Help! Majesty Palm with Splitting Edges

I am brand new to live plants, so I am still learning a lot about how to care for my new majesty palm. I have had my palm for about 1 week. When I got it, I had to let the top down on my convertible for it to fit and there was a lot of wind "whipping" it as I drove. I am guessing that this is why the ends of most of the leaves are splitting and dry. The leaves are still green for the most part, but are just split and dry (no browning or yellowing of the tips). Do I need to prune the fronds with splitting leaves? Can I simply cut the tips? Or, is there another method to revive the plant? One of my concerns with pruning is that nearly all of the fronds have splitting leaves and I don't want to be left with a bare pot of trunk.

Sorry I don't have a pic...

I haven't grown too many palms, but my thought would be leave it alone for now, if a frond turns completely brown then take it off but as long as there's still green on it, it can still help the plant. Since it's stressed from the wind, you might keep it in a slightly shadier location for the time being, then make sure you're watering it properly and that's really all you can do.

Thanks ecrane...thats what I was thinking. I read on another gardening site that majesty palms like humid weather and it is good to mist the leaves daily...I think that may help with the leaves being so dry. Anyone have insight on this?

I would think Atlanta is humid enough, assuming you have it outdoors I wouldn't worry about it. If it's indoors though then it might help to try and get the humidity up.

I took a pic so if anyone has seen anything like this please assist...

I really think it's just wind damage, you'd be amazed how dessicating wind can be, and the wind whipping it around as you drove home with the top down probably dessicated it considerably. Hopefully it'll recover, but there's nothing really specific that you can do besides keeping it in a sheltered location so it's not being exposed to more wind or excessive sunlight, and make sure you water it properly, then really all you can do is cross your fingers that it recovers. I don't know palms well enough to know how likely it is that it will recover, hopefully someone else can comment on that.

Hey, Semi,

I agree with ecrane--it is most likely wind damage. Next time you need to do this, bring along an old sheet or something to cover your plant while you drive home.

In my opinion, you can trim all the split leaf tips off. Trim them to a point--so they look "natural"--like they are supposed to.

I will pass something else on to you about Majesty Palms----

It is a very popular Palm that people buy, because it has such an awesome form and shape, and it is always available--everywhere! But, it is one of the hardest palms to keep indoors. Now--you live in GA, so you will have it outside most of the growing season--and it will be BEAUTIFUL! Many people buy this Palm to decorate their Patios with and to have them around their swimming pools for that "Tropical look".....But--at some point, you will have to bring it inside--right? Then--you will start seeing what i am going to tell you.....

The Majesty Palm, by it's nature, only keeps about 5-6 mature fronds on it. If you see that one of the lower fronds is turning yellow and "yuk"--don't panic! You are NOT doing anything wrong! It is the nature of this plant. As it is sending up a new "spike" (which will become a new leaf when it unfurls), it is getting rid of one of the older ones below. If you are able to have this Palm thrive for any length of time--you will surely see what i am talking about. Just cut the yellowing frond off as close tot he base as you can, and that's that!

Keep your palm "clean" by spraying it down with a hose (inside--take it to the bathtub and give it a tepid shower) now and then and do not over water and give it good drainage.

Hope your Palm will last for you for a long time---but...........it may not.....Some plants just are not meant to be inside......

Gita

Hi Semi, I agree with the above advice. It's wind whipped. I too live in Atlanta (via Miami) and these palms are really challenged indoors. That being said, I have several indoor palms that are over ten years old. If you summer it outside, they just seem to get beaten up looking and don't transition well indoors. I leave mine in year around, but to be honest, I have skylights. Also, they usually come to us very heavily sprayed, but then become very prone to spider mites.

Thanks Gita and MayPop. Your advice is definitely well taken. Gita..I am already startintg to notice what you are talking about. I recently noticed that a few of my bottom leaves, which at one point looked fresh, now look like they're dwindling away. I did also notice that I have about 3 new fronds growing a new spike; one of those looks like it is about to sprout open with leaves as well! I was very excited about my new spikes, but concerned about my dying leaves...but now I understand...out with the old in with the new! Thanks again! I can feel my thumb getting greener already!

The new "spikes"...See those 2 sticking up towards the middle...I'm so excited!

If you had just came from the hairdressers and got whisked along the road in an open top can, you would look a bit rough around the edges, ha, ha, ha, but it is the same with plants, the foliage was lush and tender, so the drive home has frayed the edges a bit, it will probably turn brown at the edges once the moisture in the fronds starts to evaporate, but dont cut this off yet, where you cut will cause the same problem as you will be cutting into green foliage that holds moisture, make sure you mist your palm when it is indoors to help keep the humidity up or the dry atmosphere will turn the foliage brown too, keep it dust free also as the fronds/leaves need to breath and dust prevents this, soon you should get it outside for the summer months to give it a change to recover from the travel shock. good luck. WeeNel.

I agree with what everyone else has said regarding your palm. It definitely seems to be wind damage.

I've had this Majesty Palm: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/180644/ for quite a few years and look at a couple of the fronds ... they are a bit brown and ratty on the edges. When the fronds get looking real bad, I just prune them off. New fronds are always growing. My plant stays out on my pool deck year round ... I don't have the space for it inside the house. It's very humid here in Florida and there's lots of humidity by the pool too but I still have to spray it with the hose once a week and two or three times a week during the hot summer if we don't get a lot of rain. I have found the Majesty to be one of the easiest palms for containers.

Wow! Your palm is beautiful! I am keeping my palm indoors, but misting it regularly (at least 1-3 times per day). Hopefully she will look as good as yours one day. :-)