•  Plants & Trees
•  Anna Martin

 

Having a little green corner in your home can enliven the entire space. One of the most striking indoor plants that are growing in popularity amongst plant enthusiasts is the majesty palm. This particular variety of palm is famous for its long and feathery green fronds that can add the perfect tropical vibe to any living space. It is for this reason, plant lovers all over the world search for “how to take care of a majesty palm?”

 

The majesty palm, also called the Ravenea Palm, is native to Madagascar, where it grows beautifully in the perfect warm and humid environment. The majesty palm can grow indoors as well as outdoors provided that it does not face harsh sunlight and gets the right moisture through the soil and air.

 

In the right environment, these palms can grow as tall as 80 feet; however, they grow slowly indoors, so you need not worry about them outgrowing your home. They are also non-fussy and low-maintenance plants that, with the right care and time, develop into majestic beauties.

 

Those who have no experience with palm trees or indoor plants in general often search for how to care for majesty palm or how often to water majesty palm because overwatering or less water can damage these palms.

 

So, if you have landed here searching for how to take care of a majesty palm, we have got you well covered. In this article, we will discuss in detail the factors that ensure a well-nourished and healthy majesty palm, the common problems associated with this plant, and we will also answer some of the common questions related to how to care for majesty palm indoors.

 

Table of Content

• Choosing The Right Majesty Palm
• How To Care For Majesty Palm?
• When Is The Right Time To Repot Or Keep It Outdoors?
• Common Problems With The Majesty Palms
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

 

Choosing The Right Majesty Palm

Before you learn how to care for majesty palms and before you head out to bring a majesty palm home, you need to do a little bit of homework to ensure that you bring the right plant that is healthy and will thrive in the given environment. You must also check if it will do better as an indoor plant or as a part of your landscape.
 

Another important point to note is the USDA zone that you live in. Majesty palm is a tropical tree that needs a warm climate. The most suitable zones for this plant are zones 9 to 11. However, you can also find other varieties of palm trees that can tolerate other zonal temperatures.

 

When you are selecting from a bunch of majesty palms in a nursery, you need to check the following points to gauge the plant’s health.

 

• Check that the roots are not outgrowing the container
• The plant should sport hearty green fronds
• Check for any signs of insects
• Check the fronds for any yellowing, browning, or spots
• Make sure that the trunk of the plant is not damaged

 

Once your beautiful plant is delivered, it is time to learn how to take care of a majesty palm through our following palm care guide.

 

How To Care For Majesty Palm?

Before we begin with our “Majesty Palm’s How to Care Guide,” you must know that proper nurturing of a majesty palm depends upon ample light, balanced soil, fertilizers, and several other factors. So, those searching “how often do you water majesty palms?” should make a note of these requirements as well for nurturing the plant to its optimum health.

 

Light

While majesty palms can adapt to medium light settings, they ideally require 4 to 6 hours of indirect bright light every day. If you plan to keep it indoors, choose a bright sunny spot like a patio or balcony or next to a sunny window.If you plan to plant them outdoors, choose a spot that does not receive direct sunlight as it can scorch the palm leaves.

 

Water

“How often do you water majesty palms?” is perhaps the most searched question on the internet when it comes to caring for a majesty palm. And rightly so, since maintaining the right moisture in the soil is the key to a happy and hearty plant. Majesty palm requires moist but not soggy soil. Therefore, neither should the soil go completely dry nor should you allow your plant to sit in water as it will rot the roots. Make sure that the pot you use for plotting has holes so that the excess water can drain out.

 

Now, coming to the question – “how often to water a majesty palm?” Watering the plant once a week should be good enough to maintain the right moisture in the soil. However, if you feel that the soil feels dry, do not hesitate to water the plant. Similarly, if you feel that the water is not draining out, do not over-water and check for the blockage first. The leaves of the palm can also indicate how often to water majesty palm. If the leaves have brown tips, it indicates that the plant needs more water; if they are yellow, you probably are providing it excess water.

