Here is a quick overview on what Parlor Palm plants require, along with some advice on how to maintain their health.
Can tolerate low indirect light and thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Unsuitable for direct, hot sunlight. Find out more about these lighting needs.
Water once every two to three weeks, letting the soil dry up in between applications. In brighter light, water more frequently, and in less-bright light, less frequently. Here are some further advice on watering plants.
65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer at home, up to 85 degrees. The Parlor Palm is comfy if you’re comfortable.
How is a Parlour Palm maintained indoors?
Parlour palms can tolerate some shade but thrive in direct, strong light. Keep away from draughts and direct sunlight, which will scorch the leaves. Parlour palms require a warm environment, ideally between 18 and 24 °C, with a minimum of 10 °C.
How to plant a parlour palm
In a container with drainage holes, plant your parlour palm in a mixture of soil-based and peat-free multipurpose compost. Only repot parlour palms when they are rootbound (you can tell when this is the case because roots are emerging out of the pot’s bottom). Only repot in the spring, but into a little bigger pot. This may only need to be done every three years.
Caring for a parlour palm
In warm weather, this may happen rather frequently when the top few centimeters of compost have become dry. Make sure the compost is evenly moist but not drenched, and allow any extra moisture to drain away. Wintertime irrigation is reduced, keeping the soil slightly damp.
The leaf tips of parlour palms can turn brown in dry air, yet they can endure it. To avoid this, mist a few times per week.
any brown fronds at the base, remove them.
These occasionally die off, which is expected. Feed with a mild liquid fertilizer once every month in the spring and summer.
Periodically wipe the leaves to remove dust. Your plant can be quickly fixed by being placed under a gentle shower, or even better, by being placed outside during a summer downpour.
How to propagate a parlour palm
The best method of parlour palm propagation is through division. You might notice that a stem at the edge naturally breaks away when you repot the plant in the spring. A sharp knife can also be used to cut a stem or clump away. Ensure that some roots are present. Replant in a new container with potting compost.
If your plant has bloomed and produced fruits, you could try planting the seeds after letting the fruits dry out. You’ll need a heated propagator because they require a temperature of 27C to grow.
Growing parlour palm: problem solving
Parlour palms frequently have brown leaf tips. The very dry air is the main cause. Additionally, the plant might not have had enough water or it might be too chilly. Cutting into green growth will just result in the creation of new brown points, so only the brown tips should be removed.
Lower leaves that have aged naturally develop yellowing leaves. If your parlour palm has many yellow leaves, the plant may be receiving too much direct sunlight. The cause can potentially be under-watering.
Brown fronds at the base are typical; simply remove them. Brown leaves on a large scale may be a sign of overwatering because parlour palms dislike being in cold, damp compost.
Sunburn could be the source of brown patches. Remove your plant from the sun’s direct rays.
Lack of humidity may be the cause of dull, dull leaves that have lost their sheen. Misting is beneficial.
Areca palms may be harmed by red spider mite. Fine webbing will cover the plant’s leaves and stems, and the upper surface of the leaf will start to mottle. With a magnifying glass and close inspection, you may find mites and eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Improved airflow increases humidity. Use sprays with fatty acids or plant oils as an alternative.
Mealybugs could be an issue.
Watch out for insects on the undersides of leaves that resemble white, fluffy blobs. Use a cotton bud or moist towel dipped in a pesticide containing fatty acids or plant oils to wipe them off. Keep inspecting the leaves since mealybugs can be challenging to get rid of.
Scale insects, which are tiny, 6mm long, brown sap sucking insects, may also be seen. Remove using a cotton bud or piece of cloth dipped in a pesticide with fatty acids.
Does the Parlor Palm require light?
Although these are regarded as low-light plants, they do not require “no light.” The ideal light for parlor palms is direct, filtered sunshine. They frequently thrive under northern exposure.
Tip 1: Not too dark
Although Parlor Palms are regarded as low-light palms, this does not imply “no-light.” Although they prefer bright, filtered light, they can adapt to low light conditions rather well.
Tip 2: Just the right amount of water
Your Parlor Palm prefers to be well-watered before being given some time to dry out. Avoid overwatering it! Less regularly water throughout the winter. Overwatering is frequently indicated by brown leaf tips, while yellow fronds signal that the plant might use a little more water.
Tip 3: Lots of humidity
Extra humidity is beneficial for your Parlor Palm, especially throughout the winter. Mist your plant three to four times per week to keep it clear of dust, which will deter spider mites from attacking it.
Tip 4: Give it a hair cut
Sharp scissors should be used to quickly remove only the brown or yellow leaves as soon as they appear. This helps your plant maintain a healthy appearance and frees up energy for new growth.
