Why Is My Kentia Palm Turning Brown?

The Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) is one of Australia’s most elegant indoor and outdoor palms. But even with the best care, its fronds can sometimes turn brown. This doesn’t always mean your palm is dying — browning is often a natural response to stress or age. In this guide, we explain the main reasons Kentia Palms turn brown and how to fix the problem.

Common Causes of Browning in Kentia Palms

Browning can occur for several reasons, most linked to watering, light, or nutrients. The most common causes include:

• Underwatering: Dry soil leads to brown, crispy tips on fronds.
• Overwatering: Waterlogged roots cause fronds to turn brown at the base.
• Low humidity: Indoor air conditioning or heating dries out fronds, especially tips.
• Too much direct sun: Scorched fronds appear brown or bleached.
• Nutrient deficiencies: Lack of magnesium or nitrogen leads to fading and browning.
• Ageing fronds: Lower, older fronds naturally brown and die off as part of the growth cycle.

Quick Check: If only the lower fronds are browning while new growth looks healthy, it is usually natural ageing. If new fronds are browning, the issue is more serious.