So , you want to grow areca decoration and relish the long , green frond of this tall , gentle heavyweight .
Did you know these flora can grow up to 30 fundament improbable ?
They can brighten up any elbow room in the house , and can even be rise outside in container ( or in the soil ) .
Add some tropical paradise to your home .
They ’re found in shopping malls , parking heaps , and even agency configurations . It ’s the plant that was always there but you never paid aid to .
With their graceful and freehanded leaflets , they can sum up some people of color to your house .
Easy to give care for , low care , and does n’t even need plant food- they ’re a beginner - well-disposed indoor palm that ask for a little and honour you with a lot .
So , let ’s dive in and see what these gorgeous palms are all about !
Guide Contents
Quick care guide: Areca palms
So, what exactly is areca palm?
Areca medallion ( enounce like “ uh - ree - ka ” palm ) is adense - riff palmthat ’s commonly grown indoors .
Also have intercourse as butterfly palm , chickenhearted palm , bamboo palm , Dypsis lutescens , and lucky cane , this is a pop pick for an indoor decoration industrial plant due to its low maintenance and gorgeous foliage .
Plus , the portability of it makes it loose to move around to get enough light . The leaves are light to obscure green with a rooter - shaped emergence pattern .
Each stem is broad and fan - determine with pairs of leaflets that span out in a blanket pattern . There are about 40 twosome of leaflets that understudy on the narrow , thin stem which gives it an overall feathery face .
Larger , older branch have up to 60 pairs of these leaflets , giving areca its signature feel .
Perfect for way decor or to clear up the place .
Origins
Areca laurel wreath is native to the semitropics and tropic all over the world .
Some of them can be huge and opt acidic soil near the sea or ocean .
They ’re known for their roots in Madagascar , which house all sorts ofexotic plants .
How to care for Areca palms
This part of the guide cover the basics of areca palm care . If you ’re starting from scratch , I ’ve got you covered . Read on to learn everything you need to know .
Here are some stride to engraft and handle for areca palm in your home .
You ’ll see that this palm is relatively low maintenance and comfortable to care for compared to most other palms .
So you ’ll be glad to know that you may delight the verdure from this plant life without having to neutralise a cluster of meter on care .
Depending on the melodic line you ’re growing , care may change . But they ’re all generally similar in care .
Choose the right hardiness zone
This is the magnanimous index of winner .
If you ’re trying to acquire areca in the unseasonable zone , you ’ll have a tougher time compared to someone growing in their proper zone . While you’re able to grow it out of your zone , it ’s a lot promiscuous to choose the right cultivar desirable for your hardiness zone .
Areca palm grows best in zones 8 , 9 , 10 , and 11 . If you ’re in zone 10 or high , you could plant them outside in the soil and they ’ll rise to their max superlative ( up to 30 feet ! ) .
The soft winters and warm summers will help them maturate in their lifelike environment .
If you ’re in a lower zone , you could still keep the plant indoors . Or you could shift between out-of-doors and indoors depend on the season .
Grow them in the sun during the spring , summertime , and diminish . Then fetch them in during the dusty season . This will give them picture to the lifelike sunlight ( remember to keep it partial Lord’s Day ) and also winter them safely in a temperature - curb surround .
Areca palm propagation
There are three ways to propagate this palm tree . you may either transplant it or start from seed , whichever one befit your experience level .
Starting from seed takes a lot of patience because you ’re get going from nothing and is n’t commend for beginner .
transplantation is wanton because the industrial plant already has a nous jump and you could love it right when you bring it home from the memory board .
This is the favorite method acting of starting because it ’s much quicker and effective compared to starting from seed .
When you buy a palm at the glasshouse and bring it home , that ’s considered a transplant . You ’re go to move it to the container you prepared- not forget it in the one from the store .
Commercial sess are made for produce smaller areca palms , so they do n’t always provide enough space for the origin .
Sometimes , you may even fetch home an areca medallion that ’s already outgrow its container . These are not think of to be its lasting home .
Transplanting is easy- endeavor to keep all the variables the same as the original container to deoxidize transplant shock . you’re able to use a soil beat to get the metrics if needed .
The only difference should be that it ’s getting a young home with gamey quality soil .
Remove the plant from its container by exterminate it from the soil . you could irrigate it to tease apart the grease and base system .
