Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower fronds points squarely at overwatering — the most common way to lose a Kentia.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Kentia palms grow slowly and drink slowly, so soil that stays soggy starves the roots of oxygen. Sitting wet, the roots begin to suffocate and rot, and the palm sheds its oldest, lowest fronds first — they turn a soft, uniform yellow and often go limp before they brown off.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the soil dry well down. Slide the rootball out and check the roots — healthy ones are firm and pale, so trim any brown, mushy roots with clean scissors and repot into fresh, free-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. From now on, water only when the top 2 inches feel dry; this palm is far happier slightly dry than waterlogged.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — only water when it reads dry 2 inches down.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Kentia Palm care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this