 

Humidity

Apart from knowing how often to water a majesty palm, you should also learn to maintain the right humidity in the room if you plan to keep this palm indoors. Majesty palms usually enjoy high humidity but can do with 50% humidity or more indoors. However, in winters, the air gets too dry, and the low humidity levels can give way to infestation. To avoid this, you can supplement the moisture by spraying a mist of water on the fronds daily. You can also use a humidifier to keep all your indoor plants happy.

 

Temperature

Temperature is another crucial factor to look out for; while learning how to care for majesty palm indoors. Since most of us use air conditioners at home, the majesty palm should be strictly protected from the cold breeze coming from AC vents and also from doors and windows. Majesty palms enjoy warm climates and prefer a temperature range of 65-85°F. However, in some cases, they can even tolerate low temperatures up to 40°F.

 

Soil

If you want to learn how to take care of a majesty palm, you also need to learn about its soil requirements. Majesty palms need well-drained sandy soil to avoid water-logged roots. Soil that is usually used for cactus and succulents works well for the majesty palm, but with some addition of peat or compost to retain moisture. Besides that, it requires a soil pH of 5.0 to 6.0 which means it grows well in acidic soil.

 

Fertilizer

Just like us, our plants also require supplements to make up for the nutrients lacking in the soil. So when you read about how to care for majesty palm, you also need to learn about fertilization. Any generic fertilizer containing iron should be fed to the majesty palm every two to three months in the spring and the summer. However, you should strictly avoid fertilizing the plant in the cooler months and allow the plant to rest throughout the winter season. Also, you should add some Epsom salt to the soil every month to provide magnesium for healthy growth. Sometimes, the yellowing of leaves or leaf loss is also due to the lack of magnesium.

 

Pruning

Besides learning how often to water majesty palm to keep the soil well-fed, you must also groom the plant from time to time to keep it healthy and presentable. Though the majesty palm requires very little pruning, grooming this plant is also quite easy. Simply chop off any fronds that have turned yellow or brown. Doing so will also make way for other fronds to grow.

 

When Is The Right Time To Repot Or Keep It Outdoors?

Repotting

Learning how to care for majesty palm indoors is not sufficient. You must also learn the right repotting procedure. Repotting the plant once a year or every other year, depending on the growth rate, provides the plant with fresh soil and more area for the roots to expand. If you can spot the roots on the top of the soil, it is time to give your majesty palm a new pot. Also, if the water starts to percolate quickly through the base of the pot, it means that the plant has become root-bound and needs to be shifted to a bigger pot.

 

The best time to repot a majesty palm is during the growing season, which is spring or early summer. A rule of thumb for repotting is to increase the pot size by 2 inches every time you transplant your palm.

 

Water the plant two days before the day you decide to repot it. Keep adding water till it drains freely from the base of the pot. This will help loosen out the root ball as well as the soil. Right before you begin repotting, water the plant again to loosen out the soil further. Also, make sure to get a large and heavy pot for the majesty palm to avoid the plant from tipping over.

 

If you want to transplant your plant outdoors and are looking for tips on how to care for indoor majesty palm outdoors, firstly shift the plant in the summer months. Secondly, do not plant it under direct sunlight. Look for a sheltered spot to provide ample air and indirect light, but prevent the leaves from the scorching sun. If you simply want to keep your pot outdoors, shaded areas, patios, or balconies make the perfect spots.

 

Propagation

Majesty palms are usually propagated through the separation method since it is difficult to get your hands on palm seeds. Just like succulents, majesty palm also produces offshoots known as pups. You will notice a couple of stalks appearing to grow from their own bulb rather than being attached to the mother plant. These pups can be separated from the mother plant and can be potted separately to grow as a new palm.
 
You can also buy a dwarf variety of palm for indoors and outdoors.

Common Problems With The Majesty Palms

An important part of learning how to care for majesty palm is to be able to identify the common problems that can affect this plant. You must also look for these signs and symptoms while purchasing a majesty palm.