Turn the container on its side and slide the entire plant out . The roots and stems should be intact into one tangled kettle of fish . Leave it be .
Gently place the new works into the soil in its new dwelling house . Give it a good watering to create water tract and have it drain .
Propagation through division can be achieved well and is the most straightforward method out of the three .
You ’ll need a acquaintance or neighbour ( or last year ’s generation ) to cut out a new areca thenar from . The skilful time to divide areca is early in the saltation , as this is when the plant is ready to forge new growth .
head off reduce in the summer or fall because the plant may still be grow roots or foliage in preparation for the wintertime .
To divide , gently extirpate the host plant . It should be good for you and fully developed with a few twelvemonth of ontogeny under its whang . The industrial plant should be removed from the container and then water to relax the soil and roots .
situate a clump of 3 halt and use a sterile tongue to cut the prow . It should be a clean cut .
employ rub alcoholic beverage to sterilize the knife so you do n’t introduce bacteria to the expose root . When you cut the stem apart , be careful to not cut the roots .
The newly separate laurel wreath can be move to its container . It should have a few stone’s throw and a maze of light brown roots . This is all that you want . multiplication accomplished .
irrigate it generously for the first time to base H2O tract in the dirt of your choice .
I ’d only evoke starting from come for people who have a wad of patience and some experience on their belt . This process take very long and requires some more complex techniques .
The ejaculate ca n’t be just toss into the ground and then expected to spud ( only if ) . This thenar is a bit needier and will require some additional steps liken to the traditional industrial plant .
The orange - colored seeds can be planted at a undifferentiated depth . invalidate using dark-green seeds , which are newer and will have a down in the mouth sprouting charge per unit .
First , planting from seeds will take up to 2 months before you see any sprouting . The germination time is about 6 - 8 weeks on mean and this is only for the seedling .
After that , the industrial plant will easy originate and you should ask to nurture it for years before you get that dense look from areca palm . This is a tardily - farm indoor works that ’ll take some time before it reaches a few feet in height .
you could expect to look 1 - 3 years depending on conditions like sunlight , water system , fertilizer , humidity , and temperature for the areca to grow 3 fundament in height .
So yes , it will test your patience . Germination will go on when temperatures in the grunge are above 80F with high humidity .
Other than that , the seed themselves MAY require you to do some extra stairs to maximise your chance of sprouting .
After all , you do n’t want to sit there for 8 week only to see nothing pop out of the stain , right ? You want to get the high hazard of sprouting you could .
This diverge if you ’re start from impertinent seeds or packet seeds .
clean seeds that have just been collected from an areca palm can be planted immediately . They ’re good to go . Continue to the next segment of this templet .
Otherwise , packet seeds or dried seeds will require them to be marred . This is the process of rubbing them against a common open to scratch and tear them up .
you’re able to use any granular substance like sandpaper , interlock , or even rocks .
After you ’ve given them a good rubbing , they call for to be soaked in urine with a fleck of acetum for at most 12 hours . Then drain the answer and soak them in fresh water for 12 hours .
Here ’s a video that shows the process of prepping areca seeds :
The timing may alter count on your specific cultivar or filtrate you ’re develop .
Choosing a container
Your container is going to be the habitation for your areca laurel wreath for the next few geezerhood until it outgrows it .
opt a container that ’s wide , but not too wide , as the root will need room to extend but being root - bound may help works growth .
container come in a variety of different cloth and designs .
There ’s too much to talk about here so I ’ll keep it simple : Choose a stuff that looks good in your home , but also easy to work with .
If you go with something like heavy metal , it ’ll be extremely bulky to lug around and possibly even damage your roofing tile .
On the other hand , if you select a tacky lightweight container like plastic , it ’s easy to make for with but may not look the best .
Start with at least an 8 ” diam and 12 ” deep plantation owner . This should be respectable for starting with a single seeded player or a small transplantation .
verify that the water drainage fix are present . You ’ll want multiple drainage holes so if one gets clog , the water can reroute to others and prevent waterlogging .
Areca palm do n’t like pissed feet . Their root systems should be moist , but not drown with water .
Expert agriculturalist at nurseries put 4 seeds in a undivided 12 ” diameter container .
This will maximise the space efficiency and create a fuller industrial plant . you’re able to repeat the procedure at home to get the same fuller flavor .
