How to Grow and Care for Lipstick Palm

Cyrtostachys renda, the lipstick palm, is famous for its bright eye-catching crownshaft (the stem-like part of the trunk where the palm fronds emerge), from which it got its common name. The base of the trunk is bright green with white rings while the crownshaft is bright red.

The foliageis deep green with pinnate leaves up to 5 feet long. This variety of palm grows 25 to 35 feet tall in the wild but in cultivation, it remains much smaller. In the summer, the palms produce a shaft with small greenish-white flowers that give way to small, black fruits. The lipstick plant is native to the Malay peninsula, Borneo, and Sumatra and needs a hot, tropical climate. The trees have a clumping nature that creates trunks at varying heights. This staggered effect makes for a perfect, natural privacy fence. Because the palm has a slow to medium growth rate, it can be grown easily in pots and overwintered indoors in cooler climates.

Lipstick Palm Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a lipstick palm:

• Plant it in a location with dappled sun and away from strong winds.
• Avoid locations with soil that is high in salt.
• Make sure the soil is consistently moist and water frequently in the absence of rain.
• Fertilize regularly during the growing season.
• Below USDA zone 11, plant lipstick palm in a container and grow it indoors as a houseplant or bring it indoors in the fall.
  

Light

Dappled sun is ideal for these vibrant palms when they are young and more tender. Once they are mature, they can be grown in full sun.

Soil

The lipstick palm is native to swampy, wet areas such as near riverbanks or tidal areas. In fact, it has been known to survive in standing water. However, it does not tolerate salt.Well-draining, moist, loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 to 7.0 is best.

Water

This moisture-loving tree requires consistent watering. Keep the soil moist, watering before the soil has a chance to dry out. The frequency of watering will vary by location, but you might need to water a lipstick palm daily to keep it quenched.

Temperature and Humidity

The lipstick palm requires warm temperatures. It cannot tolerate cold weather or wind. The ideal temperature for this tree is about 75 to 85 degrees F year-round. It does best in an area with steady temperatures.

It needs high humidity and does poorly in dry air. To maintain it as a healthy houseplant, you might need to implement a strategy to raise humidity levels.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing your palm tree will help ensure that nutrients are not washed away with constant watering. Use a slow-release palm fertilizer and follow the label instructions for amounts and frequency.

Pruning

The lipstick palm does not require much pruning. Unlike other landscaping plants, pruning does not encourage more growth. Therefore, only prune away damaged or diseased fronds to maintain a clean, healthy appearance.

Propagating Lipstick Palm

Like other palms, the lipstick palm produces suckers or young offshoots, which are perfect for propagation. Here’s how.

1. Using a sharp saw or garden shovel, sever the sucker from the mother plant. Try to include some roots if possible.
2. Plant the sucker in well-draining, moist potting soil.
3. Place the container in a location with partial sun and keep it well-watered.
   

How to Grow Lipstick Palm From Seed

Although is is possible to grow the lipstick palm from seed, the process is notoriously long and challenging. Seeds can take two to three months to germinate, and new plants might take years to grow just a few inches. Because it is quicker and easier than growing from seed, propagating these plants via suckers is the preferred method.

Potting and Repotting Lipstick Palms

The lipstick palm is suitable to be grown in containers indoors and outdoors. Choose a large container that is wide and deep enough to accommodate its roots and allow for growth. Heavy material such as clay or terra-cotta is preferable as the palm is less likely to topple over.

Keep in mind that as a potted plant, the lipstick palm needs frequent watering, daily in hot weather.

Because the lipstick palm has a slow to medium growth rate, it does not need to be repotted very often.However, after several years, the palm might become root-bound. When this happens, it is time to repot into a larger container with fresh potting mix.

To repot it, start by gently working the palm out of its current pot. It might help to tip the pot on its side. Once you've slid the plant and roots out of the pot, place the palm in a pot large enough to accommodate new growth and fill it in with well-draining potting mix. Pat down the new soil and water thoroughly.

Overwintering Lipstick Palms

In USDA Zone 11a where winter temperatures may drop to 40 to 45 degrees F, the lipstick palm benefits greatly from a heavy layer of mulch to protect its root system from the cold.

In most areas of the continental United States, this palm should be grown indoors year-round or overwintered indoors. If your lipstick palm spends the summer outside, bring it back inside when nighttime temperatures drop below 45 degrees F.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The lipstick palm is generally not bothered by serious pests or diseases. Indoor plants, however, might have issues with spider mites or scale insects.

From: thespruce