How to Grow and Care for Robellini Palms

Robellini palms are dwarf palm trees that are popular among landscapers and houseplant enthusiasts alike. Their small size makes the slow-growing trees versatile and they grow well individually or when planted in clusters. Robellini palms do best in warm, humid climates with moist, well-draining soil. Read on for our care and growing guide.

Robellini Palm Care

These miniature palms require specific conditions in order to thrive both indoors and outdoors.

• These palms need warm, humid conditions
• Regularly water
• Give consistent sunlight

Light

The amount of light robellini palms require differs if you are growing it indoors or outdoors.

• Indoors, robellini palms require as much light as possible, ideally at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
• Outdoors, the ideal amount of light depends on geographic location. For example, in climates that experience extreme heat and intense ultraviolet rays, such as Florida, robellini palms benefit from protection from the hot afternoon sun. In milder climates, these palms should be planted in a location that receives full sun, at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.

Soil

Robellini palms prefer moist, but well-drained soils. This means the soil should have an adequate amount of organic matter which helps to retain moisture but also include plenty of inorganic matter (such as perlite) which helps with drainage.

Avoid soil that is either extremely acidic or extremely alkaline. Robellini palms require soil that is acidic to slightly alkaline. A pH meter can be used to measure the soil pH level. If the pH is too high or too low, amend the soil with lime or sulfate to correct the pH.

Water

While robellini palms can tolerate short periods of drought, these palms should be watered regularly so that the soil never dries out completely. Water deeply once the soil has partially dried. Newly-planted robellini palms should be watered daily for the first two weeks to help establish their root systems, after which watering can be reduced to two to three times a week, depending on temperatures.

As a general tip, the best time to water robellini palms is during the morning or evening; you should not water during the hottest times of day.

Temperature and Humidity

Like most palm trees, the robellini palm requires warm, humid conditions. This dwarf palm is not frost-tolerant and is hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11. If you live in an area that experiences cold winters, grow your robellini palm in a container so that it can be moved indoors during the winter months. If you are growing your robellini palm indoors, be sure to keep it away from drafty vents or air conditioners.

Fertilizer

Robellini palm trees benefit from regular fertilization. Mature trees should be fertilized three times a year with a balanced fertilizer designed for palms. Younger trees and seedlings should be fertilized once a month to help encourage strong growth.

Pruning

Robellini palms can benefit from occasional pruning, however, it is important that the pruning is done correctly so as to not damage the health of the plant. For most gardeners, it is best to contact a landscaper that specializes in palm tree pruning and have the tree professionally pruned.

Propagating Robellini Palms

Propagating robellini palms is easy if the mother plant is producing suckers or offshoots. Here's how:

1. Separate the suckers from the base of the mother plant, being sure to keep as many of the roots intact as possible.
2. Place the new plant in a small pot with a moist but well-draining potting mix.
3. Put it in a location that receives bright but indirect sunlight.
4. After a couple of months, the new plant can be moved to a location that receives brighter sunlight.

Potting Robellini Palms

Robellini palms are frequently grown in containers as landscaping plants, and indoors as houseplants.Make sure to choose a container that has drainage holes so you don't waterlog the plant. It likes to be moist, but not overly saturated. The trees are small in size and slow-growing, so choose a container that best fits the current size of the plant when you purchase it.

Overwintering

Robellini palms need a warm, humid climate. If growing outdoors somewhere that experiences cold and dry winters, make sure to grow your palm in a pot so that it can easily be moved indoors in the cooler months. If not grown in a container, you'll need to wrap your palm if you're expecting freezing temperatures.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Robellini palms are susceptible to a few common pests including scale and spider mites. Spider mite infestations can be identified by yellow discoloration and de-pigmentation on the leaves of the plant, as well as webbing between the leaves. Treat spider mite infestations with insecticidal soap until the pests are gone.

Scale infestations can be identified by the sticky sap substance that they leave behind on the stems and backs of the leaves. Treat scale infestations with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip to remove scale insects from the plant.

Common Problems With Robellini Palms

Robellini palms are generally easy to grow, but there are a couple of common issues to look out for.

Leaves Turning Brown

If you notice leaves turning brown, it could be due to watering. Make sure the plant is getting enough water. If that isn't the cause, check the humidity levels. Low humidity can cause leaves to turn brown.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing fronds can indicate a nutritional deficiency/inadequate soil composition (usually related to magnesium). Soil testing and then applying an appropriate fertilizer can help.

From: thespruce