Low humidity
Crispy brown tips and edges in dry air are a classic parlor palm complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Parlor palm comes from humid rainforest understory and resents very dry indoor air. Near a heating vent or air conditioner the thin, finely divided frond tips lose moisture faster than the roots can replace it, so they brown and crisp from the very tip inward while the rest of the frond stays green.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity around the plant: group it with other plants, set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, or run a small humidifier nearby — and move it away from vents and drafts. Trim only the dead, crispy tips with clean scissors, following the frond's natural taper, so it looks tidy while new fronds come in.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant keeps the tips from crisping, especially in dry winter air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Parlor Palm care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this