Troubleshooting
Lady palm problems — and how to fix them
Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Brown leaf tips
Tap-water minerals or low humidity; use filtered water and mist.
Yellow fronds
Overwatering or under-feeding.
Spider mites
Stippling on undersides; rinse foliage and raise humidity.
Slow growth
Normal — lady palms grow only one or two fronds per cane per year.
Prevent lady palm problems before they start
Most lady palm issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Lady palm problems — FAQ
Why is my lady palm brown leaf tips?
Tap-water minerals or low humidity; use filtered water and mist.
Why is my lady palm yellow fronds?
Overwatering or under-feeding.
Why is my lady palm spider mites?
Stippling on undersides; rinse foliage and raise humidity.
Why is my lady palm slow growth?
Normal — lady palms grow only one or two fronds per cane per year.