How To Do Palm Tree House Plant Care?

Indoor Palm Tree Care
 

Indoor palms are the perfect accessory to spruce any dull and boring space. This lovely species adds that fresh, ‘tropical look’ to your interiors and makes everything seem livelier!

 

But do palms make ideal houseplants? The good news is, that most indoor palm varieties are pretty sturdy and low-maintenance, making them a popular choice among new as well as seasoned plant parents. But before you decide to bring home a palm plant, you must know about indoor palm tree care.

 

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Here is all you need to know about giving your palm optimum care to ensure healthy growth and long life!

 

Palm house plant care largely depends on the variety of palm you choose to keep indoors. These 10 palm varieties make excellent houseplants:

  1. Areca palm
  2. Chinese fan palm
  3. Majesty palm
  4. Parlour palm
  5. Ponytail palm
  6. Sago palm
  7. Butterfly palm
  8. Sentry palm
  9. Yucca palm
  10. Lady palm

 

All You Need To Know About Palm Plant Indoor Care

Wondering what you need to do to give your indoor palm plant a healthy and long life? Here’s everything you should know about indoor palm tree care.

 

Container size

Choosing your container wisely is an important step in ensuring that your palm plant stays healthy. The pot must be around 1/3 times larger than the palm plant’s root ball. Make sure the pot you choose has drainage holes to protect the plant from damage due to soggy soil. due to soggy soil.

 

Pot location

Keep your palm plant pot away from areas that receive direct sunlight for right palm house plant care. Do not keep your palm in a busy spot around your house to avoid bumping into it or accidentally bruising its fronds. One of the best options you have is to keep the pot in a place (preferably near a window) which receives bright, indirect light.

 

Soil

An important step in palm plant indoor care is choosing the right soil. Palm plants do well in loose, well-drained and porous mixtures. You can go for a cactus soil mixture, palm soil mixture or general-purpose commercial potting soil.

 

If watering your plants regularly is not your strong suit, add some peat moss to your general-purpose soil to help in retaining moisture.

 

Temperature

Generally speaking, palm plants do not do too well in temperatures lower than 50° Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature for your indoor palm is anywhere between 64° to 79° F. However, some species like Kentia palm and Parlour palm are more cold-hardy and may survive colder temperatures.

 

Water

Palm plants prefer moist (but not soggy) soil. Make sure to keep the soil evenly moist, especially during the active growing season. For proper plant care, allow the soil to dry out a bit between 2 water sessions during summers. In winters, it’s okay to let the soil dry out a bit more. Never overwater your palm plant.

 

Light

Palm plants prefer bright, indirect light but can also do well in low light conditions. If the spot doesn’t receive enough natural light, amp up your palm house plant care by investing in a grow light for your plant.

 

However, make sure not to keep your palm in bright direct sunlight for too long. If you think your plant needs some airing, keep it in a shaded spot outside for some time.

 

Humidity

Palm plants require proper palm plant indoor care and do not do too well in dry conditions. Provide your palm plant with moderate humidity (around 40%). If there’s not enough humidity in the air, consider investing in a humidifier. Misting your palm frequently will also aid in maintaining humidity levels.

 

Fertilizer

Adding fertilizers is another thing you need to remember about palm tree house plant care. Palm plants are not heavy feeders so adding fertilizers once in a while is more than enough to keep them healthy. Consider feeding your palm plant organic fertilizer or a ready-mix palm fertilizer during its active growing season (spring and summer) to give it a healthy boost.

 

How To Prune Indoor Palms?

Pruning is an important part of indoor palm tree care. Most potted indoor palms do not need much pruning. However, selective pruning can help maintain the health of your plant. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when pruning your indoor palm:
 

  • Only remove dead or completely brown fronds using a pair of scissors or shears.
  • Take care of the bark. Make sure not to expose underlying layers.
  • Choose the right size of shears and make sure they are clean and sharp.
  • If there is an entire stem of dead leaves, clip it from its base by cutting it about 1 inch from the trunk. Make sure not to cut the trunk or pull too hard on it.
  • Avoid over-pruning as it can stress and damage your plant.
  • Palm plants draw nutrients from leaves. This is why it is not recommended to prune the plant too often just for aesthetical purposes.

