If the soil feels dry at a 1-inch depth the palm needs watering. If the plant sits in a sunny window all day, then watering will be needed two to three times per week. The soil around a Parlor Palm should be evenly moist. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Even with sunlight, the parlor palm is a slow grower, often taking years to reach its full height of 3-4 feet tall. Allow the surface of the compost to slightly dry out before watering in winter. Allow the soil to begin to dry between waterings, and water even less in the winter. Debra LaGattuta is a certified master gardener with decades of experience with perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. Be careful not to let the mixture break down and become spongy. 1 They're forgiving plants and will let you off if you forget to water them on occasion. When a Parlor Palm is planted in a 10” pot, it can grow up to 4ft. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Wash your palms to the shower or sink every few weeks to keep the foliage clean and pest free. Underwatering a Parlour Palm is better than overwatering. This plant is also sometimes called the neanthe bella palm o Ideally, keep moisture at an even level. Water your indoor parlor palm sparingly – underwatering is better than overwatering. Parlour palms prefer high humidity but tend to grow just fine in medium- to low-humidity household environments. You can also cut back on watering in the colder months, making sure that only the top layer of soil remains moist. To remedy this situation, raise the humidity levels before overwatering. The parlor palm prefers room temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They also don’t need a great amount of feeding or watering. The parlor palm plant is non-toxic for animals and humans. It will tolerate low light and infrequent watering, but as with any plant, you’ll get better results if you treat them well. Water until the soil is evenly saturated, but not soggy. ... Chamaedorea elegans (parlour palm) Native to Central America growing on the forest floor in the shade of high rain forest. The plants aren't clumping by nature but grown in clumps for aesthetic reasons. In a 6” pot it makes a perfect table plant. Parlor Palm prefers areas with high humidity. Storey Publishing, LLC, 2012, Chamaedorea Elegans. Water when the top 1 inch of the soil feels dry. Every palm plant and its environment are unique. Remember this when caring for your houseplants. Date Palm. Among all the palm trees, parlor palms are a great place to start for the beginner. Here’s what you need to know if you’re getting a Parlor Palm:. While overwatering can lead to the rotting of roots, you don’t want the plant to underwater as well because the plant can wilt and ultimately die. I like to let the top inch or two of my parlor palm soil, depending on the size of the pot, dry out before I water again. tall. Read our, The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. If your potting media breaks down and becomes mucky or sponge-like, then repot to prevent root rot. The soil around a Parlor Palm should be evenly moist. These plants are almost always propagated from seed by professional growers. Individual plants grow straight up and look more attractive and filled out in a group. An… Water . Always make sure that the top two inches of soil have dried out before you give it more water and check when you’re finished that no water has collected in the base of the pot. Make sure that the soil remains moist but well drained. Your Date Palm will adapt to a variety of light levels. Water your indoor parlor palm sparingly – underwatering is better than overwatering. It’s a woody and rhizomatous (root like subterreanean stemmed) plant with a slender green trunk. These are considered low-light palms, but that doesn't mean "no-light." Watering depends on how much light the palm receives. Growing a parlor palm tree indoors is ideal because it grows very slowly and thrives in low light and cramped space. Yellow fronds will indicate the plant needs more water. In summer, water so that the compost never dries out, but do not allow the plant to stand in excess water. Keep reading to learn how to care for a parlor palm plant. As I would recommend for ANY houseplant, your parlor palm pot should always have a drainage hole. Even moisture is ideal but err on the side of slightly too dry rather than too wet. Though nowadays not many would see them that way, that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate them for the touch of refinement and sophistication they bring wherever they reside. Parlor palms have weak root systems and grow relatively slowly, meaning that repotting should only be done with care. They often do well with northern exposure. They tolerate low light and colder conditions pretty well. Water again after the soil has dried out completely. Other names this Victorian parlor palm goes by includes Neanthe Bella Palm or, more simply, the Bella Palm. Allow the soil to begin to dry between waterings, and water even less in the winter. Indoor palms may need watered up to twice a week depending on how dry your home is. It’s also an excellent air purifier. Water freely during the growing season but reduce the frequency of watering during the winter. If you’re planting a parlor palm tree indoors, opt for a few plants in the same container. In fall and winter, do not fertilize. 