Kentia Palm Brown Leaves: Drainage, Humidity & Fertilizer Fixes

2nd kentia palm—brown leaves from underwatering (will fix). Will used coffee grounds help? How—layer on top or mix with water/spray? 1st palm died: base mushy, fronds not yellow/brown, growing well, then stems mushy/brown/soft, spread up, whole stem fell off. 2nd palm: afraid to water, now brown leaves, drooping.

Expert Advice

Coffee grounds only acidify soil slightly. First palm: root rot from poor drainage/roots in moisture. Line container bottom with drainage material (ample holes), use well-draining potting mix. Brown tips = low humidity—mist crown frequently. Fertilize monthly with half-dose Miracle-Gro until established, then palm granular 3x/year.