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Should I trim the Parlour Palm’s dark leaves?
Pruning requirements for your Parlour Palm are really minimal. Parlour Palms, like the majority of palm trees, self-clean, thus their old fronds naturally turn fully brown and fall off the plant on their own.
However, you can occasionally trim your plant to keep it looking good. By quickly removing the brown and yellow leaves with a pair of sharp scissors, you can encourage the plant to focus more of its energy on developing new growth.
What does a parlor palm that is overwatered look like?
Unbelievably, overwatering rather than underwatering is a more frequent cause of your Parlor Palm drooping. The cause of everything is root rot, which develops as a result of a plant being consistently overwatered. Your Parlor Palm’s roots will be starved of oxygen and susceptible to opportunistic infections if it is kept in perpetually moist, mucky soil.
An overwatered plant’s foliage will initially begin to turn yellow. This frequently starts in the lower leaves and progresses up the plant, eventually affecting the whole thing. Even when the soil is wet, once the roots begin to wither, they are no longer able to supply the plant with water, and the plant begins to experience drought conditions. Your Parlor Palm’s fronds will begin to wilt and will appear as though it wants a drink badly.
Examine your plant carefully because it usually has yellow, drooping foliage instead of the widespread brown, crispy leaves that you might anticipate from a plant that has been submerged. You might smell root rot, which has an unpleasant stench, and the soil will be damp.
Overwatering is a problem that is not just brought on by excessive watering but also by other elements that lengthen the time soil remains wet. It can take a long time for soil to dry up between waterings if you plant a little plant in a large pot, use soil that doesn’t drain well, or use a pot without drainage holes.
This makes it more likely that your Parlor Palm’s roots will spend a long time in moist, inadequately oxygenated soil, which will cause root rot.
Early detection and prompt action are required to solve this issue. You may cure your overwatered plant or treat root rot by following these procedures.
Plant your Parlor Palm in soil that drains well. A fantastic alternative is a blend of 60% peat, 30% perlite, and 10% compost. Make sure the container has plenty of drainage holes and select one that is only a few inches broader than the plant.
My parlor palm is dying; why?
Lots of direct, bright light is preferred by indoor palms. If your location doesn’t have enough light, go with the more adaptive varieties because inadequate lighting is a major contributor to stress. Remember that even animals that can endure lower light levels typically value more.
The brilliance of the sun, however, rapidly decreases with distance. While a skylight over a tall plant can be fantastic, it is insufficient for shorter plants that are much farther away. Over the winter, be aware of the changing seasons and dimming conditions; if necessary, add a grow light.
Why is the palm in my parlor fading?
A Parlor Palm requires a darker area of your home as opposed to certain other types of palms. The leaves of this tiny palm will burn in the presence of direct sunshine, which it cannot endure at all. Your Parlor Palm’s darker green leaves will turn light green or yellow in an area that is too bright.
The Parlor palm cannot withstand direct sunlight, therefore exposing your plant to it will result in sunburned leaves. Unfortunately, these sunburns are permanent and appear as follows:
Make careful to relocate your Parlor palm to a darker area as soon as you notice this occurring to it. Any burned leaves can be removed because they won’t change back to their original green hue. By removing the burned leaves, you’ll replenish your plant’s nutrients and encourage the growth of new leaves.
The leaves will appear as follows under the ideal lighting conditions:
When the leaves are a deeper shade of green, you may tell that there isn’t enough light. You can tell your leaves are receiving the ideal amount of light when they resemble the ones in this picture. Checking young leaves can allow you to determine whether your Parlor palm is receiving enough light. Older leaves that have changed from dark green to light green and yellow won’t return to that color. You can tell if your Parlor palm is now receiving enough sunshine by observing the new leaves that are sprouting on the plant.
Why is the palm of my parlour drooping?
The common and lovely indoor palm known as the parlor palm, also known as Chamaedorea elegans, Neanthe Bella Palm, or mountain palm, is one that many people decide to cultivate in their homes. Although parlor palms are normally not difficult to maintain, you must exercise caution with certain of its maintenance requirements. You will learn the causes of your Parlor palm’s drooping or tilting, weakening, or even death in this post.
Lack of watering, low humidity, or even overwatering could be to blame for your parlor palm’s leaning or dying. Other causes of a parlor palm that is drooping or leaning include poor lighting, pests and illnesses, using cold water to water it, utilizing the improper temperatures, planting it at the wrong time, or making a transplanting error.
Continue reading to find out why a parlor palm is drooping. Sometimes a parlor palm will droop, lean, or even die due to a combination of circumstances.
My parlor palm can I place outside?
