7 Indoor Palm Trees That Are Easy to Care For
Indoor palm trees have such an elegant and tropical look, that they are often used as styling elements for interior and exterior spaces alike.
Their lush and beautiful fronds can fill up a space in no time!
There are thousands of palm species in nature, and dozens of indoor palm trees on the market to choose from.
They are all different, with different needs as they come from different environments, such as tropical rainforests, sub-tropical regions, deserts, and even cold climates!
So make sure you choose the indoor palm tree that is right for you and your home!
Now, some general care aspects that are common to all indoor palm trees:
(TRUE) INDOOR PALM TREES THRIVE IN HIGH HUMIDITY
Not everyone live in regions with high levels of humidity, and many of us live in homes with forced-air central heating and air conditioning systems, which tend to dry up homes quite a bit!
Luckily, there are a few strategies to increase humidity levels around your palms;
- Using a plant humidifier. There are several products available on the market, and I particularly like this ultrasonic cool mist one.
- Misting your plants. I mist all those plants that thrive on high humidity, such as Marantas, Monsteras, Alocasias, Stromanthes, Calatheas, Fiddle Leaf Figs, Strelitzias, Ferns, Pileas, Peace Lilies and Norfolk Pines.
- Grouping your plants by species. Grouping plants together will help them raise the surrounding air humidity levels.
- Using a try filled with pebbles and water. Filling a saucer with small pebbles and adding water so that it barely reaches the top surface of the pebbles, helps maintaining higher levels of humidity around the plant. However, it is important that the bottom of the pot is not submerged in water with the roots stagnating in it. This will cause root rot in the long term.
INDOOR PALMS CANNOT BE PRUNED!
Despite their differences, all palms have one thing in common; their fronds cannot be trimmed or cut off until they are fully dried out!
This is the big difference between palms and other plants; while the great majority of plants will benefit from the removal of decaying flowers, leaves and even stems, in favour of new growth, palm trees actually draw their nutrients from their decaying fronds.
Decaying palm tree fronds look yellow and brown. Do not remove them until they are completely dried out and dead, or you will compromise the health of your plant.
In addition to that, you should never reduce your indoor palm tree to one or two new fronds!
If you want to control and maintain the height and size of your indoor palm, you need to prune its root, rather than its fronds!
Pruning a plant’s roots will allow its rootball to always fit into the same size pot and it will prevent it from growing too tall and big, maintaining it healthy at the same time.
Click here for more on Root Pruning.
And now, without any further ado, here’s my list of the most popular, most beautiful, easiest to find, and easiest to care for indoor palm trees!
This is the Cascade Palm I specifically bought to keep outdoors this summer, with the intention of moving it indoors in the fall, after following the proper “acclimatization and quarantine” process. No plant should be moved indoors without following the proper steps to make sure they are pests free! For more on this topic, read my article on Safely Bringing Plants Indoors For The Winter.
1. Ponytail palm, (beaucarnea recurvata)
The Ponytail Palm is by far my favourite among the indoor palm trees!
(Technically, this is not a palm tree, but since it’s called that way, and it shares a similar structure with the palm, I added it to my list).
Not only it’s a beautiful plant that can dress up any space with no effort; it’s also one of the lowest maintenance plants I’ve ever had.
In-fact, I have two of these beautiful succulents!
That’s right, this plant is actually a succulent!
One is 17 years old, and one is 10 years old! Not bad uh?
This plant is native to eastern Mexico, where it still grows wild, and some species have even reached 350 years of age!
Another added bonus in favour of this plant, is that it’s a non-toxic plant, safe for children and pets!
Oh, and one more thing! It’s a very slow growing plant! So you really don’t have to worry about its size and having to repot it often, (other than to replace its potting mix with some fresh one!)
You’ll notice that because it’s a succulent, this plant will have very different humidity and watering requirements than the other indoor palm trees listed in this article.
lighting
This succulent thrives in bright, indirect light, but it can do relatively well in medium light conditions.
humidity
Like other succulents, (and differently from the great majority of indoor palm trees), this plant does really well in dry environments.
Average homes, with forced air central heating system and air conditioning, (hence low humidity levels), are perfect for this type of palm.
watering & fertilizing
The Ponytail Palm needs to dry out between waterings, so it is safe to recommend watering it every 2 weeks. However, if you happen to forget one week, it’s not the end of the world, as this plant is drought tolerant.
Take it easy with fertilizers!
Twice a year is plenty enough for this plant; once in the Spring and once in the Summer. I use a Liquid Plant Food for all my indoor plants.
As you can see, it doesn’t take much to brighten up a space with a Ponytail Palm!
(This is my 10 years old Ponytail Palm).
2. majesty palm, (ravenea rivularis)
The Majesty Palm is one of the most common indoor palm trees displayed in all big box stores like Home Depot, Walmart, and Costco, as soon as the gardening section opens un in Spring!
