Palm-tree like plant fronds turning brown and woody - help?
April 2, 2018 4:56 AM Subscribe
I inherited this plant. It's about a foot tall, and looked a little like a palm tree. It had long green fronds about 18 inches long fanning out from a central column, but those fronds are going brown and woody and it's spreading. Help?
I've had this plant for about two years and it survived two winters in the Northeast by the window indoors, but about three months ago, I moved it away from the window as part of rearranging the furniture. The person who gave it to me said it wasn’t a flowering plant, so less light was ok.
It seemed to do ok, but about two weeks ago, the fronds started drooping, and then the leaves went brown, dry and woody.
I wasn't sure if it's because it wasn't getting enough light, or maybe I overwatered.
A few days ago, I moved it into the sun by the window. I cut off the now-brown dry fronds.
Today, I noticed the few green fronds have started to go brown and droop too.
Do you have any advice? Thanks!
I've had this plant for about two years and it survived two winters in the Northeast by the window indoors, but about three months ago, I moved it away from the window as part of rearranging the furniture. The person who gave it to me said it wasn’t a flowering plant, so less light was ok.
It seemed to do ok, but about two weeks ago, the fronds started drooping, and then the leaves went brown, dry and woody.
I wasn't sure if it's because it wasn't getting enough light, or maybe I overwatered.
A few days ago, I moved it into the sun by the window. I cut off the now-brown dry fronds.
Today, I noticed the few green fronds have started to go brown and droop too.
Do you have any advice? Thanks!
A few days ago, I moved it into the sun by the window. I cut off the now-brown dry fronds.
Moving plants that are in danger should only be done after much consideration, and slowly. Not recommended for beginners.
I think that plant is a goner. Sorry. Probably over watered/under drained. It’s true it’s probably not all-the-way dead as of this morning, but nursing it back to health would be a long slow process with low odds of success. The first step is to put it back where it was and make sure it has good drainage.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:09 AM on April 2, 2018
Moving plants that are in danger should only be done after much consideration, and slowly. Not recommended for beginners.
I think that plant is a goner. Sorry. Probably over watered/under drained. It’s true it’s probably not all-the-way dead as of this morning, but nursing it back to health would be a long slow process with low odds of success. The first step is to put it back where it was and make sure it has good drainage.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:09 AM on April 2, 2018
I think that is an ex-Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm*). It was probably overwatered, and the roots rotted.
The time to save this plant was maybe three months ago; by the time it looks like your photos, it's well past saving. I have lost one in the same way myself (had it outside for the summer, it grew like gangbusters, I brought it inside in October, I didn't know it was dying until like December); these things happen.
*(not actually a palm)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:47 AM on April 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
The time to save this plant was maybe three months ago; by the time it looks like your photos, it's well past saving. I have lost one in the same way myself (had it outside for the summer, it grew like gangbusters, I brought it inside in October, I didn't know it was dying until like December); these things happen.
*(not actually a palm)
posted by Spathe Cadet at 6:47 AM on April 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I thought it was some type of Dracenea. I find them fussy and easy to kill accidentally. You might bring it back, tho.
posted by jbenben at 10:44 AM on April 2, 2018
posted by jbenben at 10:44 AM on April 2, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks for all your advice! Fingers crossed.
posted by Borborygmus at 10:56 AM on April 3, 2018
posted by Borborygmus at 10:56 AM on April 3, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
Probably both, by the look of it. Let it dry out a fair bit, and give it more light. If the roots have not rotted too badly, it might recover.
Plants in this family grow from the centre up and outward. If you can gently part the fronds at the top and look down inside, and you can see a dark green tip down there, you're probably OK.
It also looks like it's trying to throw out more roots above the surface, which might mean that it's not super-happy with conditions below. Might want repotting. If you do move it to a new pot, sink it a little deeper than it is right now, and take the opportunity to check the present pot for sogginess. Palm family generally isn't fond of sogginess; their shiny waxy leaves mean they don't transpire a huge amount of water so they don't need much at the roots either.
posted by flabdablet at 5:33 AM on April 2, 2018 [1 favorite]