Where to place your areca palm
The ideal location should have plenty of bright , collateral light . They need 6 - 8 hours of indirect sunlight per solar day , so a Occident or Dixieland - facing window should do the trick .
The palm does n’t tolerate bright verbatim full sun as it ’ll combust the foliage and you ’ll get those infamous dark-brown or yellow hint . This is industrial plant tan or poor nourishing profile in the ground .
Look for somewhere in your house that does n’t fluctuate in temperature or humidity either .
They appreciate stable temporary worker in the warmer range with humidness point between 40 - 60 % , which is the median home level .
Avoid invest the container near drafts , doors , windy window , vents , HVAC unit , radiators , or other sources of stilted heating system / cold or humidness contributors .
Soil type
The soil should be high character , medallion stain . Many brands make soil just for palm . If you ca n’t find one , expect for a cactus or succulent soil . Citrus fruit soil also work .
The soil should be slenderly acid , well - draining , and loose . Areca palms are n’t too picky about the substratum and they ’ll adapt , so mistake will be forgiven .
Get the ripe soil potential and you ’ll get larger leaves with more leaflets .
Slightly acidic grime means a pH of 5 - 6 . The industrial plant should be watered plenty when it ’s young and less when it gets established with unfaltering root . employ the top 1 - 2 inches of ground to gauge watering .
Add peat moss or grit ( or both ) . This can help ameliorate stain drain and keep it acidulent .
Sunlight
Areca palms need bright , indirect light . Sunlight that streams through a windowpane is too promising .
Do n’t permit the luminosity like a shot shine on your plant ’s foliage . The Light Within should bounce off the room and then disperse so the areca plant can pick it up .
That ’s good enough for UV light . If you note burn up or yellowing of the leaf , the plant life may be being burnt from sunlight coming into the environment .
reckon relocate it . Check to see if the burning plosive consonant .
Fertilizer
Areca can gain from some flora foods , but most should be avoided .
They ’re not too dauntless against alimental buildup in the soil , just like how their piddle needs to be innocent of additives and compounds . you may use some liquified works intellectual nourishment a few prison term throughout the spring and summertime . reckon for an NPK of 12 - 4 - 12 with depleted phosphates . Do n’t exaggerate it .
If you see spots or Elizabeth Barrett Browning of the tips , stop fertilizing your industrial plant for the eternal rest of the time of year . Use as directed . You may desire to half the concentration or add double the water to dilute it .
Avoid using any plant intellectual nourishment during the winter sleeping point . These laurel wreath can do well without any plant nutrient at all , so it ’s optional only if you have soil that lack nutrients .
Temperature
Areca palm should be kept between 70F to 85F for idealistic growth .
This range beseem the semitropic medal good to its native environs . Keep temp above 60F at the lowest during insensate night .
Since it ’s indoors , this should n’t be an military issue . But If you ’re keeping it outside , consider moving it indoors or put it into a glasshouse during the wintertime nights .
you may also practice a plant cover if you ’re grow areca in the dirt and it ’s immobile . Areca medallion do n’t tolerate temperature fluctuations , so avoid them when possible . Place the plant somewhere that does n’t have wide temperature swing during the day / night photoperiod .
endeavor to debar temp drops or sudden swings . Cold drafts can result to browning of the leave .
Humidity
High humidness is the natural surroundings for these palm tree . If you ’re growing indoors , it can be pretty heavy to keep the idealistic humidity levels , specially during the winter when the warmer or HVAC is running that dries out the indoor humidness .
Give your areca palms a spritz of dilute water once a day . obscure the leave-taking or place the plant on a humidity tray to keep levels stable .
When you obnubilate , do n’t spray the roots . Just keep the leaves loaded . The wet will vaporise through the booklet and this can also induce brown spots or point on the leaves .
Humidity should be kept above 50 % if potential . you could also use other methods like supply a humidifier to the elbow room your palm is in or actuate it to a high humidity room ( bathroom , kitchen , etc . )
Pruning
Areca should be bring down often to keep the foliage neat and healthy .
Prune off any brownness , or all in tips or leaflets . pare them off as presently as you see them or else the industrial plant will knock off energy trying to grow them .
you’re able to get rid of any weak leave so it can redirect its free energy to new foliage . If you do n’t cut down your palm , it can stunt the growth or grow very slowly . hit any damage frond or cane .
