How to Grow and Care for Parlor Palm

Parlor palm, also known as Chamaedorea elegans, is known for its lush, tropical fronds. It's also one of the best types of palms for beginners.

Parlor palms grow best in tropical or indoor conditions with bright, indirect sunlight, well-drained acidic to neutral soil, and temperatures between 65°F and 75°F, though they can adapt to lower light conditions.

Parlor palms grow in attractive clumps with light-textured foliage cloaking thin trunks. These slow growers can take years to reach full height (2 to 6 feet indoors and 6 to 16 feet outdoors).

Parlor palms can live for a few decades as an indoor tree and even longer outdoors in the right climate.

Parlor Palm Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a parlor palm.

• Choose the correct planter size and location. Grow in a 3-gallon indoor palm pot (about 10 inches wide) in a northern exposure or foyer.
• Have good drainage. Plant in well-drained, peaty soil-based potting mix with an acidic to neutral pH.
• Set the right temperature. Place in bright, indirect light with temperatures between 65°F and 75°F .
• Avoid overwatering and excess sunlight. Be careful not to overwater or allow the parlor palm to get too much sunlight. It can be grown as a low-light plant.
• Use a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly to encourage growth. Though know that it's a slow grower that could take a year or longer to reach its full height of 2 to 6 feet.

Growing Tip

If you don't have bright, indirect light, don't worry! The parlor palm is an easygoing plant that can adapt to low light and lower temperatures.

Light

Parlor palms are considered low-light plants, but that doesn't mean no light. Parlor palms will grow best in bright, filtered sunlight. They often do well with light from a north-facing window.

Soil

Indoors, any high-quality peat-based potting mix will work for a parlor palm. Outdoors, this palm will grow well in almost any soil—sand, loamy, or clay—but does not tolerate salty soil.

Water

Like many palm plants, parlor palms are sensitive to overwatering and cannot tolerate being waterlogged or sitting in a saturated potting mix. Ideally, keep moisture at an even level. Water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry.

Err on the side of slightly too dry rather than overwatering. Yellow fronds will indicate the plant needs more water.

Temperature and Humidity

The parlor palm prefers room temperatures between 65°F and 80°F. It can tolerate a low of 50°F but will die if touched by frost. Keep the plant away from cold drafts near windows, vents, and outside doors. It will thrive with average humidity.

If your palm begins to develop dry leaf margins or brown tips, it's most likely caused by cold drafts or prolonged dry periods.

To remedy this situation, raise the humidity levels in your space before ramping up your watering schedule.

Fertilizer

Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer once or twice during the growing season and not at all during the winter. These plants are light feeders.

Types of Parlor Palms

• C. elegans is the most popular type of parlor palm. It's native to Mexico and Central America and is sometimes used in dish gardens.
• C. erumpens is a bamboo palm that originates slightly further south than C. elegans and is a bit larger, with more fan-like leaves.
• C. hooperiana is a newer variety that resembles a kentia palm with its large, dramatic palm-shaped leaves. It's a vigorous plant that's easy to grow.

Pruning

While you may remove fronds that have dried, browned, or yellowed, do not prune the parlor palm. This will stop its growth and is not necessary in caring for palm trees of this type.

Tip

Looking for the best pruners for your parlor palm plant? We tested 10 top-rated pruners in our Lab to make sure your plant stays happy and healthy.

Propagating Parlor Palm

These plants are almost always propagated from seed by professional growers. It may be possible to divide a clump into two smaller clumps successfully, but this is not recommended because it will put the plant and its roots under too much stress.

The plants aren't clumping by nature, but grown in clumps for aesthetic reasons. They cannot be propagated by stem cutting or leaf cutting. In general, home growers should buy a new plant rather than attempt propagation.

Potting and Repotting

Parlor palms have weak root systems and grow relatively slowly, meaning that repotting must be done with care. Repot the plant into a container no more than two inches larger in diameter than the previous pot.

In general, the plants stay a manageable size, so you shouldn't have to repot it more often than every other year. If your potting media breaks down and becomes mucky or sponge-like, repot your plant to prevent root rot.

Common Pests & Diseases

Parlor palms are vulnerable to pests including aphids, mealy bugs, scale, and whitefly. If possible, identify the infestation early. Fungal leaf spots and root rot can occur from moisture issues such as overwatering.

If you've found pests, wipe down the leaves with mild soap and water, then treat them with an organic insecticide. With fungal growth, remove the affected leaves.

Pest to Watch

If you suspect aphids, look for white, pink, or gray specks on your plant. For light infestations, remove them using your fingers or a cotton swab.

Common Problems With Parlor Palm

The parlor palm is beloved for its easygoing nature, adaptability, and ease for first-time plant owners, but that doesn't mean it is completely free from issues. Here are a few of the parlor palm's common problems and how to solve for them.

Browning Leaf Tips

Browning leaf tips are often caused by either exposure to too much sunlight or underwatering. While parlor palms adapt easily to low light, make sure you don't go in the other direction with too much light. Place them in a north-facing room and water adequately.

Other Causes for Browning Tips

Another common reason your parlor palm may have browning tips is overfertilization. To help save the plant, check its feeding schedule and make sure to only fertilize it once or twice during the growing season.

Yellowing Leaves

Similarly, yellowing leaves can also be caused by too much sunlight and, again, it's an easy fix. Just move to a place with less direct light!

However, yellowing can also occur from overwatering. Make sure you let the soil dry out between watering.

Root Rot

Root rot can occur following overwatering. In this case, try to save the healthy roots by cutting off the impacted roots. Once you've transplanted the parlor palm, make sure not to overwater or you could face root rot again.

Stem Cankers

Stem cankers can be difficult to treat, particularly in a parlor palm, which can't be significantly pruned. Attempt to cut off the affected area, but know that it may be too late at this point to save the plant.

From: thespruce