Parlour Palm care is easy once you know how! They make durable and hardy, houseplants that thrive indoors. If you want to grow indoor palms that are happy, healthy and flourishing then keep reading our Parlour Palm Care Guide.
Parlour palms (or Chamaedorea Elegans) make very popular houseplants and have done since the 1800s. In the Victorian times, homeowners would place these palms in their parlours (hence the name) where they would welcome their fanciest guests, this was a way to show that they were of a higher class and well travelled.
How to Care for Parlour Palms
This easy to grow plant has attractive dense bushy growth with long arching stems and lush, feathery foliage. It purifies the air and is perfect for adding that splash of greenery we so often crave indoors.
Parlour Palm Water & Humidity
Parlour palms like their soil to stay moist but never wet or left standing in water. Ensure that the soil is well draining and only water when the top layer of compost begins to feel dry. This variety of palm won’t tolerate wet, soggy soil and it may lead to complications such as root rot.
Chamaedorea palms are native to southern Mexico and Guatemala meaning they thrive in warm, humid conditions. To combat the dry, indoor air, spritz your plant with water once a week.
Parlour Palm Soil and Feeding
For optimum growing conditions, plant your parlour palm in a nutrient rich potting soil with good drainage. Choose something light as heavier potting mixes can retain too much moisture.
A regular house plant potting mix is ideal, however, if you feel like it’s still too heavy you can add some extra organic matter or perlite which will also improve drainage.
You can apply the first dose of fertiliser in early spring once the growing season has started, continue to feed thereafter every 3-4 weeks. Follow feed packet instructions and stop feeding when autumn arrives as growing starts to slow and temperature drops.
Parlour Palm Location and Light
Your parlour palm will thrive with plenty of bright, filtered light. It will benefit from some early morning or late evening sun, however, direct sun during the day may lead to leaf burn.
Set your plant back from a south or east-facing window to get just the right amount of light, if you need to filter harsh rays during the day, add a sheer curtain to soften the light.
Place in a location with a consistent temperature year round, keeping away from cold drafts and central heating. Rooms that fluctuate in temperature can cause stress to plants.
Parlour Palm Repotting
One of the reasons parlour palms make great house plants is how slow growing they are. You can keep them for years without a worry of them outgrowing your space.
Their slow growing nature means they don’t need repotting too regularly, however, if your plant is looking in need of a new home then follow these steps below:
- Choose a pot 2-3 inches bigger than the current one.
- Remove the palm from it’s pot and loosen the roots lightly.
- Add a layer of compost to the base of the pot and place in the root ball.
- Fill in around the root ball with compost and firm down.
- Give the plant a thorough water to help the root systems establish in their new home.
Parlour Palm Pests
Much like other leafy varieties, parlour palms can be susceptible to spider mites, scale and mealybugs. When caught early they are easy to treat. Find a simple neem oil spray as a non-toxic alternative to other commercial pesticides.
Check your plants regularly for these tiny creatures and when treating pests quarantine the infected plant to avoid it spreading onto any others in the home.
Parlour Palm Toxicity
Parlour palms have been listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA so are a safe option if you have pets at home. See our full list of pet friendly plants to see more.
Send a parlour palm as a gift
Parlour palms are a perfect slice of the jungle and they make great gifts to send to your plant loving friends. If you’ve been struggling to think of a gift for someone who already has everything then a beautiful indoor plant gift is the way to go. Whether it’s their birthday, anniversary or a housewarming celebration they’re guaranteed to be utterly delighted.
