Question
Dear Will,
We recently purchased a 15 inch potted Majesty Palm and have repotted it in approximately the same size (more decorative) pot.  It is outside in the pool and patio area. Today, we noticed the tips of the leaves are turning brownish-yellow.  My husband transported it from the store in the back of his pick-up (driving very respectfully of its presence he said) and suggested that the discoloration could be due to the stress of the transport and transplant. We read earlier from another site that the Majesty Palm doesn't mind crowded roots and should be repotted as any other plant.  We loosened the roots a little when repotting, so we might have disturbed them during the process.  My reading tonight lead me to believe the root should not be disturbed when repotting.  I don't know what to believe! I have had this plant for less than a week, I love it and don't want it to die. Can you please tell us what could possibly be going on with it, how to remedy it if we've done something wrong, and also how to properly care for it?  By the way, we live in Zone 8b and the plant is now in an area that gets morning shade and evening sun.
I wish I had found this site earlier.  Thank you for any help and advice.
Claudia  

Answer
Hi Claudia,

Outdoors in south Florida this plant can do very well in the landscape. Indoors I have found majesty palms (Ravenea rivularis) to be difficult.

Indoors, this plant must have lots of direct sun, but outdoors it it is best located in light shade. The hot direct sun could be contributing to the leaf tipping.

The moisture level in the soil must be constantly moist, but not wet. This can be nearly impossible if the soil mix is not a good one with lots of aeration. If you have any watering lapses with you majesty palm, you pay the price with fronds that turn yellow or tips that turn brown.

The disturbance of the roots when you repotted may be a partial cause of the leaf tipping, but apparently you were careful so that is not a likely cause.

Wind damage when it was transported is another possible cause.

When they are growing vigorously, majesty palms require lots of fertilizer, particularly the minor element magnesium. (Stay away from Miracid or any other fertilizer that lowers the pH and prevents the nutrients from being absorbed.)  

Good luck with it, but don't feel bad if you don't succeed. There are many discount growers and retailers selling these palms because they are cheap to grow in a controlled environment. However, few people are able to keep them looking healthy for a long time, especially as indoor plants. If you manage to get it through the summer, you will have to move it inside when the weather gets cold (below 50 degrees) in the fall.

The professional indoor landscapers that I know have stopped using Ravenea palms because they are so problematic. They are cheap and fast growers for discount nurseries to produce.  They sell them to discount retail outlets where they attract a lot of interest because the buyer thinks they are getting a lot of plant for the money - until they've had them for a while. The fact that you are keeping yours outside is reason to think that you may have some success.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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