first of all, that is definitely NOT a Kentia palm. it kind of looks like a Butia capitata (Pindo Palm).Majesty? IDK. But neither of these palms should be killed by sun. Mine are outside in full sun. Probably soil and/or moisture related.

Doesn't look like a Kentia (Howea) to me either. But I'd say the problem is over watering/soggy soil. Fronds dying off at the bottom is natural through ageing. However, those upper damaged fronds will stay like that until they eventually fall off. So if you fix the problem you still need to wait until new fronds grow out and replace them before the plant looks good again.

They do like water or don't? I'm gathering that I possibly overwatered but that the fronds on the bottom will naturally die off. Thanks for the correction on the type of Palm I have. Would it be advisable to place it outside? Should I trim off the dead parts?

Hi Jennifer.I hate to say it but you seem to be getting some bad info here.As a palm nut,that has over 60 different varieties of palms growing in my yard I think I can help clarify some questions you have.First,I can see why some others might think you could have a common majasty palm.It is usually found at most box stores for little cost.Where did you get?How much did it cost?Young majasty &young kentias look almost the same.Your pics- besides being upside down- are not the greatest.Lol.When you tell me the price you paid.I will be able to tell you for sure what you have.I think it might really be a kentia.But needless to say.Not only do they both resemble each other they also like the same kind of conditions.1)Mostly shade.I think yours is sunburned by being next to a sunny window.The glass magnifies the exposure.Kentias do best with very little light.Especially when young.Fancy hotels usually have them growing in a dark part of a lobby.Majesty same thing.Yes,both can grow in sun when mature enough.If done slowly over time.But even then the fronds will tend to be more yellow in color.2)Water.Kentia & majesty do not like to be dry.The only differance is that majesty can almost sit in water,while kentia likes moist not soaking.So I hope this helps.What part of country are you in?Also is this palm always indoors?If so pests can become a issue.

That is certainly a Majesty, not a Kentia palm… Majesty are high light palms (do very poorly in low light) which is the main reason they do poorly as indoor palms. Overwatering a Majesty palm is difficult, so my guess is you are not overwatering it. But these palms also like a lot of humidity, another problem with growing this species indoor. They just basically suck as indoor palms, and few have success with them… best to take these outdoor for as much of the year as possible, and that sort of plan may have the best likelihood of success. A Majesty palm that size should be about $12…

Kentia palms, on the other hand, are awesome indoor palms, succeeding in low light, low humidity situations well, but are prone to rotting if overwatered indoors (outdoors, these also are hard palms to overwater). A Kentia palm that size should run around $30…

Well this is a young Kentia in good shape.Sure looks like the picture to me.

Wow they do look very similar. My Palm was 10.98 at Sam's club, in Maryland. Our house is very dry but we get humid summers. I asked my friend who purchased the same time I did what hers was looking like, and hers has the same symptoms. At first I did have the Palm near a bright window but moved it thinking the sun was too much for it. The instructions that came with it said water once a week so that's what I did. So I need to water more often but not soak it in water? I appreciate all the comments and feedback. I really should have researched before purchasing. @palmbob @secretsquirrel007

Okay.$10.98 @ Sam's.Then it is a majesty palm.Some people call it the throw away palm.Let me clarify something that I said that palmbob brought up.Majesty palms do need light.Just indirect light.They do tend to become very yellow in color with too much light.Yes they do like to away be wet.When trying to grow indoors they are prone to pests so keep a eye out.Mealy bugs for one.Also they tend to be heavy feeders.Magnesium & Maganese.Well good luck

Just to clarify, what kind of food should I give it? I'm a novice so all your advice has been super helpful. So indirect light, lots of water, and feed regularly? Just making sure. I don't want it to die but hopefully I'll learn from this experience what to do in the future. Many thanks! @secretsquirrel007

Put a saucer under it too. That lowers the amount of watering you have to do and lessens the need for fertilizer. You might see it green up even more as it wicks up the saucer water's micro nutrients that dissolved from the green pellet fertilizer- Osmacote- all house plants seem to come with.