When roots start wrapping around the outside of the root ball, prepare to repot the parlor palm. Every few months, remove the plant from its container to inspect the roots. Repot plants when necessary in a pot with a 2–3-inch–larger diameter than the previous one. Add an all-purpose fertilizer on occasion, but only in the spring and summer.
In the summer, parlor palms can be relocated outside. They should be shielded from the sun, as it will burn the foliage. In hot, dry weather, pick a sheltered outdoor spot and water frequently. When nighttime temperatures drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, bring your plant back inside.
LIGHT
This plant is tolerant of low light, which is one of the reasons it makes such an excellent indoor plant. In fact, I’ve previously cultivated this plant in a room without windows.
It is unquestionably one of the plants that can withstand this kind of care! But remember, I did have the overhead illumination on. Nothing can develop when it’s dark out!
Even though they can withstand very little light, giving your parlor palm greater light will help it grow the fastest. I’ve been growing a specimen parlor palm for a number of years, and it has developed into a quite lovely plant.
My eldest Chamaedorea elegans is growing in a window with an eastern exposure. It receives some morning sun, and the rest of the day is illuminated by bright indirect light.
This palm won’t thrive if it is exposed to sunlight all day, but 2-4 hours of direct sunlight indoors is OK, especially if it is the kinder early sun.
Other parlor palms that I have grown in a big bathroom, a few feet from a window with an Eastern exposure, and they thrive there as well.
This plant can grow in a variety of interior environments, making it very adaptable. Just be cautious not to expose them to too much sunlight.
These plants thrive in windows with a northern exposure as well as eastern windows. With windows facing the west or south, I would exercise caution. If necessary, deflect any extra direct sunlight coming through the latter two exposure windows.
REPOTTING
You should be aware that parlor palms, like many other palms, have relatively shallow roots. When you do repot, try to stay away from using extra-deep pots.
For parlor palms, I like to use a really well-draining potting mix, and you can easily find everything on Amazon.
I often use a potting mixture designed for citrus and palms. This potting mix has produced excellent results for me.
Alternatively, you can use a high-quality all-purpose houseplant potting mix and supplement it with some gritty sand, larger-sized perlite, or—even better—pumice. You will have great drainage, which is what parlor palms need.
Any packaged potting mix I purchase, I usually add either some perlite or pumice. Your plants will appreciate it.
Making your own unique mixes is always enjoyable, but ultimately, you should do what feels right for YOU.
WATERING
Never let your parlor palm rest in water, please. As I would advise for ANY indoor plant,
Depending on the size of the pot, I prefer to let the top inch or two of my parlor palm soil dry out before I water it again. Then go ahead and completely wet the potting media, letting the extra water drain away.
Any extra water that gathers in any trays you may have under the pot should be discarded.
The soil around palms should never be fully dry, especially not for long periods of time. If you do this, your lower fronds may turn yellow and finally turn entirely brown. You might also have dry, brown tips on the fronds.
FERTILIZING
Every time I water, I like to fertilize my parlor palm with a weaker solution. I love to use this method for all of my indoor plants. I won’t have to think about when I last fertilized because of this!
During the primary growing season, I will fertilize using a decent, balanced all-purpose fertilizer. From roughly February or March through October.
During the gloomier seasons of the year, when growth virtually stops and the days are short, I withhold fertilizer.
Check out my blog post about fertilizing to learn about all my favorite fertilizers and how I feed my houseplants.
FLOWERS
Yes, parlor palms do routinely bloom indoors. Nevertheless, this has both blessings and drawbacks!
You can be rewarded with a spray of yellow blooms after your plant reaches the appropriate stage of development. Throughout the year, my specimen parlor palm frequently blooms for me numerous times.
The small yellow “balls” in the flower sprays frequently fall to the ground and make a mess, despite how gorgeous they are!
In order to prevent a mess on my floors, I will let them bloom for a while, but once I see some of the flowers beginning to drop, I will simply chop off the inflorescence spray.
But keep in mind that a plant will only flower if it receives enough light. Before flowering, the plant must also be mature enough.
PALM PESTS
Spider mites occasionally damage these plants. Keep your plant healthy and pest-free by regularly cleaning it, whether by misting it or rinsing it out in the sink or shower.
I discuss three risk-free methods you can employ to get rid of spider mites. These plants are generally pest-free, although during the winter when the air is particularly dry, they may be vulnerable to spider mites.
HUMIDITY
I genuinely think that this plant is the most tolerant of interior settings, which is one of the reasons I favor it over all the other indoor palm plants.
For this palm, more humidity is undoubtedly ideal, although most interior environments are quite suitable!
Please click on that link to learn more about how I feel about how to improve humidity for indoor plants.
Everyone, that’s it! You now have all the information need to cultivate Parlor Palm. It is a lovely indoor palm that, given the right care, can survive a very long time!
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