How to Grow, Care and Propagate Reed Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
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Reed Palm (Chamaoderea seifrizii) prospers in bright indirect light (partial shade), average warmth and humidity and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Chamaedorea seifrizii also called Clustered-parlour-palm or Cane Palm is among the popular palms on account of its high tolerance to shade and large size making it a great focal plant.
Chamaedorea seifrizii belongs to a group of palms called cane palms which produce tall reed-like stems which look like bamboo canes when mature.
Botanical name: Chamaedorea seifrizii
Family: Arecaceae
Sufamily: Arecoideae
Common names: Reed Palm, Clustered-parlour-palm, Cane Palm
Origin
Chamaedorea seifrizii is native to Mexico and Central America, where it grows in forests and in mesic soils over limestone.
Size
Reed Palm is a 6-10 feet tall plant with densely clumping cane-like stems and feathery fronds which places it among the best low-light tree-like plants for indoors. However, it grows slowly and may take a few years to reach the average height of 6 feet.
Flowers
Reed Palm also produces flowers followed by bright-orange fruits apart from the beautiful foliage. These fruits contain oxalic acid which can irritate skin; wear gloves when handling.
Toxicity
The foliage of Reed Palm is non-toxic to both humans and pets but the fruits (berries) are highly poisonous to both humans and pets. It is important to prevent flowering by removing the flower stalks when they begin to form. The fruits contain oxalic acid which can irritate sensitive skin; always wear gloves when handling.
Related Plants
Chamaedorea seifrizii is related to Chamaedorea elegans (Parlour Palm) and Chamaedorea erumpens (Bamboo Palm).
Where to Buy
Reed Palm is an excellent addition to your plant collection to elevate your home value. You may acquire these palms from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Reed Palm Indoor Care
Reed Palm (Chamaoderea seifrizii) flourishes in bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 15-270C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Chamaedorea seifrizii repotting is done at the beginning of the growing season only when the palm has become pot-bound. Pruning is needed to keep the palm neat as well as reduce pests and diseases. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
Water your Reed Palm liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist.
Reduce watering in the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Use chlorine-free water to water Chamaedorea seifrizii; like all palms, it is sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water.
Avoid getting the base of the palm wet to prevent rotting. Do not allow the palm to sit in soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the palm.
Light Requirements
Reed Palm grows best in bright indirect light (partial shade). Protect it from direct sunlight as it can cause it to develop a yellowish color and scorching of the fronds.
Chamaedorea seifrizii can also be grown under a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate. Take a look at these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the palm receives adequate light on all sides for even growth and avoid lopsided growth.
Temperature and Humidity
Reed Palm requires an average warmth of 15-270C to thrive. Keep it away from cold drafts as it hates cold temperatures which cause it to develop brown leaf tips and brown leaf spots.
Chamaedorea seifrizii has no need for extra humidity, moderate humidity of 50-55%. However, it benefits from occasional misting of the leaves during hot weather. Occasionally clean the mature leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and discourage pest infestations.
Potting Mix
The best potting medium for Reed Palm should be rich in organic matter and easily draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most all purpose potting mixes are ideal.
Feeding
Feed your Chamaedorea seifrizii with a balanced, liquid fertilizer monthly during the growing period to encourage lush growth. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth is reduced at this time and feeding at this time as it can lead to fertilizer burn and eventual death of the palm.
Regularly flush out accumulated salts from the soil 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.
Repotting
Repot your Reed Palm at the beginning of the growing season only when it has become root-bound as it does not like root disturbance. Use a pot 1-2 sizes larger than the current one and make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Check out these pots with drainage hole on Amazon.
Pruning
Pruning Reed Palm is easy. Cut away the old brown and dry fronds near the soil surface to maintain the plant tidy as well as minimize pest and disease infestation.
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.
Propagation
Chamaedorea seifrizii (Reed Palm) can be propagated in three ways; from seeds, from offshoots or by plant division.
How to propagate Reed Palm from seeds
Chamaedorea seifrizii seed germination is difficult and may take up to 4-6 months. Sow the seeds in moist soil and place the set up in a warm place at 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 Reed Palms are well established.
How to propagate Reed Palm from offshoots
Carefully cut the offshoot from the mother Reed Palm. Ensure the offshoot has adequate roots before seperating it from the mother.
Pot the offshoot in its own pot, place in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out.
Allow the new palm to be well established before transplanting after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Reed Palm by plant division
During repotting, divide Reed Palm into sections and pot up the sections in individual pots.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges.
Allow the new palm to be well established before transplanting after which routine can begin.
Reed Palm Common Problems
Reed Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) growing problems include brown leaf tips, yellowing, brown leaves, leaf spots, diseases and pests among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Pests
Common pests in Chamaedorea seifrizii are spider mites, scales and mealy bugs. Regularly check underneath the leaves for these pests. Isolate the affected palm to prevent spread to other plants and treat it for the pests. Read more on how to identify and treat pests in houseplants.
Brown leaves
The lower leaves in Reed Palm may turn brown and droop due to age; remove by cutting and not pulling. However, if browning is general and accompanied by rotting, the reason is root-rot disease which is promoted by soggy soil.
Brown leaf spots
Brown leaf spots in Reed Palm may be due to two reasons. Cut away the affected parts and discard. One reason for brown leaf spots is overwatering. Keep the soil moderately moist during the growing season but not soggy. Water less during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the right way.
The second reason for brown leaf spots in Chamaedorea seifrizii is sudden decrease in temperature due to cold drafts. Keep it away from cold drafts to maintain an average warmth of 15-270C with a minimum of 120C. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Brown leaf tips
There are four possible reasons for brown leaf tips in Reed Palm. Trim off the brown tips with sterilized scissors. Dry air is one cause of brown leaf tips. To up humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the palm in a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas in the home. Check out these techniques on how to increase humidity for houseplants.
The second reason for brown leaf tips in Chamaedorea seifrizii is underwatering. Water liberally during the growing season while allowing the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist. Decrease watering in the cold season to keep the soil moderately moist but do not let the soil dry out completely.
The third reason for brown leaf tips in Reed Palm is cold drafts. Protect or keep it away from drafts and maintain an average warmth of 15-270C.
The fourth reason for brown leaf tips in Chamaedorea seifrizii is damage by touching. Keep it away from the line of traffic.
Yellowing leaves
Underwatering Reed Palm is the reason for yellowing leaves. Keep the soil moderately moist at all times during the growing season. Lessen watering during the cold period but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
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