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.
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.
What type of groundwork is ideal for parlor palms?
The ideal potting soil for parlor palms is loose, well-draining, and has a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. For parlor palms, a mixture of two parts peat moss, one part perlite, and one part sand will work well. Perlite and sand will improve aeration and drainage, whereas peat moss will enable the storage of water and nutrients.
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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How is a parlor palm divided?
Depending on the size of the clump, dense clusters of parlour palms can be separated into half or quarters. Depending on how effectively the division performs, the first shock will be followed by a recovery period that lasts several weeks to a few months. The smaller clumps can be moved into a different pot or area after being divided. The division shock causes some die-back, which is expected. If die-back occurs, just remove the dead stems and leaves.
Directions
- Grab a cluster of root-bound palm from the ground or a pot.
- To remove the earth that has been packed around the root mass, use a garden hose.
- Start at the bottom of the root mass and pull the root mass apart. Try to avoid breaking too many roots, although it’s inevitable that some may break. Using a knife, cut the more substantial roots.
- The divisions should be potted or planted in soil with adequate drainage and constant, mild moisture. The palms will heal and root more quickly with a little bit of consistent wetness.
Keep in mind that dividing shocks the plant, which results in some die-back. Consider purchasing a second parlour palm as an alternative to partitioning if this is a serious worry. Most garden centers sell the plants for reasonable prices.
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this article is accurate and true. Content is provided solely for informational or entertainment reasons and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consulting with a lawyer or other qualified business, financial, legal, or technical professional.
How frequently should a Parlor Palm be watered?
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.
What is the lifespan of a Parlor Palm?
A popular indoor plant for a long time was the parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans). When transported back to the United States from Central America, this gorgeous plant with deep green leaf quickly gained popularity as an interior palm. It develops in beautiful clumps that conceal the narrow trunks beneath light-textured leaves.
Although it is occasionally possible to locate single-stalk specimens, the palms are typically planted in tiny clumps to mimic palm-like shrubs in attractive pots. Because the fronds can live for up to 40 days after being plucked from the plant, they are frequently used in floral arrangements, Palm Sunday decorations, and wreaths. Slow-growing parlor palms might take years to reach their maximum height (2 to 6 feet indoors and 6 to 16 feet outdoors).
Should I trim my palm’s brown tips?
Both too much and not enough water will harm palm trees and cause leaf browning and yellowing.
The majority of palms prefer to have 50% of their soil dry before being irrigated. Always be sure the soil needs water before applying it. Wash the saucer thoroughly, then drain any extra water. Overwatering can cause yellowing and eventually root damage.
When the leaf tips dry out and turn brown, this is a typical issue known as “tipping.” The most frequent culprit is tap water, which has salts, chlorine, fluoride, and other potentially dangerous substances in excess. Use distilled water or rainfall to avoid this.
If you start to see salt buildup as a white crust-like coating on the soil’s surface, you can flush the soil a few times a year. To accomplish this, remove the top layer of dirt and water your palm slowly but liberally with a volume of water that is roughly four times that of your pot. Before repositioning your Palm, allow the water in the pot to completely drain and remove any extra water from the saucer.
Nutrients in the potting soil are replenished by fertilizer, but too much fertilizer can cause leaf tips to become brown and compromise plant health. Only fertilize palm trees in the spring and summer when they are actively growing. Palms that are dormant don’t require more fertilizer. Use palm tree fertilizer at the rate suggested on the box. Keep in mind that more fertilizer is not always better. Never fertilize dry soil because doing so can cause the roots to burn.
Warm temperatures are necessary for palms to thrive. Despite being often kept warm, indoor plants are nonetheless susceptible to cold harm. Plants should be kept away from windows and doors that draft because the cold air can brown the tips of the leaves. In the winter, keep plants away from windows because leaves contacting the glass might freeze and become brown. Avoid placing items directly in an air conditioning vent during the heat.
Throughout the growing season, palms grow new leaves. A palm tree leaf gets dark as it nears the end of its natural life, starting at the tip and continuing until the leaf is entirely brown and falls off. The brown tips are normal and not cause for alarm if only one or two leaves are browning and new foliage is still coming in.