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A few other varieties are sometimes seen in the trade, including the newer C. hooperiana, which resembles a kentia palm. You can tell the soil is dry with your finger, or by inserting a chopstick into the soil and checking for dampness. When to Water Parlor Palm. The popular Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) is another durable choice. The parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) has long been used as an indoor plant in the United States. Even with sunlight, the parlor palm is a slow grower, often taking years to reach its full height of 3-4 feet tall. It gained a near-instant following for several good reasons: It's adapted to relatively low light, can handle lower temperatures, and grows in attractive clumps with light-textured foliage cloaking thin trunks. They cannot be propagated by stem cutting or leaf cutting. Watering. You need to take into consideration the lighting and local environment the plant is placed in as you make decisions about watering. This type is sometimes used in dish gardens. Like with every other plant, watering is the key to the life and lushness of a parlor palm plant. How Often Should You Water Parlour Palms? Empty water collected in the drip tray after you are done watering so the palm isn't left in standing water. Parlor palms are most often grown from seeds or a division cut from an existing plant. New, unblemished leaves will restore the plant’s appearance once the issue is corrected. Make sure that the soil remains moist but well drained. Err on the side of slightly too dry rather than overwatering. Over-watering the parlor palm causes many diseases and may even kill it. As with most palms, it’s better to keep this plant too dry than too wet. The slow-growing Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) and the Parlor Palm or Neanthe Bella (Chamaedorea elegans) grow slowly and are tolerant of less-than-ideal conditions. Between watering, allow the soil to dry. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Know-How For Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants. WATERING Palms in general require excellent drainage, so it is imperative that your parlor palm never sits in water. Sign up for our newsletter. Ideally, keep moisture at an even level. During this time, fertilize your parlor palm monthly with houseplant fertilizer. Yellow fronds will indicate the plant needs more water. Water even less during the winter when the plant is not actively growing. Water well then wait until the surface and inch or so below the soil surface has dried out, at which point water well again. The rule of thumb is to provide as much water as the size of the container the palm is planted in. Growing an indoor parlor palm is very easy and gratifying. If you’re looking for a nice, short palm, that made NASA’s list of top plants for cleaning air then consider the Neanthebella Palm – it’ll last long in lower light conditions with very little care. If your palm begins to develop dry leaf margins or brown tips, it's most likely caused by cold drafts or prolonged dry periods. The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual: Essential Know-How For Keeping (Not Killing) More Than 160 Indoor Plants. Because they are tolerant of lower light conditions and sensitive to too much water, they are prime candidates to be "loved to death," either through overwatering or by getting too much direct sunlight. Resist the temptation. In general, the plants stay a manageable size, so you shouldn't have to repot it more than every other year. By using The Spruce, you accept our, In natural habitat, 6 to 16 feet tall; as a houseplant, 2 to 6 feet tall, 2- to 3-foot spread, Outdoors, any well-drained soil; indoors, use a peaty soil-based potting mix, Rainforests of Southern Mexico and Guatemala, How to Grow and Care for Chinese Money Plant, How to Grow and Care for String of Dolphins, Chinese Fan Palm (Fountain Palm) Plant Profie. Chamaedorea elegans, also known as parlor palm, is a graceful, slow-growing palm that requires several years to reach its full height of 3 to 5 feet. Make sure to keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season, too. If you’re planting a parlor palm tree indoors, opt for a few plants in the same … Take your plant to the sink and run water through the soil for 5 minutes. Its bright green foliage grows in clusters, giving it a lush, tropical feel. The fronds are popular in flower arrangements, Palm Sunday decorations, and wreaths because they can survive for up to 40 days after being cut from the plant. Water at the base of the trunk until the excess water drips from the bottom of the pot. Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer once or twice during the growing season and not at all during the winter. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. 2. Once revived, your palm will push out new growth. Parlor Palm Houseplant Care. Indoors, any high-quality peat-based potting mix will suffice. They do like a little bit of light, and will do best by a window that receives some early morning or late afternoon light. These plants are light feeders. Let the plant drain thoroughly after this before returning it to its normal spot. Like many palms, parlor palms are sensitive to overwatering and cannot tolerate being waterlogged or sitting in a saturated potting mix. Water. Description. The related bamboo palm, C. erumpens, originates slightly further south and is a bit larger, with more fan-like leaves. Parlor palm or the Chamaedorea elegans is a species of a small palm tree which naturally grows in the rainforests of the southern Mexico and Guatemala. This attractive little plant was first discovered in Central America and brought back to the United States where it immediately became a popular indoor palm. It’s possible to propagate