Palm plant care can be tricky, but not too difficult. Growing a couple of indoor palm plants in your home can go a long way in livening up your décor. But they’re only going to be gorgeous and vibrant if you take proper care of them. Without the care they require their leaves can wilt or turn brown and crunchy. With too much neglect, the whole plant could just die completely. Providing prevention and continuous care is the best way to keep your plants healthy and happy. However, if they have been neglected and start to show signs of it, it’s not too late to revive them.
Here is a list of things you need to know to provide palm plant care for your indoor palm plants:
Basic Indoor Palm Plant Care
There are many different types of palm plants and each of them may have their own specific needs. But their overall care requirements are similar. The correct amount of water and light as well as the right temperature range is very important for these plants. Some palm fertilizer and a bit of pruning maintenance can also do a lot to keep these plants looking healthy. Full, green, and vibrant palm plants are well within reach.
Watering Your Indoor Palm Plants
Palms like a lot of water but it is possible to overwater them. And doing so can create root rot or suffocate their roots. It’s important to always use pots with drainage holes to help prevent overwatering. Water them deeply until you see water coming out of the drainage holes. Then empty the drainage tray to prevent excess water from soaking back up into the soil. This can create an overly wet atmosphere for the root system.
You only need to water these plants when the top 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil is dry. They do like a humid atmosphere so misting them daily with a spray bottle will keep them sufficiently moist. Low humidity can be a issue for these types of plants and may cause them to dry out.
Lighting for Your Indoor Palm Plants
Palm plants have a very tropical and exotic appearance. So, you would think they would require plenty of hot, bright sunlight, but sometimes this isn’t the case. Some species of palms do love lots of bright, direct sunlight but many prefer indirect or filtered light. And some even do well in low light. It’s important to know what your specific type of palm plant prefers. Then you can be sure to provide it with the appropriate lighting conditions.
Palm Plant Care - Temperature is Critical
Some types of palms are heartier than others but palm plants generally like a pretty balmy climate. Their typical temperature preference is between 65- and 75-degrees Fahrenheit with nighttime temperatures dropping no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This range can vary between species, but palms typically won’t like chilly air or being placed near a cool draft.
Soil and Fertilizer for Your Indoor Palm Plants
Palm plants can develop root rot if left to sit in a stagnant marsh. Too much water in the soil can also deprive their roots of oxygen and eventually kill them. It’s important to use a well draining potting mix, such as soils with perlite or vermiculite. This helps to prevent water from pooling in the soil.
Palms can also benefit from fertilizer during their active growing season, which ranges from late winter to early fall. Too much fertilizer, however, can cause fertilizer burn, or leaf scorch, which comes from salts in the soil. Using a slow-release fertilizer or a diluted liquid fertilizer can help to prevent this.
Repotting Your Indoor Palm Plants
For anyone familiar with indoor gardening, you may know that repotting your plants from time to time is necessary. It’s often a part of providing the best care for them. However, for palm plants, repotting should only be done when absolutely necessary. Many species of palm plants really don’t like their root system to be disturbed. Others even thrive on being pot bound.
When you do need to repot these plants, be as gentle as possible. And then treat them very delicately for a while after, to give them time to adjust. Don’t give them any direct sun or fertilizer for the new few weeks after their repotting. But do give them a healthy watering. Some palm plants can grow quite large. Withholding a larger pot for as long as possible will help to control their growth.
Palm Plant Care - Pruning for Success
Prune your palm plants when they have dead or unhealthy fronds and stems. This can help keep your plants healthy and vibrant looking. These plants are sensitive, though, and need to be pruned correctly. There are a few things you should do when pruning and a few things you should try to avoid.
Remove any dead, dried out, yellow, brown, or otherwise unhealthy-looking fronds. You can pinch these off with your fingertips or use some small plant shears. If an entire stem is filled with dead or dying fronds, it can be clipped from its base. Simply cut the stem about 1 inch from the trunk with some pruning shears. Be careful that you don’t damage the trunk by accidentally cutting it or by pulling on it too hard.
Over pruning can stress your plant, causing it harm or possibly killing it. Some people may think a lot of pruning will make their palms grow faster, but this is not the case. Palms draw nutrients from their leaves. So, if you’re pruning just for aesthetic purposes, try not to prune too many healthy, green fronds. Doing so could really damage your plant.
Pests Invading Your Indoor Palm Plants
Indoor plants are usually a little safer from pests than the outdoor variety but that doesn’t mean pests can’t still get to your plants. Spider mites are the most common problem for indoor palm plants but you may see mealybugs trying to feed off your palms as well. If you notice the fronds on your plants turning yellow or wilting, look for an infestation. If you do have a pest problem it’s better for your plants to wash the fronds with warm soapy water every couple of days until the problem is resolved rather than treating them with any harsh pesticides.
Signs Your Indoor Palm Plant Is in Trouble
Incorrect temperature, too much light, not enough light, overwatering, underwatering, and pests are all possible issues that could be harming your indoor palm plants. If your palm has gray or brown scorched leaves they may be getting to much sun or they have have been given too much fertilizer. A shadier spot or a deep watering to cleanse the soil could remedy these issues. Brownish leaves could also mean your plant is too cold. If you suspect this is the issue, check for any cool drafts nearby or move your plant to a warmer location.
Dried, brown leaf tips can often be a sign that your plant needs more water. Yellowing fronds, on the other hand, may indicate your plant has too much water and can’t access the oxygen in the soil. Yellow, drooping fronds could also mean your plants needs more sunlight.
Indoor palm plants can actually be quite easy to take care of once you understand their needs and provide them with the correct atmosphere. Keep an eye on your plants because they will let you know if anything is wrong, allowing you enough time to change the care you’re giving them before it’s too late. Palms can be a gorgeous addition to your home and they’re definitely worth the time it takes to get to know their needs.
