Question
Help,my daughter sent her ailing large palm up from Portland Oregon, hoping I can save Herman! His foliage is drooping badly. I have been checking Internet but not sure what to try and what is most important to do to not shock him more! I put him in a light spot with my other plants. Internet talks about salt build up and leaching (10 to 15 times)and using distilled water so no fluoride or chlorine. It also talks about pH balance (I don't under stand what number or how?)What fertilizer(15-5-15 should I use the same for house plant, when and how ?Or should I repot him now or will it shock him more. Thank you for any information,I hope I don't have to have a funeral. My daughter is counting on me.Thanks again,Bev

Answer
Hi Bev,
  You are correct that the most important thing right now is to not cause anymore stress to Herman.
It sounds like the main problem besides the stress of adjusting to a new environment is you are probably overwatering him.
As a general rule you should allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry between watering. Then water the plant until a small amount of water drains from the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
Soil being constantly wet from overwatering prevents the roots from being able to breathe and causes root rot. Sometimes if a plant has been consistently overwatered for a period of time and is in distress, it is best to dry the soil immediately instead of waiting for the soil to dry on it's own. To dry the soil a bit, remove the top 1/3 of soil from the pot and replace it with fresh dry soil. Mix the fresh dry soil down into the wet soil. After drying the soil this way, wait at least 3-4 days before watering the plant sparingly.

Leaching a plant's soil to get rid of excess salt build up is usually done once every few months at the most, if at all. Leaching is used mostly to rid the soil of excess fertilizer after a plant has been over fertilized. Regular leaching is usually only done on plants that are especially sensitive to salt.
Usually watering until a small amount comes out the drainage holes and being careful not to over fertilize is sufficient to prevent a build up of excess salt. Using the distilled water will keep unwanted chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine out of the soil and prevent a build up of harmful mineral deposits like lime and calcium.

Since Herman is stressed and adjusting to a new environment it is best to put him in a place where he will receive bright light but no direct sunlight.

Do not give the plant fertilizer. Fertilizer should only be given to healthy plants that are actively growing. Never give fertilizer to a plant while it is dormant or to an unhealthy plant. Fertilizer will not ' cure' an unhealthy plant and will actually cause more harm.
Any well balanced fertilizer is OK (10-10-10 or 7-7-7). I recommend using only 1/3 of the amount called for in the directions on the package.
Liquid fertilizers are best. Dilute 1 part liquid fertilizer to 2 parts distilled water.

Repotting will only cause Herman more stress and is probably not necessary. Unnecessary repotting is one of the most common reasons for plant failure. A few signs a plant needs to be repotted is little or no new growth (when the plant is healthy), roots growing out of the drainage holes and an almost constant need for water.

As well as making sure Herman is getting the proper care, carefully check for any sign of insects or mites. An insect/mite infestation can cause a lot of damage to a plant in a short period of time.

Soil pH levels is not something that a casual indoor gardener has to be concerned about with most of the common houseplants. pH levels indicate how acidic or alkaline (not acidic) the soil is. There are some plants that will grow best in soil that is more acidic or more alkaline. A level of 7 is absolute neutral, being neither acidic or alkaline. Most of the plants that are kept as houseplants will grow well in pH levels near neutral. Most commercial potting soils are balanced at pH level 7. One exception is potting soil made for African Violets. African Violets grow best in slightly acidic soil (6.0-6.5) so potting soil made for African Violets is balanced at a pH level around 6.0-6.5
Unless the soil is at an extreme end of a pH level, either extremely acidic or extremely alkaline, the pH level of the soil would not affect a plant's health that much.

Good luck. I hope this helps and that Herman makes a complete recovery.


If you have any questions or need additional information please don't hesitate to ask.
          Thanks
              Tracy