How to Care for an Indoor Palm Tree
More than just a pretty plant, the Paradise Palm is also good for improving indoor air quality. The paradise palm is a slow-growing plant that is suitable for a small space. While they can become relatively big in size, they are small on maintenance and care.
Select a pot that is approximately the same size as the palm plant. Plant the palm in good potting soil that allows for adequate drainage. Amend the soil with peat moss if it appears packed too tightly. Fertilize the palm plant with a general fertilizer.
- More than just a pretty plant, the Paradise Palm is also good for improving indoor air quality.
- Plant the palm in good potting soil that allows for adequate drainage.
Water the palm plant regularly, leaving the soil barely moist. Do not let the plant sit in water because this will cause root rot. Reduce watering of palm plants during the winter months. Keep indoor temperatures slightly above 60 degrees and provide humidity for the plant.
Place the palm in an area where it will receive bright, indirect light. Clean the leaves of the plant with a damp cloth. Re-pot the plant when roots begin to grow from the bottom of the plant. Do not prune any palm species that grows a crown shaft--a green, smooth column that grows on the tree. Monitor the palm for common pest problems which include spider and scale mites and mealy bugs.
- Water the palm plant regularly, leaving the soil barely moist.
- Re-pot the plant when roots begin to grow from the bottom of the plant.
Care For An Indoor Dwarf Date Palm Tree
Set the plant in an east-facing window that receives morning sun. Temperatures should remain between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and around 60 F at night. In winter, temperatures between 55 and 60 F are ideal. Water dwarf date palms deeply just until water drips through the bottom of the pot. In the early spring, at the beginning of the growing season, add 1 1/2 tablespoons to the pot. Rinse the foliage in the shower with a stream of lukewarm water occasionally to remove dust, excess fertilizer salts or pests, such as aphids. Placing the plant outside on a warm, rainy day is another option. Repot pygmy date palms every two to three years when they become overgrown or the roots fill up the pot. Do this in late spring or early summer.
- Set the plant in an east-facing window that receives morning sun.
- In the early spring, at the beginning of the growing season, add 1 1/2 tablespoons to the pot.
Tip
Lady Palm, Parlor Palm and Paradise Palms are species that grow well indoors.
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Writer Bio
Stephanie Green is a writer with more than 10 years of experience. Her work has been published in various lifestyle and trade publications, covering parenting, gardening and human-interest stories. Green holds a Bachelor of Arts in English.