 

Discoloration

When plant owners search “how to care for indoor majesty palm?” one of their common concerns is discolored leaves. If you find your palm having crispy and brown edges, it means that your plant is being underwatered.

 

In all probability, the brown leaves will be accompanied by a dry potting mix which will also confirm the lack of moisture in the soil. Checking the dampness of the soil is another way to know how often to water majesty palm. Also, sometimes the browning is caused by over-fertilization, cold injury, or when the leaf reaches the end of its life.

 

On the other hand, you may sometimes find your palm leaves turning yellow, which indicates that there is excess moisture in the soil. If the potting mix feels too wet, avoid watering the plant until the soil is back to normal, which is a slightly moist state.

 

Insects and Pests

Palm affected with pests is another common concern of palm owners searching for “how to care for majesty palm indoors?” Majesty palms are quite vulnerable to spider mites, scales, mealy bugs, and whitefly. Low humidity levels often make the plant more susceptible to infestation. The first way to ensure that your plant stays pest-free is to maintain an optimum humidity level indoors. You can also try misting the leaves regularly if you are unsure of how often to water majesty palm.

 

You must address a pest problem as soon as possible and go for the least toxic option to bring the infestation under control. For many of such bugs, a strong jet of water is good enough. So if you spot any signs of insects or webbing, simply take your plant outside, and give it a nice bath with a hose. If taking it out is cumbersome, use a damp cloth to wipe them off. Also, remember to wipe the undersides of the leaves as they are common hiding spots for pests.

 

Over-Potting and Rot

Rot usually happens when the palm has been potted with extra rich organic content that tends to hold excess water. Similarly, some people prematurely shift the plant to a larger pot and also treat it with antifungal solutions, which disrupt its growing environment. Such solutions can even be toxic to the plants if given in larger quantities.

Related: Care Tips for Browning Arborvitae ,Life Expectancy of Palm Trees

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the tips of my majesty palm turning brown?

The leaves of your palm can turn brown for several reasons. Make a note of how often do you water majesty palms since the most common reason for browning is an underwatered plant. Other probable reasons could be excessive use of fertilizer, high chlorine and fluoride content in tap water, damage from the cold breeze, or the leaf dying off after completing its normal life.

 

Should I cut off the brown palm leaves?

Yes, you should cut off the brown palm leaves to give your palm a healthier appearance and also to make way for the newer leaves to grow. However, make sure that you do not prune more than 20% of the plant. If needed, remove the dead leaves in stages.

 

Should I mist my majesty palm?

Besides learning how often to water a majesty palm, if you are keeping your plant indoors and live in an area with less humidity, you should mist your majesty palm daily to give it an optimum growing environment. Keeping the leaves moist will also prevent the attack of spider mites and bugs.

 

What is the best fertilizer for palm trees?

Any slow-release fertilizer formulated specifically for palm trees should work well since they release the nutrients gradually over several months, giving the plant a steady supply of potassium and nitrogen and other nutrients such as iron, magnesium, and manganese.

 

Can palm trees be overwatered?

While searching for how often to water a majesty palm, you must have been warned of overwatering. You should never overwater palm trees as it can lead to rot or other irreversible infections, which can probably kill the palm.

 

Are coffee grounds good for palm trees?

Coffee grounds can serve well as a DIY fertilizer for your palm trees as it not only aids plant growth but also deters pests in the garden.
 

Conclusion

The lush-green and large feather-like leaves of the majesty palm make for an excellent indoor plant that can turn any dull corner into a vibrant and eye-catchy spot. This plant is low-maintenance, well tolerant to temperature fluctuations, and can also adjust to low indoor lighting. So, if you are lucky enough to live in a frost-free region, do not think twice before getting one and turning your home into a tropical paradise.

 

With that, we conclude our “Majesty Palm How to Care Guide.” We hope that this space has sufficiently helped you with your queries like how to take care of a majesty palm and answered the most pertinent question of “how often to water majesty palm?”