I also have a bird of paradise in my hot tub room. Formerly the manager of interpretation and plant records at The New York Botanical Garden, Bruce is an expert on a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants, insects, and pests. Melanie Menachem-Riggs is a garden designer and lecturer with a degree in horticulture and botany. She works on residential landscapes using garden structures and plants, including perennials, annuals, herbs, vines, and shrubs to create interest and enhance flowering in the garden. Browning tips and yellowing areas on an indoor palm leaf can be a sign of salt accumulation.
Palms are sensitive to salts, which can accumulate from water and fertilizer.
You may also notice white crystallized mineral salts on the pot. Transplant the palm into a new pot with new potting soil and trim the discolored leaves with scissors. Always water and fertilize the palm tree from the top of the soil, letting the excess water drain into the saucer, and then empty the saucer after a few hours. If the palm is too large to move, use a kitchen baster to remove the excess water. Alternately, you can flush the soil several times to leach the salts out.