All About Palms

When people think of palms, they instantly think of the tropics. Palms also make wonderful houseplants and add a lush, decorative touch to any room. There are four types of Palms to choose from:

Cane Palms: This group of palms produces bamboo-like canes and can grow to anywhere from 5 to 10 feet tall. They include popular varieties such as Butterfly Palm (Areca lutescens) and Reed Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii).

Feather Palms: This group produces large fronds of leaflets, either soft and droopy or stiff and upright, and includes the Date and Coconut Palms that are associated with tropical islands and places like Florida and California. Neither do well as houseplants. However this group also includes the most popular palm houseplant of all, the Parlour Palm (Neanthe Bella). Much smaller and easier to care for than its cousins, Parlour Palm only grows to about 2 feet, making it ideal for small spaces.

Fan Palms: The group lives up to its name, producing large fronds of blade like leaves arranged in a fan shape. Unfortunately they are often difficult to grow and short lived, making them mostly unsuitable as houseplants.

Sago Palms: Sago Palms look like palms but are actually a member of the Cycad family. They are slow growing (producing roughly one new leaf a year) and grow as a stiff green rosette on top of a base resembling a pineapple. There’s only one type offered for sale – Cycas revoluta.

Fishtail Palms: This group produces wedge shaped leaves 6 inches long and 4 inches across. Caryota mitis is the most popular variety.

Care Instructions: Palms prefer partial shade and good drainage. Keep the soil moist but not wet at all times. If the room it’s in is heated, mist the leaves occasionally to raise humidity. Only repot when the plant is completely root bound because they don’t like being moved, and never ever prune a palm-the tips are the only growing point and cutting them off will kill the plant.

Problems: Spider Mites can be a big problem for Palms kept in hot, dry rooms. To prevent, mist regularly or place the plants on a humidity tray. Hot dry air can also cause the leaf tips to turn brown. If the entire leaf turns brown it could be one of several causes. It’s normal for Palms to lose their lower leaves as they age. Simply cut off the affected leaf. If the browning isn’t restricted to one leaf, check for overwatering. Yellow leaves on the other hand, are a sign of underwatering.

Have any questions or comments about Palms? Stop by our discussion area and let us know!