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The palm tree is not new to the plant game! It has been one of the trees which are easy to care for and require less water. If you live in an area where the weather is hot you will find palm trees everywhere.
They serve as a perfect shade in a hot sunny climate and because of their tall height they can also add to the beauty of a place.
Long and tall palm trees always add up to the landscape no matter where you plant them! They make a great plant for outdoor areas where there’s direct sunlight coming.
Palm trees can not only survive hot weather but also handle winters fairly well. Hence making it a great plant for the entire year without worrying about your plant dying!
Overwatering a palm tree is not a new thing. Many people often overwater their palm trees but let us find out how do you save an overwatered palm tree?
What Are The Signs Of An Overwatered Palm Tree?
Palm trees do not like too much water. In reality, a palm tree dislikes too much water and you might start to see your palm tree die if you give it too much water.
Let us take a look at what are the signs of an overwatered palm tree and when should you stop watering it. This guide will help you save your palm tree before too much damage is done!
Here are the signs you should look out for to spot an overwatered palm tree.
- New emerging leaves and younger foliage turning brown.
- The tree will start to lose its leaves.
- Root rot, although this is difficult to detect and treat.
- Wilted leaves
- Leaf discoloration, healthy leaves that start to fall off before dying.
- Nutrient deficiencies due to overwatering
If you see any of these signs in your palm tree it will be best to stop giving them water. It is best if you could look for the first signs of an overwatered tree that will help you to make the right decision at the right time!
This will hopefully allow you to save your palm tree.
How Do You Save An Overwatered Palm Tree?
Palm trees have shallow roots when compared to other plants. They can survive fairly well in extremely cold or hot weather.
Overwatering a palm tree is not a problem unknown to us. To save your overwatered palm tree first you must look at why, it it root rot? What they are planted in? Do they need repotting or moved to a different location?
Root Rot
If your palm tree is suffering from root rot then the best way to treat this problem is to remove the plant from its soil and wash the root with running water.
If you see rotten roots then cut off the roots. This will increase the chances of the roots growing back!
Also, don’t forget to wash to pot your plant was in and get rid of the soil. Wash your pot thoroughly with a bleach solution and plant the soil back in the new pot.
Sand
Palm trees do not like too much water but they do thrive in sand. So if you feel that your plant is facing root rot then try adding some sand to your pot.
Repotting
If you want to save your palm tree then you should repot your palm tree. Leave the stems after pruning your plant to dry before repotting it. You can also have some sand to act as mulch for your palm tree.
Changing the Position
If your palm tree is overwatered you can move the position of the plant to a less shaded area. Once your plant dries you can put it back to its original position.
If you’re enjoying this article, check out our article on the kentia palm vs the areca palm.
How Often Should A Palm Tree Be Watered?
As we all know palm trees do not require water. They can survive pretty well with a reduced amount of water and extreme climates.
If your palm tree is new then water it every day. Then water it once every two days and then once every three days. Once the plant has settled water it twice or thrice a week.
If your palm tree is established water your plant thrice a week or when you see the top one or two inches of the soil are dry.
How Do I Know If My Palm Tree Needs Water?
There’s a basic guideline as to how much water your palm tree needs. If the palm tree is placed in a 15-gallon container then it needs 15 gallons of water and so on.
This is only a rough guide and does vary so if it has been very hot then you may need more than this to keep your palm tree happy.
The size of the container will determine the amount of water your palm tree needs.
If you see that your palm tree has slow growth or the leaves are turning brown then it’s time to up your water game! The leaves might start to fold or wilt around the midrib if your palm tree requires water.
Should I Cut Off Brown Palm Leaves?
Brown leaves in a palm tree are natural and usually not a sign of concern. Like a palm tree ages, it replaces its leaves throughout its growing season.
The leaf will turn brown from the tip and continue turning brown until it turns completely brown and then it falls off.
You can cut off any brown leaves you see on your palm tree. Take a look at the step-by-step guide as to how to cut off the brown leaves of your palm tree.
- Keep all your supplies with you. These include a sharp knife, some rubbing alcohol, and a paper towel.
- Clean the scissors with rubbing alcohol before you begin to cut off the leaves.
- Next, cut the leaves that are brown or if they are turning yellow at the base.
- Try not to tug the leaves since this can damage the healthy parts of the plant.
- One important thing to note is to never remove more than 20 percent of your plant at once. Prune in stages if you need to remove too many leaves at once.
Why Might your Palm Tree Leaves be Turning Brown?
- Too much water. If you’re overwatering your palm tree you might find your tree leaves turning brown. A palm tree will thrive in soil that is moderately wet. It should not be too dry neither should it be too wet.
- You should also keep a check on the quality of water. Palm trees are extremely sensitive to tap water. If the leaves of your palm tree are turning brown make sure to rule out the source of water. Try using filtered water for your palm tree.
- Although fertilizing your palm tree’s soil is a good idea but too much fertilizing can cause your plant leaves to turn brown. You should fertilize your palm tree only during their active growing season.
- Since palm trees strive in a hot climate sometimes the plant can suffer a cold injury. Place your palm tree in a place where there are low chances of cold getting in and making the leaves of the palm tree turn brown.
Some Fact About Palm Trees
Your Palm Tree Needs Deep Watering
Deep watering is a process where you will give water to your plant slowly over a long period of time.
Watering your palm tree simply won’t let all the nutrients pass down to the soil. In that case, deep watering should be considered.
Slowly water your plant over a period of 1 to 2 hours to let all the moisture absorb properly.
Adjust Water Levels According To The Season
Try to water your palm tree more during its growing season and not as much during other times. During winter palm trees don’t require too much water so you don’t need to water them frequently.
When is the best time of the day to water your palm tree?
The best time to water your palm tree during the day is early in the morning or late afternoon.
It is a good idea to water them early in the morning because that will help the soil to stay moist even during the hottest time of the day.
Watering late in the afternoon will give your tree more time to absorb all the nutrients.
Watering every day?
If it was for other plants then our answer would have been yes you should water it every day.
However, for palm trees, your plant does not require water every day, and hence watering it every day might do more damage than good so avoid watering your palm tree every day to help your plant strive and thrive!
Final Thoughts
A palm tree will be a beautiful addition to your landscape if you’re looking to add up to make the surroundings more pleasing to the eye. A palm tree is easy to take care of and maintain.
There are lots of varieties of palm trees and some grow fairly well even during harsh conditions.
Overwatering your palm tree can cause a lot of problems so it is always a better idea to never overwater your palm tree. Giving it just the right amount of water can lead to your plant striving and thriving in no time!
Before you go, here are some more related articles I encourage you to read below to help solve more of your gardening issues:
How to Fix your Kentia Palm Problems
How to Fix your Sago Palm Problems
Areca Palm Diseases and How to Cure Them
Can I put my kentia palm outdoors?
