Written by ALEXANDRA JONES and published on https://www.mydomaine.com/
In addition to their role as landscape trees in warmer climates, palm trees can be distinctive and wonderful indoor plants. Mature palms often adorn public spaces and foyers, adding an elegant and distinctly tropical air to the decor. At the same time, very small, immature palms can be used as a pop of greenery in homes.
It is tempting to think of palm trees as purely tropical plants—give them plenty of sunlight and water and they will be just fine. However, there are also desert varieties that will drown from too much water and still other varieties that cannot thrive without fertilizer. Careful research on the particular species of palm you end up choosing is essential to growing it successfully. As a general rule of thumb, most palms can be planted in the early spring and will grow slowly, often adding less than 10 inches of height a year.
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How to Grow Indoor Palm Trees
Indoor palm trees are a great way to bring a lush, tropical look to your space. These easy-growing, attractive plants come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes that can liven up your interior without much maintenance. One of the most common indoor palms is the parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans), which is great in low-light spaces. Because there are so many palm varieties that thrive indoors, choose one that fits your aesthetic—and follow this simple guide to indoor palm tree care, suited for most common types.https://96e138132cc9a68a902c17ca0b9c6150.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
- Botanical Name: Chamaedorea elegans
- Common Name: Parlor palm
- Plant Type: Palm tree
- Mature Size: 6–16 feet thigh
- Sun Exposure: Low to medium, indirect sun
- Soil Type: Well-draining cactus and palm soil or all-purpose potting mix
- Soil pH: 5.1–7.5
- Toxicity: Non-toxic
Plant Care
Indoor palm trees are relatively easy to grow. Fertilizer, water, and sun exposure are the main components of care. Check the soil frequently, and be sure to keep it consistently moist, especially during spring and summer. During this time, fertilize once a month with a houseplant fertilizer. Skip fertilizing during the winter months.
Though they may appear overcrowded, indoor palm trees typically grow well in the same container for several years. Use a well-draining potting soil as a growing medium—parlor palms, like many other variants, can grow either in all-purpose soil or a soilless blend, like store-bought cactus or succulent mix. Make your own soilless mix with equal parts peat moss and either vermiculite or perlite.
Best Growing Conditions for Indoor Palm Trees
Keep your palm in an area where temperatures don’t drop below 50 degrees at night. While some varieties—like parlor palms, kentia palms, and lady palms—can survive in dimmer spaces, most species do best with bright, indirect light. West- and south-facing windows are best for types that require direct sun.
It’s best to avoid direct sun for most indoor palms (except during the winter). Keep mature size in mind when choosing your variant, remembering that you might switch its location for proper sun exposure in different seasons. Since palms thrive in humid environments, they love living in bathrooms.
Indoor Palm Tree Varieties
Palm trees offer foliage from fan-shaped fronds to colorful spikes, and, although they come from several different plant families, they require similar care to thrive.
Indoor palm trees include dwarf varieties like miniature date palms (Phoenix roebelenii) and European fan palms (Chamaerops humilis). Some varieties grow quite tall at maturity in nature—like the Christmas palm (Adonidia merrillii)—or have fanned leaves like banana palms (Musa acuminata) and fountain palms (Livistona chinensis), which need room for large leaves to spread out.
Still others, like lady palms (Rhapis excelsa) and parlor palms, can grow well in dimmer spaces. Some variants, such as the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) and butterfly palm (Dypsis lutescens), are well-suited indoors because of their smaller size.
Others bring colorful features: The lipstick palm (Cyrtostachys renda), which thrives in direct sunlight, has red stems with feathery fronds. New leaflets of the flame thrower palm (Chambeyronia macrocarpa) emerge bright red before turning green.
How to Propagate Indoor Palm Trees
Propagating indoor palm trees from seed is best left to professional growers, but there are several ways to grow a new palm. Depending on the type, you might propagate by removing pups—baby plants—that the mother plant produces. You may also divide clumping varieties and “suckers” from some indoor palms into new palms.
How to Propagate Indoor Palm Trees Via Division
Clumping varieties of palm trees (like parlor palms) with several healthy stems can be propagated by division.
Step 1: Gather a few pots to hold stems from the mother plant. Fill the pots with a soilless mix, and then moisten with water.
Step 2: Remove the mother plant from its container. Gently loosen the soil with your fingers to expose the bare roots.
Step 3: Find healthy-looking, established stem clumps with their own root systems. Using a clean, sharp gardening blade, cut the roots connecting the clumps, taking care to leave each main root system intact.
Step 4: Plant each clump in its own pot. Keep the soil moist, and put your new plants in a warm, shady spot to recover. Care for them as usual.
When you repot indoor palm tree cuttings, it’s best to do it at the beginning of the growing season, in early spring. When repotting, ensure you use well-draining soil and a container with adequate drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. While repotting, inspect the roots for any signs of rot and trim them carefully if needed. The best way to prune palm trees is to remove only the brown or damaged fronds, as over-pruning can weaken the plant and stunt its growth.
How to Propagate Indoor Palm Trees Via Suckers
Some indoor palms (like lipstick palms) grow suckers, or new stems, straight from their roots. The plant doesn’t typically have to be removed from its container in this method.
Step 1: Identify the suckers you’d like to remove. Prepare containers with potting mix, and then moisten with water.
Step 2: Gently loosen the soil around the base of the sucker. Carefully pull up on the sucker, and identify its roots.
Step 3: Using a clean, sharp blade, cut away the sucker, keeping its root system intact. Take care to avoid damaging the mother plant.
Step 4: Plant the sucker in the prepared container. Place the new plant in a shady, warm spot to recover, and keep the soil moist.
How to Propagate Indoor Palm Trees Via Pups
Some palm variants (like miniature date palms, sago palms, and ponytail palms) grow pups from the mother plant. Allow the pup to grow for a few years before propagating so it can develop its own root system.
Step 1: See if the pup can be removed by carefully removing soil to look for several healthy roots at the base.
Step 2: Fill a new pot with a soilless potting mix, and then moisten with water.
Step 3: Gently remove soil around the pup, leaving some attached to protect delicate roots. Using a clean, sharp blade, cut the pup away, taking care to ensure it has several intact roots.
Step 4: Plant the pup in its pot, adding soil until the lowest leaves are just above the soil’s surface. Place a clear plastic bag over the plant to secure humidity, using chopsticks or pencils to keep it from touching any leaves.
Step 5: Keep the pup in a place with bright, indirect light, and keep the soil moist. When new leaves grow, remove the bag, and care for your palm as usual.
Common Growing Problems
Spider mites and other pests tend to target indoor palms. Check for spotted, curling, or dropping leaves, along with webbing on stems and the undersides of leaves. Treat spider mites quickly by pruning off infested branches, bagging them, and disposing of them in an outdoor trash can. Spray the palm with a mixture of 1.5 tablespoons neem oil to 1 quart warm water every three to five days to prevent pests from returning.1
If your palm tree needs water, you’ll notice brown, dry tips on its leaves. On the contrary, an overwatered plant may have yellow leaves with a darker stem. Adjust watering needs as necessary to ensure your palm tree grows in its ideal conditions.
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