Why Is My Majesty Palm Drooping? (And What Can I Do About It?)

The most common question with every houseplant is, “Why is my plant dying?”

Worrying doesn’t save a dying plant. Instead, you have to look for signs that your plant is showing so that you can fix them and save it from problems in its growth and appearance. Majesty palms are known for their tall and majestic fronds; when they droop, they carry an air of sadness and defeat.

Majesty palms are beautiful indoor and outdoor palms that can bring a touch of tropics to every empty room. They are easy to grow and fairly low maintenance, but sometimes they run into problems requiring immediate attention.

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Why Is My Majesty Palm Drooping?

The most common reasons for majesty palm drooping are overwatering, underwatering, transplant shock, root rot, and trunk rot.

Majesty palms do not require peculiar maintenance tips, but it is also very challenging plant for beginner plant owners. These palms are quite sensitive to watering, humidity, and temperature conditions, and any such fluctuation that can affect its fronds can cause irreversible damage.

Majesty palms are very slow-growing plants, which is why if their leaves are damaged and not promptly treated, then they can cause harm to the whole plant’s appearance.

An ailing majesty palm can exhibit many symptoms that require immediate attention and treatment, like brown spots and yellow leaves, but the most serious indication is a drooping palm. When your palm droops, it can either be a temporary issue or the leading cause of death.

Overwatering

A majesty palm requires well-drained soil and plenty of light to grow and thrive, especially to maintain its frond color. This is the reason why majesty palms grow better outdoors than indoors.

If a majesty palm is kept indoors, houseplant owners probably make the mistake of overwatering them and not providing adequate soil drainage. The stale water build-up can lead to the development of fungal diseases in the plant, but most importantly, it causes the browning of fronds along with leaves drooping.

If such is the case, immediately check whether the soil of the majesty palm is moist or not, as less water also causes the yellowing of leaves. The majesty palm soil must be moist but not overly saturated, as it can lead to root rot.

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Underwatering

Majesty palm can droop for various reasons, but the most prominent cause is underwatering. The majesty palm is native to the riverbanks in Madagascar, making it reasonable to understand that the palm requires well-drained but moist soil to ensure proper growth.

When the soil of a majesty palm is too dry, then its fronds develop browning and start to droop. Majesty palms are not very tolerant to cold weather and require adequate humidity in the surrounding environment to maintain their lush appearance.

This plant that thrives on moisture will look lifeless and droopy when humidity levels drop below 50%. So if you live in a city with low humidity like Las Vegas, Phoenix, Bishop, or Tuscan, create a humid environment for your plant by spraying and misting its leaves with water regularly.

Alternatively, you can also use a pebble tray or keep a humidifier nearby that will ensure that proper moisture is always present in the proximity of your majesty palm.

Transplant Shock

If you notice your majesty palm drooping after repotting, the plant has undergone a transplant shock. The Majesty palm is a big and heavy palm with tall and large fronds supported by a woody and hard trunk.

Transplanting such a big palm will disturb its root system, and some roots are cut or damaged. Transplant shock occurs when the majesty palm undergoes a period of stress when its damaged roots have difficulty properly uptaking nutrients and translocating them to the rest of the plant.

The damage and stress affect the roots and leaves and stems. Common signs of transplant shock are yellowing the fronds, followed by browning. The fronds, as well as the whole plant, will develop a wilting, drooping, and curling appearance, and gradually the growth of the plant is also affected, as new growth fails to appear on the stem. Even if there is growth, new leaves grow smaller than usual and distorted.

Root Rot

Majesty palms love moisture, humidity, and moist soil, but it certainly doesn’t appreciate wet and soggy soil at all times. Overwatering your plants and poor soil drainage conditions can lead to waterlogging conditions. Such conditions suffocate the roots and don’t allow the proper transport of nutrients from the soil to the rest of the plant.

The most prominent indication that your palm has root rot is when the fronds start turning brown and eventually take on a wilted and droopy appearance. The affected fronds start developing brown spots on their surface, and root rot also leads to stunted growth of the whole plant.

You can confirm the reason for your majesty palm drooping leaves by removing the plant from its pot and checking its roots. If they are white and look healthy, then the majesty palm drooping has another reason besides root rot.

However, if the roots look brown and mushy, and give off a rotten smell, you can confirm the infection. To treat root rot and save your majesty palm from drooping and eventually dying, identify the overwatering symptoms and spray a fungicide on the infected roots, then cut off the brown roots that are damaged beyond repair.

Then replant your majesty palm in fresh soil and treat it with proper soil drainage and fungicide sprays for at least 3 months.

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Trunk Rot

Trunk rot is the more invasive and seriously developed stage of root rot. If your majesty palm has trunk rot, it will show all the symptoms that indicate your plant will die.

Revival and recovery from trunk rot are unlikely and simple treatments, and chemical use would not bring your plant back to life. This is why detecting and treating the root rot problem early is important so it wouldn’t develop into a life-threatening trunk rot problem.

Check whether your majesty palm’s trunk is getting softer and molding to notice trunk rot. If the palm fronds are turning yellow and the whole plant is drooping, then it means that the trunk can no longer support the weight of its fronds and stems.

The decaying and weak stem and trunk of your majesty palm don’t have a simple solution to treat it. Eventually, the trunk will collapse due to rotten roots and failure to uptake and provide nourishment to the whole majesty palm.

Consider removing your majesty palm from its pot, and if your palm is planted in the ground, then you must remove adjacent trunks and stumps as well, as such fungus feeds on plant tissue and can easily kill other plants as well.

Removed the diseased and infected plant from its spot since its survival is unlikely. Try not to plant another palm or houseplant in the same spot, as the remaining fungus can attack the new plant and cause development of the same condition.

How Do I Fix My Drooping Majesty Palm?

The best practice is to control the growing conditions of your majesty palm and inspect it time and again so that any underlying problem or disease is detected early and not left to develop into a severely life-threatening condition for your palm.

Proper Soil Conditions

Do not forget to dampen your majesty palm soil as it thrives on adequate watering and high humidity, but ensure that you do not overwater your palm’s soil so it sits in the waterlogged soil.

The potting mix must drain well and should be well-aerated. The plant soil must be checked regularly, and whenever it feels dry to touch, deeply water your plant. That will promote better growth and allow the feeder roots to develop and establish the plant better in its location.

Fertilizers Sensitivity

Plant owners’ most common mistake that promotes damage caused by transplant shock is feeding their majesty palm as soon as it is relocated. The harsh chemicals and salts in the fertilizers can damage its susceptible roots and cause scorching and burning of roots, and the damage moves onto the trunk and eventually fronds of the majesty palm.

Fertilize your majesty palm in moderation during summer and spring when it is actively growing. Liquid fertilizers are easier to control and must not be added in combination with pellets and slow-release fertilizers.

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Misting and Watering Your Majesty Palm

If you live in an area with a dry and warm climate, then take care to maintain adequate humidity levels for your majesty palms. Use a humidifier or pebble tray, and regularly spray and mist the leaves.

These practices will ensure that the plant moisture is not depleted, causing the wilting and drooping of its beautiful fronds.

Do not over-water your majesty palm as it will lead to root rot and eventually trunk rot, and allow the plant pot to drain properly before watering it again. Empty the drainage tray so your plant doesn’t sit in stale water for too long.

Conclusion

Majesty palms are slow-growing but stunning palms, and any disease or problem that affects their beautiful appearance is a nightmare for its patient plant owners, which is why prevention is always better than dealing with the plant issues later on, which can even develop into serious health problems for your drooping majesty palm if not treated effectively and immediately.