The parlour palm is a small species of the Arecaceae family, Chamaedorea elegans. It has very serious soil and irrigation sensitivity. If proper care is taken, it is perfectly suited for indoor use and will not easily deteriorate.

It is native to the southern North American continent, from Mexico to Guatemala. It grows as an understory plant in rainforests and mist forests up to elevations of 1400 meters, often in areas with limestone. Its average height is 2 meters, rarely exceeding 3 meters. It rarely reaches 4 meters.

Its slow growth, ease of care, and stunning appearance make it a popular choice for home and office use. Because of its slow growth, it can be placed on a desktop and is a popular long-lasting office gift.

Proper Lighting Plays an Important Role in Parlour Palm Care

It prefers semi-light environments where it receives indirect sunlight. It doesn’t require intense light and can survive in low light, but semi-light conditions are more suitable for healthy growth. Direct sunlight can cause brown sunburn on its leaves, so protection from direct sunlight is necessary.

Proper Watering is a Key Factor in Parlour Palm Care

The parlour palm is a plant that requires meticulous watering. You should not leave it without water, but you should also prevent rotting by overwatering. To do this, you should first check the soil frequently with your hand and water it so that the soil remains moist. More frequent watering in hot weather and once a week in cold weather is sufficient. Let me not forget that taking care to water at the same times of the day as much as possible and using rested water are steps that will increase efficiency.

What should be the temperature for good Parlour Palm Care?

Because the parlour palm is a heat-loving plant, you should be careful when positioning it in your home or office, placing it near a window where it can receive plenty of sunlight. Rotating the pot slightly from day to day to prevent the same area from getting direct sunlight each time and ensuring all its leaves receive adequate sunlight will also help your plant grow healthily. Since it doesn’t tolerate cold weather, remember to avoid temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius (-5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Soil Selection

You can start by choosing peat-rich soil for your parlour palm. If you wish, you can also support the soil of the areca plant, which grows more favorably in mineral-rich soil, with vitamins from time to time.

Fertilizing Time

During spring and summer, feeding the plant with a liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during its active growth period is recommended. You should stop fertilizing in the winter, as the plant is dormant.

Fertilizer Type

For the Parlour Palm, you can use liquid palm fertilizers or organic fertilizers. These fertilizers will help the plant produce healthy, shiny leaves.

Pot Selection

The pot you choose for your parlor palm tree should neither be too large nor too small. Therefore, choose a pot sized appropriately for your plant or seedlings, then gradually increase the pot size as your plant grows. Repotting once every 1.5-2 years should be sufficient on average. Keep in mind that you should choose a pot one size larger than your current pot size each time.

Drainage

The Parlour Palm’s pot must have good drainage at the bottom. Otherwise, root rot can occur. When repotting, make sure the drainage holes are open to ensure good ventilation for the roots.

Humidity is Also an Important Factor in Parlour Palm Care

As a tropical plant, the Parlour Palm prefers high humidity levels. During the winter months, when humidity is low in your home, you can increase humidity by placing a tray of water around the plant or by wiping its leaves with a damp cloth once a week.

Other topics that may interest you