/brown fungus-like fronds. People told me it’s typical of palms that go from an ideal climate into a colder one like mine. I just brought it indoors, gave it the the brightest light and humidity I could and kept it moist but not wet and it’s doing good now. If you do your research, I am sure you can get it going well until your warmer season.