Could anyone tell me the name of this plant, and why I might be slowly killing it? I have tried over-watering and also under-watering it. I changed the soil. I have fertilized a bit with Miracle Grow. I have misted it. Nothing seems to help. The ends turn brown and die. And often new growth will just suddenly turn brown and die. It might be the soil, because other plants in the pot also have died, but since I changed the soil, I am not sure. It did great at my old office, but started to slowly decline over the past couple of years at this new office. Please give me some pointers if you can, or at least the name of it so I can look it up.. Thanks!

It's a Parlor Palm

http://www.guide-to-houseplant...

That is very helpful - I think I will water it more and also start misting it again. Thanks!

I find them difficult to keep.

How long ago did you repot? What is the current light situation for it, was it in a brighter spot at the previous location? Does its' pot have a drain hole in the bottom? Do you know what the other plants were that have since passed away from the same pot?

@purpleinopp it has been several months since I re-potted. Yes, there is a drain hole at the bottom. Don't know the names of the other stuff that was in the pot but one of them was a vine - green with yellow/white running down the middle of the leaf. I do know that the light conditions are different - we had to switch away from using yellow highlighters because the yellow will not show up on paperwork in my office - I can take that paperwork to the window and then it shows up. So I think there may be something different about our fluorescent lighting here. I wonder if that could be part of the problem?

The other plant sounds like some kind of Pothos. That question was purely my own morbid curiosity, what did the palm outlive?

Yes, if your plant has experienced a reduction in light, there could be an adjustment period, or long-range unhappiness if it's just too dim. Is palm near the window you mention?

No - window is in next room.

No wonder it's unhappy! Is there any chance you could use a plant light for it?

Not sure if I can use a plant light or not, as there is no outlet nearby, but i will look into it. Also, maybe I could move it close to the window on weekends. Perhaps that might help.

I'm not crazy about misting plants, alot of issues are created that way, just my experience..

@purpleinopp This link shows the industry "standard" for florist dish gardens. Usually there is little to no info on care included...much less names of the plants in the dish garden. When MIL passed, we received 3 lovely dish gardens with nary a bit of info and some variation of plants included.

http://www.flowershopnetwork.c...

I wonder if the plants they mix together are even compatible.

Hi Cathy'
For the most part the plants are all of the same light requirements, but my greatest complaint is that the containers they come in have no drainage holes and are usually covered with moss of some kind that makes it very hard to judge when and how much to water.

The ones we received, I took apart and re-potted in containers with drainage.

That's a really good thought, because you're right, sometimes they're not. For your palm, I'd definitely move it to the room with the window on the weekends if you can. It will absolutely be happier.

To be honest, it doesn't look to me like you're "killing it", but maybe dilute your fertilizer by about half until it starts back growing normally again. Too much fertilizer can cause brown, burnt looking tips on the leaves, and if it's not growing due to low light, or growing slowly, the fert will burn.

It doesn't look like it's dying to me either, far from it. But if it seems less healthy than before, it might be. The description of new foliage turning brown is concerning. It's normal for the oldest leaf to be lost at about the same pace as a new leaf is formed.

If it's been in the same soil for a while, repotting usually helps too.

TY, Jean. Totally agree, any pot needs to have a hole in the bottom!