Dying indoor palm plant

[robrocke]

I've had this low-maintenance hanging palm plant for years. It has done very well! Over the last month it's suddenly taken a turn for the worse. All of the fronds appear to be drying out and I think they're dying, turning from yellow to brown. I have not changed anything in the way I care for it or its location. Do these photos help identify what's wrong? I've always had it in one of those "self-watering" hanging pots with a reservoir of water that collects on the bottom that then wicks up to water the roots via a built-in piece of fabric. Does that wicking fabric have a finite lifespan? Maybe it eventually gets clogged with minerals and debris and stops working? I have also never really changed the soil (does its nutrients ever get exhausted)? Thanks in advance for your anyone's advice.

 

[cpp gardener]

Did a tree get removed/trimmed outside the window? It looks like it is getting more light than it used to.
The wicking should last indefinitely. Have you ever fertilized it? Have you ever leached it?
It doesn't look very promising. The amount of browning of the foliage leaves very little live tissue to continue growth.

 

[robrocke]

Thanks for your advice @cpp gardener. I had wondered if it was related to a change in light coming through the window and there were some trees trimmed some time ago but the timing didn't seem to exactly match the downfall of the plant. I've since moved it to a less sunny location and guess I will watch it with fingers crossed. Meanwhile I do fertilize it occasionally (though probably not as often as I should) and have leached it occasionally as well (ditto probably not enough). I'm feeling guilty because it's been with me for such a long time and always seemed to be healthy and low-maintenance. It has seeded several times and a couple of those times I've tried to save and sprout the seeds but I haven't had any luck. Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[Enexityme]

From the pics, it seems like it might be struggling with light or watering issues. Indoor plants can be tricky like that—they need just the right amount of sunshine and water to thrive.

 

[Mystic Moon Tree]

I've had this low-maintenance hanging palm plant for years. It has done very well! Over the last month it's suddenly taken a turn for the worse. All of the fronds appear to be drying out and I think they're dying, turning from yellow to brown. I have not changed anything in the way I care for it or its location. Do these photos help identify what's wrong? I've always had it in one of those "self-watering" hanging pots with a reservoir of water that collects on the bottom that then wicks up to water the roots via a built-in piece of fabric. Does that wicking fabric have a finite lifespan? Maybe it eventually gets clogged with minerals and debris and stops working? I have also never really changed the soil (does its nutrients ever get exhausted)? Thanks in advance for your anyone's advice.
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Yes, it does need food periodically. House plants are generally low maintenamce hardy plants so people can neglect them & they won't die, but not indeffinitely. All living organisms need food, plants included. It probably needs to be uppotted because it is root bound & new soil added that is appropriate for the type of plant it is. It could also have had its roots contaminated with a disease from the surounding house air that caused a root rot, so you could flush the roots and clean the watering system. It could have had something change outside its window that effected the light. It could be experiencing a die back to send out new fronds, or it could just have lived its lifespan. From the pictures it looks like its propogated & overcrowded itself for nutrients. Its pretty far gone. Hope you are able to save it.

 

[Enexityme]

From the pics, it seems like it might be struggling with light or watering issues. Indoor plants can be tricky like that—they need just the right amount of sunshine and water to thrive.

Here's a couple of things you could try: First off, check if it's getting enough light. Palms generally dig bright, indirect sunlight, so if it's in a shady spot, it might be feeling a bit blue. Also, give its soil a feel—if it's bone dry or sopping wet, that could be stressing it out. Aim for that sweet spot in between where it's just moist.
As for the camphor trees bit—those are pretty cool! They're known for their aromatic leaves and have this chill vibe about them. Not exactly like palms, but hey, variety is the spice of life, right?

 

[Mystic Moon Tree]

Thanks for your advice @cpp gardener. I had wondered if it was related to a change in light coming through the window and there were some trees trimmed some time ago but the timing didn't seem to exactly match the downfall of the plant. I've since moved it to a less sunny location and guess I will watch it with fingers crossed. Meanwhile I do fertilize it occasionally (though probably not as often as I should) and have leached it occasionally as well (ditto probably not enough). I'm feeling guilty because it's been with me for such a long time and always seemed to be healthy and low-maintenance. It has seeded several times and a couple of those times I've tried to save and sprout the seeds but I haven't had any luck. Thanks again for your thoughts.

Palm seeds can take up to 9 years to sprout in the pot you plant them in because they come from severly drought afflicted regions and have adapted to only sprout when conditions are just right for a long time. So you probably were successful, just not patient enough.