If you want a houseplant that’s easy to grow and large enough to make an impact, the parlor palm is a great option. The plants produce slender stems topped with elegant fronds that add a tropical appearance to any space. The plants can grow up to six feet tall indoors, making them a great plant for an empty corner or dim room.
Although these palms may look like they can only survive in the hot and humid environments present in the tropics, they can grow well in most homes. Of course, proper care is essential for healthy plants. That’s why we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to care for a parlor palm.
Parlor Palm Basics
Parlor palm plants are native to tropical parts of southern Mexico and northern Central America. In the outdoors, they can grow close to 20 feet tall and are regularly found in the dappled light of forest understories.
People sometimes refer to this plant as the bamboo palm or neanthe bella palm. Its scientific name is Chamaedorea elegans.
Each palm produces a thin green trunk that resembles a bamboo stalk. The trunk is topped with a handful of pinnate leaves that are characteristic of many palm species. As the plants age, they produce more leaves. If you see multiple stems growing in a single container, it means there is more than one plant in the pot.
How to Care for a Parlor Palm Indoors
Parlor palms are one of the easiest types of palms to care for indoors, and that’s one reason why they’re one of the most frequently grown houseplants! However, you can’t just bring one of these plants home, forget about it, and expect it to thrive. Instead, take note of the following parlor palm care tips.
Select a Suitable Container
Since your plant will be spending its life in a container rather than in the ground, selecting the proper pot is crucial. Look for a pot that’s just a few inches wider than the plant’s root ball; a container that’s too big can lead to wet soil and root rot while a small container will cause a rootbound plant.
The material isn’t too important. Terra cotta, glazed ceramic, and plastic containers can all work well. Regardless of which type of pot you choose, ensure the bottom contains drainage holes that allow excess water to escape.
Choose a Well-Draining Soil Mix
Parlor palms, like most palms, prefer a soil mix with excellent drainage. Look for a soil mix that’s labeled for use with palms and cacti. However, you can also use a standard potting soil and mix in a few extra handfuls of perlite or pine bark fines to supply extra drainage.
Place in Indirect Light
Since parlor palms are used to living in the shade of taller trees, they don’t need direct light. In fact, direct light can harm the plants! Instead, place your palm in an area that receives indirect light.
Not sure what areas provide indirect light? Try placing your plant in the middle of a bright room, near a north-facing window, or a few feet away from a south-facing window covered with a sheer curtain. These palms can also tolerate low light, so you can also place your plant in a dim corner or hallway. Just make sure they receive at least some light each day.
Water When Dry
The watering needs will vary depending on the temperature, humidity, light, and soil type. Therefore, you should pay attention to the soil moisture level rather than watering on a strict schedule. An easy way to check the soil moisture involves inserting a finger into the top three inches of soil. If the soil feels dry, go ahead and water. However, if you detect moisture, avoid watering.
In general, you can expect to water your palm once every one to three weeks. Plan to water less in the winter than you do in the summer.
When you water, provide a slow yet steady stream. Stop when you see water coming out of the pot’s drainage holes.
Keep the Air Warm and Moderately Moist
One reason why these plants grow better indoors than other palms is their ability to tolerate colder temperatures and lower humidity. That means you rarely have to alter your air temperature and moisture in order to provide excellent parlor palm care.
Ideally, you should keep the air temperature between 65-85°F. However, the plants won’t mind if the air briefly dips below 60°F. With that said, you should aim to keep the temperature consistent and place your palm away from drafty areas.
As far as humidity goes, average household moisture is just fine. These plants won’t mind high humidity, but you don’t need to buy a humidifier to keep them happy. However, you should keep them away from wood-burning stoves, furnaces, and other heat sources that lead to dry air.
Repot Sparingly
Although parlor palms are fairly hardy plants, handling their roots leads to stress. Therefore, you should only repot them when they begin to outgrow their pots or become rootbound. In most cases, repotting every three to five years will work well.
Watch Out for Pests
Parlor palms are susceptible to many of the same pests as other houseplants. Some major pests to look out for include aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. Although these pests are small, they can rapidly multiply, so treat them as soon as you spot them.
If you notice any of these pests on your plant, try to wipe them off with a wet, soapy rag. While this will often eliminate the pests, you can also spray the pest with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Watch Out for Common Problems
Another part of parlor palm care is watching out for common problems and remedying them as necessary. Keep an out for the following and treat as recommended.
Yellow Leaf Tips
When green leaflets develop yellow or brown tips, there are two main causes. First, the plant may not be receiving enough water. Remember to water your palm when the top two to three inches of soil is dry, and water until all of the soil is moist.
Another potential cause is low humidity. However, this is only likely to blame if the air is extremely dry. If the soil is moist and the plant still has discolored tips, you can try increasing the humidity with a spray bottle or humidifier.
Brown or Yellow Stems
If your plant’s stalks appear discolored, water is likely to blame. However, the plant probably has too much water rather than not enough! When your plant’s roots remain wet, they can begin to rot. Therefore, they can’t properly take up water and nutrients and become discolored.
You can try to decrease the amount you water your plant and see if it recovers. However, if the damage seems severe, you may need to take more dramatic steps. Remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Trim off any soft or discolored roots then repot your plant using fresh potting soil. Once your plant is in its new home, remember to water only when the top few inches of soil is dry.
Enjoy Fresh Plants and Flowers
Whether you’re dreaming of adding a tropical palm to your office or a flowering orchid to your home, we make it easy to send plants. We carry a range of houseplants to match every style, and provide care tips to help them thrive. For example, you can learn about caring for ponytail palms and check out our jasmine plant care guide.
And if you don’t have the space for a plant or want to send a birthday bouquet to a friend, make sure to check out our selection of farm-fresh flowers. Our arrangements contain popular flowers like ranunculus, sunflowers, and tulips that we source from farms that focus on sustainability. That means you can enjoy the beauty of the bouquets and rest easy knowing they were grown with care.
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