Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems & Solutions
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Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm) thrives in bright indirect light, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Chamaedorea elegans is one of the popular Indoor Palms. With its soft, arching fronds and compact growth habit, Parlour Palm thrives indoors with minimal effort. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced plant parent, proper care for this palm ensures long-lasting greenery and improved indoor aesthetics.
Parlour Palm has a high tolerance for low light and artificial light; easily adapting to indoor growing conditions. It is one of the best low-light plants for the limited spaces.
Botanical name: Chamaedorea elegans
Family: Arecaceae
Sufamily: Arecoideae
Common name: Parlour Palm
Origin
Chamaedorea elegans is native to the dense forests of Guatemala and Southern Mexico, an environment that is consistently warm and humid.
Size
In its natural habitat, Parlour Palm can grow to a height of 8 feet. Indoors, it is a compact, slow-growing palm reaching only to 2 feet high. On account of its small size, Chamaedorea elegans is among the best plants for the limited spaces in the home or office.
Flower
Chamaedorea elegans also produces tiny yellow flowers and small fruits, once grown and mature if grown under good light.
Air Cleaning
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Chamaedorea elegans is among the air-cleaning plants and removes xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloethylene and ammonia from indoor air. This coupled with its compact size place Parlour Palm among the best plants for a study table for increased concentration and productivity.
Is Chamaedorea elegans toxic?
The foliage of Chamaedorea elegans is non-toxic, but the fruits (berries) are highly poisonous to both humans and pets as indicated by the ASPCA. Therefore, it is important to prevent flowering by removing the flower stalks immediately when they begin to form.
Related Plants
Chamaedorea elegans is closely related to Chamaedorea seifrizii (Reed Palm) and Chamaedorea erumpens (Bamboo Palm) and are grouped together under the common name, 'Bamboo Palms'.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to add Parlour Palm to your collection, you may obtain them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
How to Care for Chamaedorea elegans Indoors
To care for Chamaedorea elegans indoors, give it bright indirect light, warmth of 15-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Parlour Palm requires repotting at the beginning of the growing season only when pot-bound. Pruning is needed to keep the palm neat as well as reduce pests and diseases. Keep reading for more on the best growing conditions for Parlour Palm and how to achieve them.
Watering
How often should I water an indoor Parlour Palm?
Do not water your palm on a schedule to avoid either overwatering or underwatering as both are disastrous to plant growth.
Water your indoors Parlour Palm liberally in spring and while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil moderately moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing, drooping and loss of the palm.
Decrease watering in fall and winter since growth is reduced at this time to maintain the soil slightly moist. Do not let the soil dry out completely to prevent slowed growth, wilting, drooping and yellowing.
Use water that is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals to prevent staining and browning. Avoid watering consistently with cold to prevent cold shock which can result in stunted growth and plant death; water with tepid (room temperature) water.
To prevent root-rot and eventual death of the palm, use well-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole. In additions, always discard excess water from the catchplate or saucer; do not allow the palm to sit in soggy soil.
Light Requirements
How much light does a Parlour Palm need?
Parlour Palm needs bright indirect light to flourish; place it infront of a bright, sunless window. Keep it away from direct sunlight or use a light curtain to filter the sun to prevent scorching; brown marks on the leaves.
Can Parlour Palm tolerate low light?
Yes. Parlour Palm can tolerate some shade but it may result in yellowing and much slower growth. If the natural lighting is not adequate, you may instal full spectrum grow lights to increase it.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the palm receives adequate light on all sides for even growth and prevent lop-sided growth.
Temperature & Humidity
Chamaedorea elegans prefers a warmth of 15-280C; if the temperature is comfortable for you is ideal for the palm.
Keep the palm away from sources of drafts to prevent temperature flactuations as the can result in stunted growth, wilting, drooping, yellowing, brown leaf tips and brown leaf spots.
Parlour Palm has no need for high humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is ideal for the palm. However, when the indoor temperatures are very high especially in winter, the palm may develop brown leaf tips and edges.
To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist huidifier or group the plants together. Owing to its small size, you may also grow the palm in a closed terrarium. Maintain good airflow to minimize fungal diseases.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix for Chamaoderea elegans should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 50% potting soil, 30% sand or perlite (for drainage), and 20% peat moss (for moisture retention) is good for this palm.
Fertilizer
Feed Chamaedorea elegans with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer for a lush growth. Withhold feeding in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time and therefore the plant does not need it.
Once in a while flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes. Let the stream run for several minutes and repeat several times to clear as much salt as possible.