The right way to remove any brown tips from your plant is as follows:
- Amass your resources. Paper towel, some rubbing alcohol, and a pair of well-kept scissors or pruning shears are all required. (The alcohol wipes included in first-aid kits are excellent!)
- Before starting and after each cut, wipe the sharp scissors or pruning shears’ blades with rubbing alcohol. The blades should be wetted with water before cutting if you are simply removing brown, crispy leaves that have become that way due to aging, a lack of moisture, or sunburn patches. This will help to avoid damaging vital tissue.
- At the base, close to the stem, or at the soil, remove any leaves that are completely brown or yellow. Make sure not to tug on the leaves as this could harm the plant’s vital components. Remove only the afflicted section of the leaf if only a portion of it is brown or yellow.
Important: When pruning, take care not to take more than 30% of the entire plant. To avoid removing an excessive amount of leaves at once, you might need to prune in phases.
Should I trim the parlour palm’s brown 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.
I need to put my Parlor Palm somewhere.
The tiny indoor palm known as the parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) has lovely light green fronds. Neanthe bella, parlor palm (spelled differently in the United States), good luck palm, chamaedorea palm, and dwarf mountain palm are some of its other names. It is a native of Mexico and Guatemala. Since Victorian times, when it was displayed in the parlour, the best room in the house, it has been a well-liked house plant. A clump of numerous young plants is frequently sold with it.
The parlour palm requires little maintenance and may survive in dry, low-light environments. It can filter and purify stale air and is a good air purifier as well. It grows very slowly and can occasionally erupt in tiny yellow flower sprays that are followed by mature black fruits. Dogs and cats are not poisoned by parlour palm.
Grow your parlour palm in house plant compost in a bright area that is shielded from direct sunlight for the best results. During the growing season, water frequently, and feed every month. Keep the compost dry over the winter. Repot plants in pots in the spring.
When should my palm be replanted?
Container-grown palm trees often flourish as long as you supply them with suitable growing circumstances, whether you cultivate them indoors or outdoors. Start a palm tree in a tiny container, and as it grows, notice when it needs to be moved to a larger one. To keep these lovely tropical trees lush and healthy in your indoor or outdoor growth environment, repot a palm tree as needed.
For the palm plant in a pot, choose a fresh planting container. Select a sturdy container that can hold the weight of the palm, preferably one that is 4 to 6 inches wider than the one you are currently using. Choose a deep container that is at least 12 inches deeper than the palm’s root ball.
As you move the palm tree, spread out the tarp to maintain your workspace tidy.
- Container-grown palm trees often flourish as long as you supply them with suitable growing circumstances, whether you cultivate them indoors or outdoors.
Place the container holding the palm tree on its side on the ground and remove it. Tap the container’s sides to gently release them, then remove the palm tree from it.
Five inches or so of fresh potting soil should be added to the new container. Referring to the package instructions for the size of the growing container, add the recommended quantity of slow-release granular fertilizer to this soil. Mix the dirt and fertilizer thoroughly.
Put the palm tree into the new container and lightly cover the roots with potting soil, about halfway up. To distribute the potting soil evenly throughout the root system, give the container a little shake. Potting soil should be added to the container in successive layers until it is 2 inches below the top. With your hands, firmly press the earth down.
- Place the container holding the palm tree on its side on the ground and remove it.
Give the newly relocated potted palm tree plenty of water, letting the water completely drain out of the drainage holes. Two more times, water the palm tree, letting the soil completely drain between applications.
Replant the potted palm in its growing site, and during the first two to four weeks after transplanting, carefully hydrate the soil. This makes sure the tree effectively adapts to the relocation.
For optimal success, perform outdoor potted palm transplants in the spring and early summer. Any time of year is a good opportunity to transplant indoor palms. The palm tree has to be replanted if roots are visible coming out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the current container. The palm tree also has to be replanted if the dirt in the container appears sticky. For best growing results, repot palm palms typically once or twice a year.