Question
QUESTION: I just bought a small Pygmy date palm. I brought it home and replanted it in a slightly bigger pot since the roots were really tightly wound in the pot it was in. I put it in my living room where I have a big bay window and gets Southeast light. I have been reading all the information on web sites about what to do to make sure I can keep it alive. I have noticed in the past couple of days the fronds have started to turn brown. I have been misting it in the evenings, and only watered it once so that it wasn't dry, since I read they don't like to dry out. Then I read that they don't like too much water....
Can you please advise me?? I really like it and don't want to wind up killing it.
Thanks,
Robin

ANSWER: Hi Robin, ok, I got some of the info I need, but I need a tad more..were there any brown fronds on it when you purchased it?and  how you transplanted it (technique), and what type of container; they are indeed sensitive to too much water, and the browning fronds are a sign of root problems. Nick

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

QUESTION: I took it out of the original container, I put river stones in the bottom of the new pot. I figured the stones would help drain away any excess water and not allow it to sit in water. There weren't brown fronds on it when I bought it. It really looks pretty healthy but I don't want to make it sicker.
Thanks, Nick.
Robin

Answer
Ok good! keep it in a dappled shady area until it shows new fronds that are nice and green; the original ones that have browned out you can nip off. Make sure you don't over water it, nothing will kill a plant quicker then saturated roots; the soil should be kept damp but not wet, and don't let it dry out completely, just keep it so the soil will clump together, if pressed. Thats about all you can do for now Robin, watch those new fronds and when they start to show healthy green, gradually allow it more sun, but gradual is the operative word here...good luck Nick:)