It is interesting because it is heavily sold in North America as outdoor plant for the summer, but it is not as common in greenhouses as indoor plant year round, (unless you are willing to spend an arm and a leg vs. $ 19.99 for a 10″ pot tree at Home Depot in June!).
I say it is interesting because it is more commonly sold as outdoor plant than indoor plant, when really, this plant is best suited inside, (at least in North America).
In-fact, the Majesty Palm is native to the tropical rainforests of Madagascar, where the humidity levels are high, and the palms are screened from the direct sunlight by higher plants and trees.
This particular palm tree grows quite fast, approximately one foot per year until it reaches a 10′ foot plateau.
For this reason, you can either repot it into a bigger container every year to encourage the growth, or start pruning its root to prevent any further growth.
lighting
As mentioned before, this indoor palm tree, thrives in bright indirect light, but it scorches under direct sunlight.
humidity
The Majesty Palm thrives in highly humid environments.
While average homes humidity levels can be sufficient for this plant, they can be on the dry side if you live in cold regions (like me).
watering & fertilizing
This is one of the plants that you can’t water on schedule.
You need to keep the Majesty Palm soil evenly moist, but not too soggy, and at the same time, you cannot let it dry between waterings.
A good finger test will tell you if the top soil is dry or still moist and if the plant needs water.
Fertilize it with liquid plant food once in Spring, and once in Summer.
My Majesty Palm sits in a basket cache pot, adding to the tropical flare that this plant brings in every room.
3. Cascade palm, (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Cascade Palms are different from other indoor palm trees, as they don’t have a tall and slender trunk. They tend to have shorter stems, (they are defined as trunkless plants), with a fuller bush.
They are smaller palm trees in general.
Native to Southern Mexico and Central America.
I really enjoy my Cascade Palm, I find it easier to care for, both indoors and outdoors than the Majesty Palm.
I’d say that the Majesty Palm has more of the elegant look suitable to style spaces, while the Cascade Palm is more of the practical, easy going cousin.
It is important to know that the Cascade Palm is a root bound plant. It enjoys to have its roots tight into its pot. For this reason, you don’t need to rush and repot it into a larger container every year!
lighting
This plant thrives in bright, indirect light conditions.
A mature and established plant can withstand several hours of direct sunlight as well.
humidity
Like many other plants native to the tropical regions of Southern Mexico and Central America, the Cascade Palm prospers in environments with high humidity levels.
Follow the same strategies described above to increase humidity levels around your plant.
watering & fertilizing
Similarly to the Majesty Palm, you can’t water this palm on a schedule.
The Cascade Palm needs to have an evenly moist soil without being too soggy, and it cannot dry out between waterings.
The best way to know if it needs water is to stick your finger in the soil. If the top 2″ of soil feel dry to the touch, it’s time to water your palm.
Fertilize your Cascade Palm with a liquid plant food three times per year: in April, June and August.
4. areca palm, (dypsis lutescens)
The Areca Palm is different in structure from the indoor palm trees we have looked at so far.
This palm has multiple stems/trunks, rather than one central trunk from which all fronds are formed. It is actually quite similar to Bamboo, even in colour, as their golden trunks resemble bamboo canes, (hence one of its many common names; Golden Cane Palm).
Native to Madagascar and currently naturalized in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Central America and Florida, where humidity is abundant.
This is one of those indoor palm trees that is mostly purchased as a small plant since a mature size plant can be quite expensive. Not to worry though, as this plant, like many other palms, has a long life span and it can grow up to 10″ per year, until it reaches a maximum height of approximately 10′ indoors.
Another root bound plant that enjoys having its roots tight in its pot, the Areca Palm does not require frequent repotting for the purpose of upsizing the pot. (I still recommend replacing every plant’s nutrient depleted soil once a year though).
It is particularly important that this palm is planted in well draining soil and in a pot with drainage holes. Proper drainage is a critical factor in plant’s health in general, but it is particularly important for the health of this palm.
lighting
Like all other palms, the Areca Palm thrives in bright, indirect light. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will scorch its leaves.
humidity
The Areca Palm in native to tropical and sub-tropical regions, and as such, it really enjoys high humidity levels. The average home humidity may not be enough for this plant.
You can adopt one or more of the strategies listed in this article’s intro to increase your Areca Palm humidity levels.
watering & fertilizing
This palm tree changes its watering needs seasonally.
It will need its soil evenly moist but not too soggy in Spring and Summer.
However, you can reduce the waterings to allow the soil to slightly dry out in Winter. Notice the emphasis on the word “slightly”. Do not allow your Areca palm soil to dry out completely between waterings.
As mentioned before, it is critical that this palm is planted in a draining pot with well draining soil, as it is prone to water logging, which it can turn into root rot.