a parlor palm by splitting it at the root, but this can be traumatic for the plant. Err on the side of slightly too dry rather than overwatering. You need to focus on the surface soil and as it dries up to about 50%, it is time to water the plant. It can tolerate a low of 50 degrees but will die if touched by frost. Since these palms require very little care, it is the perfect plant for offices, businesses, and for less than optimal growing conditions in homes. It will thrive with average humidity. Parlor palm houseplants prefer low light and may actually suffer in direct sunlight, so there’s no need to place them in your brightest windows. Since parlor palm houseplants tend to be grouped together in one container, feed them a basic fertilizer every month or two to ensure the soil doesn’t get sapped of nutrients. We’re all a bit less formal these days, but a Parlour palm still brings simple elegance to any room and it’s really easy to care for. Parlor palms will do their best in bright, filtered sunlight. Parlor palm houseplants have relatively weak root systems and don’t mind crowding, so don’t transplant more often than necessary. Water and feeding. Mediterranean fan palms grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, Sago palms grow in zones 9 through 11 and Areca palms grow in zones 10 and 11. These factors make the parlor palm one of the most popular indoor palms grown in most temperate countries. Temperatures for Parlour palm plants should be at a minimum of 50 ° F. Brown leaf tips are a common problem with Parlor Palm and are usually indicative of excessive soil watering or a lack of humidity. Water freely during the growing season but reduce the frequency of watering during the winter. Keep it away from cold drafts near windows, vents, and outside doors. In general, it's best for most home growers to buy a new plant rather than attempt propagation. The most common reason why Parlor Palms get brown tips is stress from improper lighting or watering. If you think you have been fertilizing your Parlor Palm too much, flush the soil with plenty of water to help remove the excess salts from the soil. Pleasant, Barbara. The main parlor palm is C. elegans, which is native to Mexico and Central America. It may be possible to divide a clump into two smaller clumps successfully, but this is not recommended. Like many palms, parlor palms are sensitive to overwatering and cannot tolerate being waterlogged or sitting in a saturated potting mix. Parlor Palm Plant Care Tips Water. Parlour Palm Plant Care Other Care Tips. If you want to grow a young parlor palm, you can either germinate a plant from seed or buy a plant at a nursery. Watering. In fact, it’s better to underwater it then overwatered it. The miniature variety “Bella” is very popular. It is possible to sometimes find single-stalk specimens, but most often the palms are grown in small clumps so that they resemble palm-like shrubs in attractive pots. An attractive and popular indoor plant, the Parlor Palm is an easy addition to any space. Outdoors, this palm will grow well in almost any soil—sand, loam, or clay. It will grow faster in bright indirect … Cut back the amount of water it receives in the winter as well. Brown leaf tips often indicate overwatering, while yellow fronds tell you the plant needs a bit more water. They do especially well in 3-gallon pots (about 10 inches wide) in a northern exposure or foyer, where they show off their fine-textured leaves. Repotting Chamaedorea Elegans. It’s one of the most commonly sold houseplant palms globally. Parlor palms are vulnerable to pests including aphids, mealy bugs, scale, and whitefly. If possible, identify the infestation as early as possible and treat it with the least toxic option. Other reasons include overfertilization, temperature stress, water quality problems, repotting, or pests. Your indoor parlor palm will most likely survive completely away from windows if that’s what your space requires – it just won’t grow very fast. Other Palms can make nice indoor houseplants if they get enough light. Water when the top 1 inch of the soil feels dry. Easy to grow: Parlor palm tree's are quite an easy plant to grow and care for, which makes them suitable for those new to growing indoors. Those living in the Victorian era coveted these plants to show others how stinking rich—er, excuse me—how prosperous the family was. If you miss a watering and some of the leaves turn brown, simply remove the crispy foliage. Missouri Botanical Garden, Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home.". The parlor palm doesn’t need frequent watering either, making it fairly resistant to neglect. Watering the Parlor Palm Like most tropical plants, the Chamaedorea Elegans is used to extended droughts, so it will not punish you if you forget to water it from time to time. The parlor palm is the quintessential houseplant – the proof is right in the name. You may need to repot once a year for the first few years if your indoor parlor palm is growing steadily, but after that point, top dressing should be enough to keep it healthy. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Read on for simple tips on how to care for a Parlor Palm indoor plant. 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Chopstick into the soil around a parlor palm pot should always have a drainage.! Much water as the size of the trunk until the excess water plants in United! Temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit levels before overwatering n't mean `` no-light. more! Get enough light “ Bella ” is very popular take into consideration the lighting and environment.