Each frond can grow 40 to 60 inches long.
It is best to plant Chinese fan palms in the spring.
These slow-growing palms have a bushy appearance when they are young.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Whether you grow these palms in a container or in the ground, they require good soil drainage.
It can readily escape gardens and colonize to form thickets that block out native plant species.
Use caution when planting this palm in these regions or in any environment that is extremely favorable.
Chinese fan palm trees.Federica Fortunato/Getty Images.
Young palms prefer some shade, especially from the hot afternoon sun.
Indoors, these palms do best located by a bright window with indirect light.
They thrive in rich loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutralsoil pH.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
For container-grown plants, use a quality potting mix made especially for palms.
Water
Lightly moist but not soggy soil is ideal for Chinese fan palms.
Overwatering can cause root rot and other diseases, which can ultimately kill the plant.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Increase water during the spring, summer, and fall.
They thrive in warm, humid weather.
To raise humidity and prevent foliage from drying out, regularly mist the palm.
Indoors, protect your palm from drafts as well as airflow from heating and air-conditioning vents.
Fertilizer
Fertile soil will promote faster and healthier growth on these palms.
They will develop their cascading shape on their own.
This is best done from a medium-size plant growing in a container.
The seeds from the fruit can be planted in a rich mixture of potting mix and perlite or sand.
Just barely cover the seeds.
But be patient, as developing a mature plant from a seed is a years-long process.
The pot also should have ample drainage holes.
When this occurs, select a larger pot that provides more space for the root ball.
Fill around it with fresh palm potting mix, and firm up the soil.
Then, water the palm thoroughly.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
These plants generally dont have any serious issues with pests or diseases.
However, they are susceptible toscale insectsandspider mites, which can damage the foliage and potentially kill a plant.
Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray can be an effective treatment to treat infestations.
This is usually a sign of some kind of nutrient deficiency (usually, a lack of potassium).
Changing the fertilizer used to one formulated for palms will usually help.
A 40-year lifespan is typical for garden specimens.
Yes, in fact, it typically looks better as a landscape specimen.
It can be grown this way in USDA zones 9 to 11.
It makes an excellent landscape specimen, though it may experience some dieback during cold winters in zone 9.
Be alert to its ability to escape gardens in warm, wet climates.
