Question
We have a six foot interior palm bought at a housewares store for $16 or so.  It is still in its tight plastic planter ( no holes in bottom) and placed in a clay pot, (also with no holes in bottom.)
After less than a month, the lower short branches are turning yellow and the tips of the longer branches are turning dry and brownish. The plant gets no direct sunlight.  We water once a week or so.

What is wrong?  More important, can we plant this palm outdoors in our naturally sandy soil--and very sunny -- outdoor patio garden.  We are having trouble with our Pinto Palm planted there, which appears to have died out there after three good years, and would like to replace it with something.  Will this now strugglng houseplant palm do the trick?

we live in Daytona Beach (Ormond Beach) Florida,and area which grows and supports a large variety of palm trees year round.

Answer
Hi Hank, you need to get it out of that container right away, what is happening is the roots are rotting because of the lack of drainage; it can be placed outdoors , but in a protected spot from the occasional freeze you are subject too. The variety is probably either a Majesty or Areca, both will fare just fine with morning sun and afternoon shade. Priority number one however, is to free it from its prison and hopefully it will turn the corner for you. Nick