Palms

Palm, or palmae, is a family of flowering plants, which generally grow in temperate, tropical as well as subtropical climates. There are about 2600 palm tree species, out of which some species have been grown as house plants for a very long time. They look great and can enhance the interior of a house considerably. Kentia, majesty palm, phoenix palm and areca palm are some of the species that are commonly grown as indoor plants.

Palm trees need a lot of sunlight to grow properly. Large palms can be placed in areas well-exposed to bright and direct sunlight. However, small palm plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight for a long time. So moving them to a well lit area for a few hours will be sufficient. Next to sunlight, the second most important factor for proper growth is watering. Palm plants need a lot of water, so keep the soil moist, but avoid over watering. If possible, use rainwater or stale water, as the large amount of salts found in tap water can cause the appearance of yellow spots on the leaves. Otherwise, you can boil tap water and let it cool off before using for watering. Soil for growing palm plant should be rich in nutrients and it should be able to retain water. But at the same time, it should also be able to drain water efficiently.

Let's take a brief look at how to take care for several different types of palms, click the images to open and close the care tips:

ARECA

Environment: Suitable for the home or a greenhouse.

Humidity: Medium humidity

Lighting Needs: Does best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the North/East/West

Soil Type: A GOOD general purpose potting soil (a soil that retains water yet drains well) will suffice. Check purchased soil to see that it is well aerated and add sand or perlite and peat moss if it seems to pack too tightly. Give the plants a chance to settle in before going back to whatever fertilization program has been successful for you. If you want to mix your own take: 1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part moist peat or humus (leaf mold) and a light dusting of lime. Always use a pot with a hole.

Watering: Drench the soil and let it become moderately dry between waterings. If you use rainwater, be careful as it could be acidic. Use warm water.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly with a water soluble fertilizer. An alternative is a granular slow release fertilizer (Be sure that the fertilizer includes 2% or more magnesium to keep the golden color of the leaves bright.) if applied annually in the early spring.

Plant Pests: Prone to mealy bugs, scale and mites. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse.

Propagation: Seeds and division in the spring. It is best to propagate seeds in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent the moisture from escaping. Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light. Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while.

Gardening Tips & Care: Never let this plant sit in water. Put the plant somewhere free from drafts and ensure that it has good drainage. Mist occasionally with warm water (lime free to avoid leaf staining) and clean its fronds occasionally with a damp cloth. If possible put outside for the summer in bright filtered light.

Air Purifier: An excellent air purifier. Removes both ethyl and methyl alcohol and acetone (which are emitted by humans!) from the surrounding atmosphere. It is also a good remover of formaldehyde and xylene.