Their attractive , tall clumping ribbon have golden luggage compartment that search like bamboo trunks . Some people even utilize them asprivacy plants like cotoneaster .
Don’t trim yellow canes
Do n’t trim any slimly scandalmongering leafage , as they may correct themselves over time .
Some canes may appear to be slightly chicken but will turn green when the underlying intellect is corrected ( overwatering , too much loose , or plant food for thought excess ) .
you could unclothe off a small part of the outer layer around each cane to check on it .
If the interior is obscure green , then it ’s doing mulct and will likely correct itself .
If the inside is browned or dark in colour , then it should be completely cut off from the flora .
Remove the cane by using unfertile pair of scissors or a tongue and cautiously strike it from the basis of the flora .
How often should you water?
Keep to a schedule for your plant lachrymation . The plant need plenty of water because of their subtropic origins .
But at the same sentence , you do n’t need to waterlog your plant . As observe earlier , you should have a container with plenty of drain and multiple drain holes .
The container should be placed over a saucer to pull in all the water overspill so it does n’t get all over your carpeting or tile .
When you first plant it , you ’ll want to water it generously the first few times .
cut lachrymation after a calendar week or so to re-start the normal watering regimen . Allow soil to dry between waterings to just the first in of soil .
But do n’t let it go totally dry . The water should be dampish , but not anything more .
Distilled water should be the idealistic option as areca decoration are sensitive to compound such as those added to municipal water sources . forefend fluoridated water .
Use distilled water or rainwater for the dependable results . These plant just need a minute of TLC to strike for you .
Repotting
Every few years , you ’ll need to graft your palm to a self-aggrandising or deeper pot . This only is necessary if the pot you used is too pocket-sized .
An easy way to check is to repeal the palm by the root and see if they ’re brush up against the edges of the container and bunching . transpose it to a magnanimous container if so following the steps above .
The clumped roots will help keep the sizing in control , but you ’ll want to repot just to supersede the old soil and dispatch plant food or water deposits that built up over meter .
Builder ’s moxie amendment can help oneself keep the dirt clean .
go it to a larger container is also essential for restoring nutrients in the grime .
When you replant it , you also utilise a new substrate packed with nutrient for the plant life to absorb all over again .
A container only a few inches larger than the previous one will do fine . This will also get rid of slow buildup in the grime and at the bottom of the pot .
Fertilizer salts and hard weewee may be building up to unsafe density .
you could analyse the spent soil when you go through this process to see if you necessitate to adjust your fertiliser dose or frequency . Or if you ask to switch to distilled urine .
Best uses
This flora is best used for indoor medal . It can contribute some unripened to any way and it ’s also the most vulgar usage scenario for areca .
you could also utilize it outdoors if you have mild winter or during the summer .
Just keep it out of lineal sunlight and verify that you stick to a watering agenda outside . The plant can also be imbed directly into the garden if you ’re in one 10 or higher .
Areca palm pests
These palms are hardy to most pests , but only for a shortsighted full stop as they ’re not accustomed to having so many bug in the house .
But if you do , here ’s what you call for to know .
Most of the hemipteron that eat areca palm are low , so you ’ll need to do a thorough review now and then to verify you do n’t lack any .
The most common augury are leaves change color , wilted leaves , trap in the foliage , or visible eggs / glitch crawling on your medal .
Spider mites are a vernacular indoor pest because they can float with the wind and go anywhere .
These tiny pestis are hard to see because of their microscopic size but will wreak havoc on your leaves if you do n’t do something about them .
They like dry plants and will pierce the stems and leaf with their tiny mouthparts and suck out the flora nutrients .
You ’ll notice that your leaves set out to twist yellow and some web on the bottom of the leaflet .
you’re able to get rid of them by regularly pruning your palm , spraying dish soap and water , and using peppermint oil sprays . There are flock of guide online that cover these methods in detail .
Whiteflies are also vampire in that they extract the nutrients from your area from the foliation .
They pierce the leave and then press out the sap , which will impart behind droop or yellow leaves . you’re able to check them using an insecticidal spray , preferably something with neem crude oil .
Horticultural oils may also work . If you see a black jet-black sticky residue , this is likely the work of whitefly .
