Very Confused about Areca's Palm

[zonamoroza]

Hi everyone. 

Hope to get some help, as I'm super confused about my new (and first) palm. It is an Areca, I got her 3 weeks ago. 

When I received the plant, the inner nursing pot was cracked due to transportation. I transported her into a new same nursery pot with good drainage holes within the first week. 

At first, she had couple of dry and grey/brown tips. But during the time she been with me, more grey/brown tips appeared and in much larger areas. The soil seemed quite dry (after checking the top inch with finger, as well as checking a bit deeper with a wooden stick), so I watered it after 1 week of receiving. After another week it again was dry after the finger test, so I watered again. I'm trying to keep the humidity in the apartment around 55-60%. She is standing next to the South-facing window, no direct light, the apartment is small and always around 20-22 degrees. 

One particular side of it seems to be wilting much more than any other. (as on the photo, left side) Couple of days ago I pulled out a completely dried out stem that did not have any roots. 

   

I took it out of the pot to see if there's something visibly wrong with the roots. Couple of them were visible, one fell off on the light touch, and was rather mushy and dark brown, but I did not smell any rot. 

I put it all back into the pot. But today I discovered another lower two leafs that are coming from a single step completely dried up (similarly to the one photo above). As well as, four other lower leaves rapidly turning yellow. 

  

  

I contacted the nursery from where the palm came from, but they are convincing me this is normal and that it is normal that singular roots will fall off, and they can turn mushy from time to time. Additionally, that this is a normal behaviour for the palm, certain leafs will turn brown, certain roots fall off. But then, the next day I observe rapidly dying small leafs. 

I really do not understand what is going on and if this is a normal behaviour or I need to check the roots closer for rot and repot. 

Appreciate any guidance! 

Thank you!

 

[SeanK]

I have never grown these, so my remarks will be general.

1. It appears you have approximately 100 plants in the pot, not a single plant with 100 suckers.

2. I think they're planted too deep. I can't be sure as I didn't see the original pot.

[zonamoroza]

2 hours ago, SeanK said:

2. I think they're planted too deep. I can't be sure as I didn't see the original pot.

Exactly the same as the current one. I simply moved the whole plant together with soil into the new pot. 

Another unrelated remark. It seems that new fronds are still coming out, despite the yellowing / greying tips. Perhaps this is an indication that she isn't in a bad health? 

[happypalms]

Your palm looks fine. One or two of the seedlings dying is fine there’s a lot of seeds sown in the container to get that many young plants overcrowded for sure. Upon transplanting a couple have died due to stress. But from here on don’t overwater it the roots are not established in the new soil if you overwater the new soil will sour and then the problems will start. If your keeping it indoors every 3 weeks or so put it outside if possible to rest in the shade for a week or so once again then return it inside. Spider mites inside are an issue with low humidity. So when place it outside hose the foliage especially underneath the leaves being careful not to saturate the soil or overwatering will begin. Also a little seaweed extract in your water when you water it but only if the top inch or more is dry. Overwatering I stress on especially with indoor plants be careful.

[Bkue]

I have nearly 300 in ground outdoors. It happens. Wouldn’t worry. 

[wimmie]

Indeed, no worries! It's a bunch of young plants and they are adapting to their new environment. In the seventies, yes, grandpa is talking to you😎, I had this plant in my apartment in standing water and it was huge! Four square meters. But I need to say that it was always hot in the living (no energy crises yet) and I also had a pond in there. In time, I  would try to divide the bunch as Dypsis lutescens  is a clumping palm!

[zonamoroza]

Thank you everyone for the replies and reassuring me it is doing fine. 🙂