Question
Why are the fronds on my indoor palm plant sticky. Not all of them are. it appears to be the new ones. I keep one outside and this does not happen.

Answer
Shelby Lee, Hi! Indoor palms (as well as many plants kept indoors) are favorite game for spider mites, who enjoy the dry conditions; the secretions they give off after feeding appear as a sticky substance (as well as many small insects after they feed). Purchase some horticultural oil (ultra-fine, organicide, to name a few) and follow the directions, this will take care of the infestation, let it sit a day, and then wash off the fronds of residual oil and dead insects and "the sticky stuff"; from that point on, keep the fronds misted, this should prevent them from returning, spray a light coating on the surface of the soil also, to take care of any that may be hiding in the soil. Nick