(Add Perlite to your palm potting mix to increase the drainage properties of your palm soil).
Areca Palms need to be fed more often than other palms, so I suggest diluting some liquid plant food every two to three waterings in Spring and Summer ONLY.
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5. parlor palm, (CHAMAEDOREA elegans)
The Parlor Palm is one of the most sold indoor palm trees world wide due to its adaptability; it tolerates lower light levels, it does well in average home humidity levels and it does not require the same amount to watering as other indoor palm trees do.
I’d say that if you are a palm tree beginner, and you love the traditional look of a palm tree, this is the right plant for you! (Although the Ponytail Palm is even easier…I know, it doesn’t really look like a palm tree…)
Native to the tropical rainforests of Southern Mexico and Guatemala, the Parlor Palm had adapted incredibly well as an indoor plant.
It is mostly sold as a small table top plant, and stocked in large quantities in big box stores like IKEA, Home Depot and Walmart.
It is a slow growing plant, taking years to reach a maximum height of 6′, which is great if you don’t have the space for a big palm tree in your home, but still want to have the tropical vibes!
The Parlor Palm is also non-toxic to humans and pets.
lighting
While this palm does relatively well in lower light conditions, it really thrives in bright, indirect light environments. North facing windows are the ideal spots for it.
humidity
Even though the Parlor Palm is native to a tropical rainforest, where the humidity is fairly high, it adapts really well to the average home humidity levels.
If over time, you notice brown and crispy tips, you may want to increase the humidity levels around your palm by using one or more of the strategies listed above.
watering & fertilizing
The Parlor Palm requires less water than the other palms.
In-fact, this palm can easily get waterlogged and die if watered too much.
Proper soil and container drainage is critical.
Water when the top 1″ of soil feels dry to the touch.
This palm does not require much fertilizer. Once, max twice liquid plant food between Spring and Summer is the max amount it can tolerate in a year, and never during Fall and Winter!
6. sago palm, (cycas revolutas)
Like the Ponytail Palm, the Sago Palm is not an actual palm.
The only things this plant and palm trees have in common are the way they look and the fact that they both produce seeds.
Native to southern Japan, the Sago Palm is a very slow growing plant, producing only one new frond per year.
For this reason, this plant only needs to be repotted into a bigger container approximately every 3 years. It is still a good idea to replace its soil every year in Spring.
If it wasn’t for its high toxicity to humans and pets, I’d say this is the best starting point for a palm tree beginner. It is for sure a very easy plant to care for, however, not the ideal plant to have if you also have young children or own pets!
lighting
The Sago Palm thrives in bright, indirect light conditions. Direct sunlight will scorch its fronds. Not enough light will turn its fronds yellow.
humidity
Even though the Sago Palm is not a true palm, it’s also not a succulent like the Ponytail Palm, and it still thrives in environments with high levels of humidity.
Read here above for strategies to increase humidity levels around your plants.
watering & fertilizing
If there is one thing that the Sago Plant does not tolerate it is over-watering, as it is prone to root rot.
Because of this, it is critical that your plant is planted in a draining pot with well draining soil, consisting of a mix of palm soil and perlite.
Allow your Sago Palm to dry out between waterings.
Fertilize it with a liquid plant food monthly between Spring and Fall.
Photo Credits: Costa Farms
7. chinese fan palm, (livistona chinensis)
The Chinese Fan Palm is easier to distinguish from all other indoor palm trees in this list because it’s the only one that has fan shaped solid leaves that split fountain like at the edges, (hence its other common name; Fountain Palm).
Native to southern Japan, Southeastern China and Taiwan, this palm tree is slow growing with a very delicate root system.
Because this plant doesn’t grow fast at all, it is a good idea to leave its roots undisturbed until it’s time to repot into a larger container, approximately every 3 years.
This beautiful indoor palm tree is non-toxic.
lighting
The Chinese Fan Palm thrives in bright, direct light conditions, with 4 to 6 hours of direct sun exposure.
Ideal locations are southern facing windows, where they can soak-in the morning sun. Too much of the hot, western sun can scorch its fronds.
humidity
This is another palm that thrives in highly humid environments.
Use one or a combination of the strategies listed here above to increase your palm humidity levels.
watering & fertilizing
Water it enough from Spring to Fall so that its soil is evenly moist but not too soggy, as this plant is susceptible to root rot.
Cut down the waterings during the Winter months to allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Fertilize every two to three waterings from Spring to Fall using a liquid plant food.
Photo Credit: Bloomscape
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Hey Plant Loving Woman!
Are you a middle age mom?
Do you constantly feel overwhelmed and anxious?
Do you believe in the healing power of nature?
To reveal your #1 Personal Houseplant that best
helps you reduce your anxiety.