Parlor palm, also known asChamaedorea elegans, is known for its lush, tropical fronds.
It’s also one of the besttypes of palmsfor beginners.
Parlor palms grow in attractive clumps with light-textured foliage cloaking thin trunks.
The Spruce / Krystal Slagle
Parlor palms can live for a few decades as anindoor treeand even longer outdoors in the right climate.
Parlor Palm Care
Here are the main care requirements for growing a parlor palm.
Growing Tip
If you don’t have bright, indirect light, don’t worry!
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The parlor palm is an easygoing plant that can adapt to low light and lower temperatures.
Light
These are consideredlow-light plants, but that doesn’t mean “no-light.”
Parlor palms will grow best in bright, filtered sunlight.
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
They often do well with light from a north-facing window.
Soil
Indoors, any high-quality peat-based potting mix will suffice.
Be careful not to let the mixture break down and become spongy.
The Spruce / Cara Cormack
Ideally, keep moisture at an even level.
Err on the side of slightly too dry rather than overwatering.
Water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry.
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Yellow fronds will indicate the plant needs more water.
Temperature and Humidity
The parlor palm prefers room temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees.
It can tolerate a low of 50 degrees 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.
To remedy this situation, raise the humidity levels in your space before ramping up your watering schedule.
These plants are light feeders.
This will stop its growth and is not necessary incaring for palm treesof this punch in.
Tip
Looking for the best pruners for your parlor palm plant?
We tested10 top-rated prunersin our Lab to see to it your plant stays happy and healthy.
Propagating Parlor Palm
These plants are almost always propagated from seed by professional growers.
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.
Repot the plant into a container no more than two inches larger in diameter than the previous pot.
If your potting media breaks down and becomes mucky or sponge-like, repot your plant to prevent root rot.
Fungal leaf spots and root rot can occur from moisture issues such as overwatering.
With fungal growth, remove the affected leaves.
For light infestations, remove them using your fingers or a cotton swab.
Here are a few of the parlor palm’s common problems and how to solve for them.
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.
Just move to a place with less direct light!
However, yellowing can also occur from overwatering.
ensure you let the soil dry out between watering.
Root Rot
Root rot can occur following overwatering.
In this case, give a shot to save the healthy roots by cutting off the impacted roots.
Once you’ve transplanted the parlor palm, confirm not to overwater or you could face root rot again.
Parlor palm is one of the easiestpalms to grow indoorsand it’s virtually maintenance-free.
It’s also a recommended plant for beginner indoor gardeners.
All plants need sunlight to live.
Although parlor palms are adaptable to lower-light conditions, they do require a light source to grow.
Water an indoor parlor palm from the top rather than the bottom.
This plan does not like its roots sitting in water.
Misting your plant will also help prevent dust-loving pests such as spider mites from getting to it.
Palms You Might Also Like
Indoor Palms.Clemson University Cooperative Extension
Chamaedorea Elegans.Missouri Botanical Garden