I disagree… some direct light is usually necessary for them too be happy (does not have be all day sunlight, but a good shot of sun in early AM or late PM will be nice… even outdoors, if grown under a thick canopy, these get weak and leggy… here in the California deserty-like atmosphere (not the actual desert) they do great in full, all day sun… in the actual desert, such as in Palm Springs, they can also do well in full sun, but look a bit better in part day sun. Here is a shot of some nice ones in the San Fernando Valley.

this one is growing in Palm Desert, average day time summer temps well over 100…

More growing in full, all day sun in Palm Desert

Closer to the coast (just a few miles inland)

palms in Hawaii (of course almost all palms look better there).. .place called Floribunda Palms

Hi palmbob.Like I said before.Yes they can grow in full sun once mature.Those majesty palms in those pictures are at least 50+ years old.Now I know you are on the west coast too.Total different growing conditions.Still nice.But different.Jen is in Maryland.Have you ever even been there?

Not true at all… the Majesty in the lowest photo is only 12 years old (remember, that is Hawaii where things grow fast 365 days a year!)… no idea about the ones in Palm Desert, but the ones in the San Fernando Valley are less than 20 (I saw them as seedlings… more like 15-16 years old as I recall). Can't comment on east coast versus west coast with this palm… never seen one on the east coast. Most palms, however, grow much faster in Florida than they do in California.

Despite that Majesty's relatively young age, it is not, even closely, the fastest growing palm in Hawaii. You should see a Pigafetta grow! 6 feet of trunk a year!!!

The Huntington palm (2nd from the top) is about 25 years old… been following that one since I first got into palms…

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fast-majesty-palm-grow-outside-80839.html

The ones I have seem to be slow growers.Not sure if they a dwarf variety.

http://www.floridata.com/ref/R/rave_riv.cfm

They grow very slow in pots… but in ground they are much faster, though good weather/climate help a LOT. And TONS of water is essential… these are among the thirstiest palms I have ever grown. I have even seen them growing in standing water (for years) just fine… as long as it doesn't get that cold at least (in climates where it never freezes).

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I changed the soil to one specifically for palms, when I did this I discovered several of the roots were looking mushy and brown.

So I trimmed them off.

This is what it looked like. Pretty sad. So now i am going to wait and see if this worked.

Oh no! Never trim palm roots.I think you need to buy a new one and start over.

Oh no! I thought I read that it was ok?? Omg. Well...I guess if it does die I only lost $11. Very disappointing. So what would have been a better solution? Just changing the soil and leaving the roots as they were?

Yep

palms don't like their roots messed with.never try to untangle them.&for sure dont cut them.

Jennifer- SS is trolling. He's been giving you a bunch of bull. It never hurts to trim off rot.
Don't listen to the clown.

http://www.palmsonline.com.au/flex/the-dos-and-donts-of-palm-pruning/36/1

Maybe stan should read and learn something

Appreciate the info. I guess it's just a waiting game now.

Look at your own link. Says NOTHING about not pruning roots at all, let alone rotten roots.
When you told her to throw it away I knew you didn't know what you're talking about. When you tell people to flush their hard earned money and spend more..you better be right. You haven't been right yet.

Yeah.for $10 bucks you can get a new healthy one.Does that break your bank?Lets not get into name calling.The reason I don't mess with roots.Opens you up to more problems.http://homeguides.sfgate.com/transplanted-majesty-palm-brown-fronds-90999.html

I doubt cutting off a truly rotted root will harm a palm, but on the other hand, there rarely is a need, either.. .rot does not tend to travel up roots in palms. I would recommend 'play it safe' and generally leave palm roots alone.. .only time I ever cut palm roots is if I am going to transplant a palm that has been in the ground a while and is healthy and established... then it can tolerated being root pruned (though usually not all around the entire circumference at once). Helps decrease the size of the root ball (though will increase the density of the root ball) for eventual digging up and moving.

Also note how crammed-packed the palm is in the root ball.... amazing but palms seem to do very well with cram-packed roots and that is the time to move them up to a new sized pot... does not seem to set them back at all to be so crammed, unless there literally is no soil left in the pot.

Pruning off whats rotten is never a bad idea. It aint coming back! And you reduce all that bacteria infecting healthy growth. I mean,if those roots were mushed why not remove them? Most of the time,mushed roots can be pinched off..don't even need to cut. Outdoor palms,are different. That's another level. Indoor palms in low light,cool temps,rot can be common.

Majesty palms are short lived indoor palms. You wont find any with tall trunks indoors. Unlike Howea's or some other better indoor palm sp. You should get a few years with a Majesty,at best. But the one in the photo is far,far, from the trash.
Jennifer ,Majesty's are good practice. But long term- near forever- you might go to Howea's.

Thanks palmbob.