Several types of indoor palm trees, including the areca palm and parlor palm, tolerate most household environments quite well. But there are some important factors to consider about indoor palm plant care.
Indoor Palm Plant Care Tips
How you care for an indoor palm plant is similar to many other houseplants that come from the tropics. Most types of indoor palm trees like the same conditions we find comfortable: warm temperatures, average humidity, and moderate light. Some indoor palm plants can even tolerate low light, though this usually will result in weaker growth. Palms are generally slow-growing and need minimal pruning to clean up dead and broken fronds. They’ll require a quality palm fertilizer to help maintain lush growth. And you must watch out for common houseplant pests, such as spider mites and scale. Here are eight of the easiest palms to grow indoors to add a breezy, tropical feel to your home. Chinese fan palms do well in bright light, but younger plants can tolerate shady locations. Water when the top of the soil feels dry. Choose a large pot that will accommodate the long taproot that the Chinese fan palm produces. And feed this palm once a year in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer.
Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates some shadeWater: Moderately moist soilColor Varieties: Emerald green foliage
The areca palm prefers a moderate amount of water. Plant your areca palm in fertile soil, and give it a monthly fertilizer application to maintain a lush look.
Light: Sun or shade but looks its best in bright, indirect lightWater: Moderately moist soilColor Varieties: Yellow-green stems and light green leaves
If you can keep your majesty palm in a reasonably moist area, such as the kitchen or bathroom, then you can look forward to cultivating a graceful stand of dark green fronds that will add life to an empty corner of your home.
Light: Bright, indirect light for the entire dayWater: Consistently moist soilColor Varieties: Bright green to dark green leaves
In its native habitat, the cascade palm thrives along streams and in wet lowlands, so you must irrigate it frequently when growing it indoors. Fortunately for indoor growth, cascade palms are understory plants, so they can tolerate limited light.
Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates shade; avoid direct sunlightWater: Consistently moist soilColor Varieties: Dark green leaves
Parlor palms flourish in above-average humidity. Be aware they might attract spider mites if conditions are very dry.
Light: Indirect light; avoid direct sunWater: Consistently moist soilColor Varieties: Light green leaves
The swollen trunk base isn’t just ornamental; it functions as a water reservoir for the plant, making it very drought tolerant. Give your ponytail palm a sunny location for optimal plant health. Moreover, it’s fine for the ponytail palm to become pot bound; in fact, this can keep growth manageable for a tabletop specimen.
Light: Full sun; tolerates bright, indirect lightWater: Moderately moist soil, will tolerate dry conditionsColor Varieties: Light green leaves
Choose an indoor location that receives filtered sun for four to six hours per day. The sago palm needs regular and consistent moisture, but make sure the soil surface is nearly dry between water applications.
Light: Full sun or bright, indirect light; tolerates some shadeWater: Moderately moist soilColor Varieties: Light green leaves
You might also see the indoor yucca palm sold under the name “stick yucca.” Tough strappy green leaves emerge from an attractive trunk on the yucca palm. The plants are very drought tolerant and grow in full sun or part shade.
Light: Full sun to part shadeWater: Moderately moist soilColor Varieties: Light green to bluish-green
