Question
QUESTION: Hello Nick,

I just bought a cat palm from home depot.  I was told it needed to be repotted soon (still in original 10" container)but now the leaves are turning brown at the tips and some are even starting to wilt. I have placed it about 10 feet directly in front of my window so it gets light
should I repot it?
how often do I water it?
is it in proper lighting?
what type of food does it need?
what temperature should I keep my house at to make sure it stays warm (we're savers so when it gets cold we just put on more clothes)

Greatly appreciate any help.  Thank you very much

ANSWER: Hi Liss, Cat Palms are shade lovers, and need to be misted frequently to prevent the browning of the tips (lack of humidity), put it in a shadier part of the house and it should be fine. Water it when it is dry 3 inches down and fertilize it 3 times a year with a "palm fertilizer" (granular), other then that, it is a pretty easy Palm to take care of,,,it is just sensitive to too much light and dry conditions. Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Nick,

you're da man!!! thanks...just one thing should I repot it...I read on another thread that repoting may cause root rot, what is your suggestion?
also does the temperature of our house matter?

thanks again for your time and energy.

Lissette

Answer
I revised the last question to include the repotting (which I had forgot to mention..), but I'll put it here also, you do need to repot, because these plants come in transient containers, that meant for temporary use only, and the plant (palm in your case..)is often root bound already; pop it out of this container and have a new one prepared (at least half again bigger then original..) with the bottom couple of inches lined with either gravel or pea stone, for drainage; then use a good grade "potting" soil, not top soil to fill it up about halfway, then take the Palm and loosen up the roots on the root ball so they are free and hanging, and place this root ball into the new container so that the rim of the root ball is about 2 inches below the rim of the container and centered, then backfill in around the root ball with the new soil until it is even with root ball (at the 2 inch level). Now, water it well, until the water seeps out through the drainage holes, and then bring the level of the soil back up (if it has sunk down a little). You can then put an inch of decorative rocks on the surface to finish up your project. Water it well at first, and then periodically check, and when it is dry about halfway down, water it again, the roots will not rot as long as they don't sit in standing water, thus the reason for the drainage material lining the bottom. Any other questions, ask away, or check some of my previous answers on questions asked by others. Nick