Repotting
Repot Parlour Palm at the beginning of the growing season only when pot-bound as it does not like root disturbance. Use a pot 1-2 sizes larger than the current one.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging which can lead to root-rot and death of the palm. Check out these ceramic pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning & Maintenance
Pruning Parlour Palm involves cutting away the old brown and dry fronds, near the soil surface to maintain the plant neat, and also minimize pest and disease infestations. Do not cut away any frond with green in it as it continues to supply nutrients to the palm.
If the seeds are required for propagation, allow the fruits to mature and drop then cut away the spent flower stalk. Where the seeds are not required, cut away the flower stalk immediately to prevent the palm from wasting energy on developing the flowers and seeds.
Occasionally clean the mature leaves (fronds) by damp-wiping with a soft cloth or wash it under a high pressure hose to get rid of the dust as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.
Chamaedorea elegans Propagation
Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm) propagation is best done during the growing season when the plant is actively growing for faster establishment. Parlour Palm is propagated by plant division, from offshoots, or by seed germination.
1. Propagating Parlour Palm by plant division
- During repotting, divide the palm into sections and plant the sections in individual pots.
- Place the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.
- Maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges and the new palm is well established after which you can begin routine care.
2. Propagating Parlour Palm from offshoots
- With a sharp sterilized knife or scissors, carefully seperate the offshoot from the mother plant. Ensure that the offshoot has adequate roots before seperating it from the mother.
- Pot the offshoot in its own pot in well-draining soil. Confirm the pot has a drainage hole to avoid rotting
- Place the set up in a warm, brightly lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.
- Maintain the soil moist through out and allow the offshoot to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.
3. Germinating Parlour Palm seeds
Parlour Palm seed germination is difficult and may take up to 4-6 months.
- Sow the seeds in moist soil and place in a warm place (about 300C).
- Keep the soil moist through out the period until germination takes place.
- Lower the temperature slightly after germination and maintain the soil moist until the new palms are well established.
Related Content: How to propagate Reed Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii).
Parlour Palm Problems & Remedies
What are common Parlour Palm problems?
Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) common problems are yellowing fronds, browning fronds, brown leaf tips, leaf spots, plant dying, pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Yellowing fronds
Why are my Parlour Palm leaves turning yellow?
Some of the causes of yellow leaves on your Parlour Palm are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, too little light, temperature stress, nutrient deficiency among others.
How to fix it
Inconsistent watering: Water the palm when the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use a pot that has a drainage hole and free-draing soil.
Too little light: Position the palm in bright indirect light or use a grow light to supplement the light.
Temperature stress: Keep the palm away from drafts like hot air vents, AC units, windy doors, drafty windows among others.
Nutrient deficiency: Feed the palm with a balanced, liquid fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.
Browning fronds
Some of the causes of brown leaves on Parlour Palm are inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress or aging).
How to fix it
Remove the brown leaves by cutting and not pulling to avoid unnecessary injuries.
Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches dry. Never leave the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Use free-draining soil and a pot with a drainage hole.
Temperature stress: Keep the palm away from drafts emanating from AC units, drafty windows, heat sources, windy doors and others.
Aging: As the palm matures, the lower leaves turn brown and droop.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips on Parlour Palm are due to dry air, underwatering, cold drafts, or bruising.
How to fix it
Trim off the brown tips with sharp, sterilized scissors to prevent transmission of diseases.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to raise humidity.
Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Cold drafts: Keep the palm away from cold drafts like windy doors, drafty windows, AC units and others.
Bruising: Place the palm away from the line of traffic to prevent bruising.
Brown leaf spots
Brown leaf spots on Parlour Palm are caused by inconsistent watering, soggy soil or temperature stress.
How to fix it
Remove the affected leaves and discard to keep the palm neat and tidy.
Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch but never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Soggy soil: Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining.
Temperature stress:. Keep the palm away from drafts to maintain a warmth of 15-280C with a minimum of 120C.
Plant dying
Parlour Palm is dying due to root-rot which is promoted by soggy soil. The disease is characterized by yellowing and wilting of the leaves which is rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.
How to revive a dying Parlour Palm
- Carefully slip the palm out of its pot and inspect the roots.
- Trim brown-black mushy roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended on the label by the manufacturers.
- Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the palm in fresh, well-draining soil.
- Do not water the palm immediately and keep it dry for 5-7 days before you can resume watering.
- Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent the soil from becoming soggy.
- Lessen watering in fall and winter as growth is slowed at this time; keep the soil slightly moist.
Pests
Common pests on Parlour Palm are spider mites, scales and mealybugs which are common in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Regularly check underneath the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.
- Keep the palm properly pruned to discourage pests infestations.
- Isolate the affected palm to prevent spread to the other houseplants.
- Treat the infested palm with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' instructions.
Check out these 9 Bamboo Palm Common Problems and How to Fix It.
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