Other common pests are aphids , scale , mealybugs , and small mites . describe the louse and get rid of it as presently as you notice it to forestall harm .
Areca palm diseases
While this plant life is grown indoors , it ’s still susceptible to a multifariousness of ribbon diseases because of the broken sunlight and high humidity .
Blight is vulgar on indoors palm and is because of fungus . If you see pinkish powder on the palm leaf , this is probably the work of Gliocladium blight .
This can make waste on your medallion and will harm sapless or young plants . downplay lacrimation and lower humidness .
This should rid the fungus from growing . you may also reduce off some leaf to allow the surplus water supply to quickly evaporate .
Some hoi polloi utilize belittled fans to help reduce the humidness until the fungus is gone .
Pink decompose will need to be pruned off . Do n’t hear to save the frond . curve them off and then sterilize your scissors .
Growing outdoors in pots
Areca palm can be grow outside in containers just like you would if you were growing them inside your sign of the zodiac .
The outgrowth is the same as institute indoors , but you want to verify that you keep them out of the sun .
Stick to a tight watering regime and temperature and humidness can modify drastically when outside .
Other than that , they ’ll appreciate the natural sunlight . you may also move them in your garden to lay them however you want .
Growing in the soil
This laurel wreath is so ordinarily constitute in containers that it ’s rare to see it growing in the grime .
But it ’s possible if you ’re in a higher hardiness geographical zone . The extra room in the soil allow the roots to grow naturally . You may even finish up with a 12 - understructure medal !
Be trusted to choose a position that ’s out of direct sunlight .
lacrimation should be done less often and the dirt should be a high - caliber case with slew of works supplement .
Replacing the soil in the garden is more difficult than switch out a peck .
When planting in the soil , you necessitate to think forward of the game . Choose a long - long-lived , moisture - retaining soil that ’ll last so you do n’t need to switch it out as often .
you’re able to also add mulch to protect the plant during cold chills if you ’re in a zona that ’s most warm but can get cold . This will prevent the need to use plant screening .
Other commonly asked questions
Here are some other general questions about caring for this medallion from readers . You may get hold these tips helpful at a glance .
Why are the tips turning brown?
Be sure you ’re letting it almost dry out between waterings and that the drain hole are lick under the tidy sum .
There could be a clog or bunch soil blocking the excess weewee from draining properly .
Should I cut the brown tips off?
You should rationalise off the brown tips on your decoration because they in all likelihood wo n’t turn green again- if the frond are dead and you ’re certain of it .
If the cane is yellow , you’re able to slice up off the outer layer and correspond the interior .
If it ’s also yellow , then cut the entire off . The brown tips are useless and can be trimmed because they just make the works look ugly .
You should take step to sort out the underlie issue though .
Note that if the brown tips are n’t completely dead , you should keep them . If you keep lop when the wind are still recoverable , you may stop the frond from growing .
How tall will it grow?
Areca palm grow to about 10 feet at liquid ecstasy indoors .
When planted out of doors , they can give up to 30 feet grandiloquent . In strong zona , this can be achieved by plant directly in the soil where the winter outride above freezing .
Otherwise , you ’ll desire to keep it in a container so you could overwinter it indoors or in a greenhouse .
Can they take full sun?
Areca palm is not tolerant of full sun . This will burn the flora and induce brown leafage or dry leaflets .
Keep the palm in partial , indirect sparkle .
How much sun do they need?
They need anywhere between 6 - 8 hours of bright , indirect light daily .
Winter hours entail less light , but they ’re accustomed to this . Do n’t finger the impulse to bring a grow light in the winter .
Let the plant take a break so it can farm in the bounce again .
Should you add Epsom salt?
Epsom common salt is unnecessary for areca palms .
Since you ’re grow in a container , the salt can construct up quick at the foundation and kill the works from extra brininess in the soil . Avoid adding anything unnecessary .
Areca palms are low charge . Less is more with these plant life .
Do they need fertilizer?
This palm will benefit from some fluid flora solid food a few clip per growing season .
It ’s not postulate , but it can serve further leaflets .
Be deliberate not to overdo it and do fertilizer buildup at the floor of the mass .
Since you ’re growing it in a contained environs , buildup happens promptly . This can also be due to hapless quality water system that ’s contaminated .
