The parlor palm, scientifically known as Chamaedorea elegansis one of the most popular and appreciated indoor palm trees for its ability to adapt to various conditions and its longevity, since, with proper care, it can live up to 30 years in your home.
It is native to Central America and can be found in the mountainous regions of Mexico and Guatemala, where it grows mainly as an understory that loves the shadow. This tells us that it is a plant that can adapt perfectly to not very bright interiors.
Given that quickly forgive small errors of care, It is especially suitable for beginners in plant cultivation.
What is this indoor palm tree like, A great living room plant
The parlor palm has a thin trunk that In its natural habitat it can grow up to three meters high and two meters wide.
The tuft of leaves is formed by pinnate leaves (opposite the stem) of intense green color, with 21 to 40 linear to lanceolate leaflets that, depending on the variety, can reach a length of up to 15 centimeters and a width of up to three centimeters. The fronds can grow up to 60 centimeters long.
The parlor palm is one of the few palms that They can flower at a young age. From spring to autumn, they produce simple or branched panicles, 15 to 30 centimeters long, of small, inconspicuous flowers.
These palms are dioecious, which means that each plant produces either only male or only female flowers. The flowers of female plants are fragrant.
The female flowers They ripen into small, round, black fruits. which measure between 0.6 and 1.5 centimeters.
The best location for the living room palm tree
As with many tropical plants, the Chamaedorea elegans prefers bright or partially shaded places and does not like direct sunlight.
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Cool summer temperatures, around 20ºC, are ideal. If a shady location is available, the mountain palm can also be placed outside from June.
In winter, They must be kept fresher, between 12 and 15 ºC. If they are kept too warm during winter dormancy, they will not produce flowers.
What is the right land?
The substrate must be permeable and slightly alkaline. It also tolerates slightly acidic soils. You can use special soil for palm or standard quality mixtures for indoor plants.
The soil for aromatic plants can also be used as a substrate. Conventional potting soil should be mixed with sand in a 1:1 ratio.
In any case, it is important that the pot is provided with good drainage to avoid waterlogging.
How much do you have to water it?
The land of this palm tree should be kept evenly moist and should not be allowed to dry under any circumstances.
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Therefore, we must Water it abundantly, especially in summer. Submerge smaller plants once a week and then let the pot drain well before placing it back in the decorative container.
It must be Avoid permanent flooding at all costs. Since it has a high water requirement, it is not a problem if some irrigation water remains in the saucer, but it should be completely gone before watering the plant again.
In winter, It is enough to keep the substrate slightly moist.
Periodic subscription
The young plants that They are still in their first year of life and are not fertilized. to promote root growth.
Later, from March to September, you can fertilize the plant sparingly every two or three weeks with some liquid fertilizer for green plants or with a special fertilizer for palm trees.
Generally, Half the recommended dose is sufficient. As an alternative to liquid fertilizer, fertilizer sticks can also be used.
Transplant in spring
The living room palms should be transplanted in spring when the root ball is densely rooted.
The rate depends mainly on the size and growth strength of the plants and is two years for young plants and three to five for older ones.
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For very large specimens, it is generally enough to replace the top layer of substrate from the container. However, mountain palms should always be transplanted when the roots emerge from the pot or even grow over the edge.
If you wonder if it is necessary to prune this or another palm tree, you should know that it makes it easy for you. In the case of the parlor palm, as with other indoor palms, regular pruning is not necessary. Simply, remove older, drier leaves from the trunk with sharp garden shears and cut the tips of the dry leaves.
Other care so that it is always beautiful
From time to time it is advisable to spray the palm tree to hydrate it and remove dust from the leaves. It is highly recommended to use rainwater or filtered water to avoid the appearance of lime residue.
If the winter is too dry, infestations of mealybugs and mites may appear. It’s another good reason to spray it from time to time. However, if plants are kept too wet, black flies can settle in the soil.
Despite being a fairly resistant plant, the Chamaedorea elegans You may face some common problems. Here we leave you some solutions:
- Yellow leaves: It may be a sign of overwatering or lack of light. Check your watering frequency and make sure the plant is getting enough indirect light.
- brown tips: Generally, they indicate a lack of humidity. Increase the humidity around the plant by misting the leaves or placing a plate of water nearby.
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