Why Is My Majesty Palm Dying? [5 reasons & fixes]

The majestic palm, or Ravenea rivularis, is a beautiful tropical palm tree that can be grown indoors. Its large feathery fronds add a touch of sophistication to any room. When kept in containers, Ravenea rivularis can only reach a specific size.

When kept as an indoor plant, a majesty palm needs only a bright, sunny spot in which to thrive. If you happen to dwell in a warm region, you may take your majesty palm outside and plant it in a pot.

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Characteristics of a Majesty Palm

The crown of the Majesty Palm is enormous and often looks messy. The leaves of this feather palm, which can reach a height of 12 meters, are perfectly symmetrical, and its trunk expands to form a thick, decorative base.

The diameter of the tree’s scaly trunk is roughly 12 inches. Captivating pinnate leaves up to 18 inches grow on straight stems firmly rooted in a sticky base.

Ravenea rivularis has delicate white blooms that blossom on a branching inflorescence. Both male and female flowers develop on different plants.

In their place, the plant produces brilliant red, spherical fruits that are only 1-1.3 cm in length once the flowers have faded.

Can Environmental Factors Result in a Dying Majesty Palm?

The Ravenea rivularis, often known as the Majesty Palm, is a kind of palm frequently cultivated in containers across the globe.

Several distinct names can be used to refer to the Majesty Palm tree. Indoors, Majesty Palms do best with little light and high relative humidity in their environment.

These enamoring plants originally came from Madagascar. They do well in warm, humid environments and frequently grow near waterways.

These days, you may find majesty palms growing inside many American houses, apartments, offices, and other indoor spaces.

The Majesty Palm has the same appearance as other palm trees when outside, but it takes up a much smaller footprint when brought inside.

Why Is Your Majesty Palm Dying?

One of the slowest-growing palm species is the majesty palm. The plant resembles the kentia palm quite closely when cultivated in captivity.

In the past, the majesty palm’s reputation has beat due to its notoriously tricky cultivation and unpredictable maturation.

The majesty palm’s growth can appear stunted if it is grown inside, as it is naturally sluggish. This plant’s average annual growth rate is about 1 foot, making its maximum height around 10 feet.

Take immediate action if the fronds on your palm tree are turning brown or the plant is drooping. You can tell your plant is about to die from these symptoms.

But you need to know what’s causing the issue before you can fix it. Several things could be wrong with your majesty’s palm, and you should take care of it as soon as possible.

1. Improper Lighting Can Kill Your Majesty Palm

In general, dappled light is best for the majesty plant. Intense sunshine can harm the plant, and it may die if left out in the open. Locate a place that is well-lit but not in direct sunshine.

Your majesty plant requires a lot of light to thrive. This will secure its continued existence in the long run as well. You must know that the plant originates primarily in the Madagascar area.

A lot of sunlight hits it; thus, recreating its lighting conditions is crucial. Keeping the plant near a sunny window can keep it in its most contented state.

The same lighting conditions must be replicated indoors for the plant to thrive and grow. To do this, provide the plant with at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. Otherwise, the plant will probably start to die.

When exposed to less sunlight, the majesty palm can survive. Its growth, however, will slow dramatically if the room loses too much light because the plant will put all its efforts into making new leaves.

This causes the older ones to become yellow and eventually die off.

2. Lack of Moisture Might Result in a Dying Majesty Palm

Like all other plants, the majesty palm requires the right amount of water to thrive. When cultivating a majesty palm indoors, one of the most important things to remember is never to let the plant dry out completely.

The majesty palm occurs naturally near bodies of water. Therefore, you should pay close attention to its water needs.

When re-potting, make sure the container has holes on the bottom for excess water to drain. If it doesn’t drain, the water will sit in the soil and cause root rot, killing the plant.

If there is too much water in the soil, the plant’s roots won’t be able to get enough oxygen. But how can you tell if your plant is suffering from a lack of water?

If you want to know, have a peek at the fronds. The fronds are excessively dry if they begin to wear out at the tips and develop a browning effect across all the leaves.

But if the plant’s leaves are becoming abnormally yellow, it’s because it’s drenched. Keep in mind that the majesty palm requires constant soil moisture. A green appearance and overall good health require regular watering with this plant.

To give this plant the best chance of survival, the soil should be consistently moist. If your pot has drainage holes, you’ll only need to water it once daily!

3. Humidity Levels Can Also Kill Your Majesty Palm

One more thing that can kill your majesty plant is low humidity. If you look into its history, you’ll find that the majesty palm is native to the tropics and, as such, thrives when the surrounding air is damp.

The majesty palm will shrivel up, and the plant will turn brown if the surrounding air is too dry. Increasing the relative humidity in the house is the most excellent solution to this problem.

You can boost the humidity in the room by using an electric humidifier if you choose. There is, however, a more practical and inexpensive alternative if you don’t have a humidifier: increase the amount of water in the air.

Get a tray and fill it with pebbles. Use polished stones to ensure a nice aesthetic as well. The next step is to fill it with water until the stones are submerged.

After that, you may leave the tray where it is near the plant. Your plant will feel revitalized when the humidity in the region rises, thanks to the continued evaporation of the water.

It is also crucial to protect the Majesty Palm by not storing it in a drafty spot. The plant will suffer if you leave it in a spot constantly subjected to cold, dry drafts. The frequent blasts of cold air might damage the plant, but fortunately, it can recover fast if given immediate attention.

4. Not Using the Right Fertilizers Might Kill Your Majesty Palm

To prevent the death of your majesty’s palm due to nutrient deficiency, you must attend to these matters. The plant requires fertilizer at least twice a year.

Using a balanced fertilizer that contains iron, feed your indoor majesty palm twice a year, first in the spring and again in the summer, for the best results.

The magnesium concentration of the soil can be increased by adding Epsom salts. Soil magnesium depletion may also result in yellowing fronds.

Also, keep in mind that the majesty palm requires a lot of downtime in the winter. You should bring the plant indoors and keep it at a constant temperature because it is not hardy enough to survive the winter outdoors.

Keep the windows closed and take it somewhere toastier. In addition, you shouldn’t fertilize the plant during the winter because it needs rest.

5. Pests Can Kill Your Majesty Palm

There is also the possibility that insects or other vermin will damage your plant. If the plant is weakened or stressed to an unhealthy degree, it will become more susceptible to attack from various insects and pests over time.

Spider mites, the most common plant pest, primarily consume plant sap and can potentially wreck your cultivar.

Another type of insect that you should keep an eye out for is the mealy bug because they have the potential to dry out the majesty palm completely. If pests take over, the plant will eventually lose its green tint and turn yellow as time passes.

The situation will quickly worsen if the bug problem is not resolved as soon as feasible. The speed with which these pests can reproduce is their primary concern.

Our Final Thoughts

The Majesty Palm, which is most frequently grown as a houseplant, matures slowly but gracefully if given sufficient time, attention, and patience. It will flourish quickly if you provide sufficient sunlight, moisture, humidity, and fertilizer to nurture its growth. Additionally, it gives any interior design concept a touch of the tropics, which is always a plus.