HelpfulGardener.com

my cat palm (when I first got it) [img]https://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs442.snc3/25391_10150165699920227_738360226_11727781_6816964_n.jpg[/img]

is having issues.

the leave tips are turning brown and crunchy.. and some of the shorter newer leaves are turning yellow....


WHATS WRONG???

[img]https://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/19ashe86/100_1982.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/19ashe86/100_1983.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k191/19ashe86/100_1984.jpg[/img]

can anyone help me? whats wrong with my cat palm?

Cat palm is Chamaedorea cataractum, a native of Mexico. They grow in the jungle, so they like bright light, but never direct sunlight. They like the soil to be kept constantly moist, so if the surface of the soil feels dry, it's time to water again.

They are sensitive to salts that build up in the soil, which can come from the soil itself, from water, or from the fertilizer you use. To prevent salt build up, flush the soil about every 3 months. Put your palm tree in the sink or bathtub -- depending on its size -- and water it very heavily over and over again. You want the water to dissolve the salts in the soil and wash them out the drainage holes of the pot. Salt build up in the soil can burn the roots and cause the leaf tips to brown and dry. Watering your palm with distilled water instead of tap water, especially if you live in a hard water area, can help prevent problems from salt build up.

Dry leaf tips can also be the result of too low humidity, often a problem inside homes, especially in the winter. You can mist the plant with a spray bottle several times a day, or you can place it on a humidity tray.

These palms are also subject to damage from spider mites and scale, so examine your plant frequently for those insects.

That's about all I can tell you. Perhaps you can review the care you've been giving the palm, compare it to the information above, and discover the most likely cause of the drying leaf tips. I would look first at humidity, or lack thereof.

HTH!

I showered my plant in nice hot water for 10 mins and am letting it sit int he shower with the door closed to keep the humidity in... and drain..

I hope this helps.. warmer weather is coming (summer) so will humidity.. I hope this helps my plants...


I spray my plants every day...

I wish I had more confidence

give me a sign that I'm not killing it lol