The Majesty Palm, or more commonly known as the Majestic Palm, rightfully so, is a beautiful and vibrant indoor houseplant.
This species originates from Arecaceae, an extensive family of flowering plants, and is famous for its finger-like, upward-arching leaves that give it a look that is sophisticated and inviting.
The majesty palm is often used to decorate houses, gardens, and offices.
But, what if your majesty palm soon becomes less majestic due to browning leaves? Well, don’t you worry a bit, as we’re here to learn what causes it and how to fix it.
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What Causes the Majesty Palm Leaves to Turn Brown?
While most times, the elegant Majesty Palm plant is simply turning brown due to old age, other times its leaves lose color due to unfavorable conditions. This tropical species thrives in bright sunlight; therefore, cutting off its solar energy can lead to the browning of leaves. Several other reasons, such as infrequent watering, poor water quality, over-fertilization, and cold injury can lead to leaves’ discoloration.
Reasons for the Majesty Palm for Turning Brown
The Majesty Palm plant has a reasonably strong immunity. However, adverse conditions can eventually lead to the discoloration of its leaves.
A wide range of problems leads to the Majesty Palm plant’s leaves turning brown.
Nature’s Cycle
All plants, including the Majesty Palm, age and show various signs of maturity, such as leaf-browning. It is normal for old leaves to lose color and shed off after completing their natural life cycle.
Unless your plant is losing an abnormal amount of leaves, leaves turning brown and eventually dropping are natural processes and not a matter of concern.
Inadequate Sunlight
This delicate beauty prefers bright, filtered sunlight, and thus, placing it near sunny windows is a good option.
However, if placed in an insufficiently lit room or complete darkness, the Majestic Palm plant develops brown leaves.
Incorrect Watering Frequency
The Majesty Palm likes frequent watering, as staying in the sun for one-third of the day causes the plant to lose a significant amount of water.
A plant that is watered too little or too much is most likely to form brown tips, or worse, catch a severe infection.
This beautiful species does not only need its leaves to remain hydrated but also likes having its soil sufficiently moisturized throughout the year.
Therefore, a plant that is mostly soaked in water will turn brown over time.
Excessive Feeding
While you may love your Majesty Palm plant, over-fertilizing it is not a good idea.
A plant that is fed too much will start yellowing and eventually turn brown from tip to base.
Cold Injury
Every responsible gardener keeps their indoor houseplants protected and warm especially during their growing seasons.
However, in areas where sudden temperature drops are common or regions with extreme temperatures are the norm, these conditions can cause the Majesty Palm to turn brown.
While this occurs rarely, it is still a possibility to consider as it can lead to irreversible damage, and potentially, plant death.
What Conditions does the Majesty Palm Like?
Good growth is a combined effort of various factors. Plants receiving each of these in the optimal quantity grow fairly well and tend to be disease-resistant.
However, if exposed to a disadvantageous environment perpetually, most plants show various signs indicating distress and an immediate call to action.
The Majesty Palm loves sunlight. It enjoys basking in the sun’s glory for a good six to eight hours per day.
A sunny window with bright, dappled sunlight gives way to excellent growth and spread. Moreover, this tropical beauty prefers high humidity and ample water throughout the week and tolerates temperatures ranging from 70 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
How to Treat a Brown Majesty Palm?
As serious as these problems may seem, treating them is fairly easy with all of the following tips:
Ideal Sunlight
Generally, plants hailing from the tropics love sunlight all year long. However, continuous exposure to direct, unrestricted light can lead to leaf discoloration, and eventually, scorching.
Such is the Majesty Palm plant, which likes bright, dappled sunlight, whether placed indoors or outdoors. For the latter setting, putting the plant on the patio or under partial shade is an excellent option.
For the Majesty Palm plants growing inside the house, a spot near the window is ideal.
A plant placed close to a south, or east-facing window is pretty safe as such a setting allows just the right amount of sunlight to hit the plant.
Alternatively, you can nurture the plant under artificial growing lights or simply place it just inside the balcony door where limited light comes in.
Watering Schedule
A plant that enjoys sunlight is most likely to prefer frequent watering. In the Majesty Palm plant’s case, watering about 1 to 2 times a week is sufficient.
Similarly, you can keep an eye on the plant’s soil, particularly the top 1-2 inches, a reliable indicator for moisture.
A dehydrated Majesty Palm plant will have dry, cracked soil. Therefore, as soon as you notice the soil drying up, add some water to the plant’s base.
When growing a Majesty Palm plant, another imperative factor to keep in mind is to check the water’s quality.
If the water either is extremely hot or cold and contains excessive chlorine, your plant will react by developing brown leaves.
However, if the water has the right amount of minerals and is lukewarm, your Majesty Palm will grow healthily and happily.
To eliminate extra chlorine, use a water purifier or simply fill a bucket with tap water and let it sit overnight. This allows all excessive chlorine to evaporate.
Right Feeding
One of the main determinants of plant growth is feed and its frequency.
When growing a Majesty Palm plant, add fertilizer about once to twice a month or follow the instructions mentioned on the fertilizer packaging.
Ideally, use a slow-release fertilizer that is made explicitly for the Arecaceae plant species. A slow-release feed gives the plant ample time to absorb the nutrients efficiently and significantly lowers the possibility of nutrient toxicity.
However, if you have access to liquid fertilizer only, use it approximately one to two times in three weeks.
Furthermore, especially when using this feed type, keep a close eye for any signs of mineral toxicity, such as leaf-browning.
Frequently Asked Questions about Majesty Palm Leaves Turning Brown
If my Majesty Palm has formed brown leaves, should I get rid of it?
While most leaves turn brown due to old age, some can lose color due to an incorrect care routine. If your plant is young and still forming brown leaves, please reconsider its watering and fertilizing routines and ensure that it is placed in ideal surroundings.
Will my Majesty Palm recover if its leaves have turned brown?
In most cases, the discoloration of leaves is a reversible process. When placed in optimal conditions and given the proper care, most leaves regain their characteristic green color. However, if the plant has been placed in an unfavorable environment for a long time, it may be permanently damaged.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.