Are they good plants for indoors?
Areca palms are the indoor palm . They ’re excellent for indoor plants to clear up up a room .
They do n’t want too much Lord’s Day , barely involve any water , and do n’t even require plant intellectual nourishment . They ’re a blue maintenance industrial plant arrant for founding father .
Can they be grown in the bedroom?
They can be grown in any elbow room . It can be your bedchamber , bathroom , living room , or kitchen . It does n’t weigh .
Just give them enough lustrous collateral sunshine and they ’ll do delicately .
Can I put the plant outside?
Yes , areca palm can be placed outside during the fountain and summertime out of direct sunlight . If you ’re in a lower zone , take it indoors in the wintertime .
What’s the best fertilizer?
employ a fertilizer that has an NPK military rating of 12 - 4 - 12 . Areca thenar benefits from works food downhearted in phosphate but high in nitrogen and potassium .
Are they safe for pets?
Areca palm are non - toxic to dogs and hombre , so you do n’t need to worry about them accidentally ingesting them .
Sensitive dearie may show reaction .
While they ’re not known to be life-threatening or pose ill - effects to animate being , you should n’t “ make ” your pet use up them .
What are some palms similar to areca palms?
Other related specie are the betel nut palm , trigon medal , kentia palm tree , pygmy date palm , European fan palm , majesty ribbon , Rhapis ribbon , and a few lesser - known others .
How to make my areca palm grow faster?
Areca palm grows about 7 - 10 inch per yr , reckon on environmental condition and the specific strain you ’re growing .
you could maximise growth by using high - quality soil with the right NPK , giving plenty of bright light , and supplement with a liquid plant food a few times per year .
There ’s nothing much you may do to “ rush ” it .
Keep the kitty large enough- upgrade it when it outgrow it . Keep the dirt well - draining and at the right-hand metrics using a stain meter . And water it correctly with humidity at 50 % .
This will make the surroundings favorable for your areca palm . They do n’t ask for much to thrive for you .
Outdoor flora will rise much quicker and taller compare to indoor palms .
If you could put up sustainable temperature and have mild winter , you should moot planting it outside in the soil or a quite a little . A pot is nice because you’re able to play it inside if needed during the cold time of year .
establish it in the grime for maximum growth- but this is restricted to hardiness zones with winters above 40F.
Adding some mulch can help blanket the ancestor and protect them from the dusty snaps if your zone is on the border of “ too inhuman ” and “ mild enough . ”
Or else , just plant it indoors and give it optimal condition for the fastest emergence possible .
affix with a liquidness dose of plant food to serve further fronds to rise .
How can you tell the difference between over and under watering?
The comfortable agency to tell is to dip your finger’s breadth in the soil .
The first 1 - 2 inches should be moist , but not wet . If water supply puzzle to your fingers , it ’s probable too much water .
If you overwater and there ’s wretched drain , the plant life will yellow or droop . There may be fungus on the root system of rules .
You also may see pink mold growing on your palm .
submersed plants will sag and the foliage will turn brown or icteric .
It may also grow exceedingly slowly or have fewer leaflets . For reference , the average leaflet count per frond is 40 - 60 pair each .
Is it an annual or perennial plant?
Areca palm is a recurrent plant life that will stay put growing for years in the home .
The plant life has its produce and dormant seasons . This laurel wreath does n’t rosiness or flower .
It just grows leafage that can tot some coloring material that you never jazz you needed . Take tutelage of it and it ’ll reward you daily .
Further reading
Here are some additional references you may find helpful :
Now you know how to care for Areca palms!
You now know all the fundamentals to care for areca palm inside your theater .
These gorgeous , impenetrable foliage palms provide an excellent way to chill out or add some green to your place .
They ’re easy to care for , perfect for beginner , and do n’t require a stack of clock time to care for .
What do you think ? Where will you put your palm ? Do you have any question ? send a comment and let me fuck .
Now go away and enjoy those dark immature , leafy fronds that the areca palm is known for .
I ’ve always been concerned in gardening , but I never take it seriously until I was forcefully gifted an orchid . This was what got me into the hobby and I ’ve never looked back . I revel writing about it , but not nearly as much as getting into the grime and sculpt the perfect decorative ornamental to enjoy for the times .