 

Repotting Indoor Palms

Your palm house plant care may require repotting only once in one or two years. Repotting is necessary to avoid your plant from becoming top-heavy or root-bound. Here is how to repot your palm plant:
 

  • Your new pot should be around 2 to 4 inches larger than the current one.
  • Mix fresh potting soil with a slow-release fertilizer. Cover the drain holes of the new pot with wire mesh or screen and add at least four inches of soil.
  • Carefully take out the palm plant from its pot. Lightly pull on the bottom of its trunk as you tap the side of the pot. This may require some effort but make sure you do it gently and carefully.
  • Gently place the plant’s root ball into the centre of the new container. Keep adding soil until it reaches the same level on the palm’s trunk as the previous pot. Make sure not to disturb the root ball too much. Do not loosen or cut the roots.
  • Shake the pot to filter down the soil. Add more soil if needed.
  • With light hands, pack the soil down around the palm’s base.
  • Water the plant thoroughly.
  • The best time to repot a palm plant as a part of palm plant indoor care is spring or early summer.

 

Indoor Palm Problems: Why Is My Indoor Palm Dying?

Your palm plant doesn’t seem to be doing too well despite proper palm tree house plant care? Here are a few reasons why this could happen:
 

  • Indoor palms usually thrive in spots that receive bright and indirect light. While a few palm species can adapt to low light conditions, they do better when they get ample light. Your palm may not be getting enough light. On the other hand, long exposure to direct sunlight can also end up damaging your palm plant.
  • Palms prefer moist soil and are likely to be effective if not given enough water. While providing palm plant indoor care, make sure the soil is moist and not soggy. Overwatering can also harm your plant by making it prone to problems like root rot.
  • Humidity is also important when it comes to indoor palm care. Low air humidity can also cause your plant palm to turn brown.
  • Since indoor palms aren’t heavy feeders, adding too much fertilizer may end up damaging the plant.
  • Other reasons why your palm might be dying are lack of well-drained soil, improper repotting, cold temperatures, pest infestations or diseases.

 

Palm House Plant Care Facts and Questions

Q. How fast do palm trees grow?

A. The growth rate of a palm tree largely depends on its variety, temperature, location, soil type and pH, indoor palm tree care, and prevailing climatic conditions. Depending on the variety and other factors, a palm plant can grow from a few inches to a few feet in a year.

 

For instance, a Lady palm plant can grow anywhere between 2 to 10 inches per year while a Fan palm can grow up to 4 feet in one year.

 

Foxtail palm is another quick-growing variety that can grow more than a foot per year. Windmill palms have a moderate annual growth rate of 8 inches. Varieties like Queen Palm and King Palm grow about 2 feet in a year.

 

Providing your palm tree with optimal growing conditions and care can ensure healthy growth. Palms tend to take longer to exhibit signs of growth when kept indoors.

 

Q. How long do indoor palms live?

A. Giving the right indoor palm care like bright indirect light, moist soil, suitable temperature and humidity, your indoor palm plant can have a healthy growth and stay alive and well for a good few years. The life span of your palm plant indoors largely depends on its species.
 

Q. Why are the tips of my indoor palm tree turning brown?

A. A number of factors can lead to the browning of a palm plant, including lack of palm tree house plant care, low humidity, excess fertilizers, excess direct sunlight, and cold temperatures. Inadequate watering may cause the whole plant to turn brown. Excess water or poor drainage may also lead to browning in palm plants.
 

Q. Should I mist my palm plant?

A. Yes, misting is an important part of indoor palm care. Misting your indoor palm plant a few times a week will help promote growth and avoid pest infestation. It will also help keep the plant healthy in low humidity, in case you don’t have a humidifier.

 

Q. How do you revive a dying indoor palm tree?

A. Lack of indoor palm tree care can end up killing your plant. Adequate watering, changing the sunlight, providing adequate nutrients, fertilizing and selective pruning can help revive your indoor palm.

 

While adding fertilizers for palm plant indoor care, make sure not to add it too close to the roots. Keep the fertilizer at least 2 feet away from the roots. Pruning the leaves of your palm plant too soon (like when you notice brow tips) will lead to nutrient loss and hamper new growth. Make sure to cut palm leaves once they are completely brown or dead.