Most palm species grow in the tropics or sub-tropics, with the most important growing areas being the Amazon and Indo-Malaysia. The palm is a special tree. The trunk of a palm tree is not made up of bark but of leaf bases which have grown together; this is called a false trunk. A false trunk does not grow in width like the trunk of other trees and does not branch. At the top of the trunk, the fan-shaped leaves appear, which only grow in length. We would like to tell you more about the origin, care and the many variations of the palm.
Origin
Most palm species grow in the tropics or sub-tropics, with the most important growing areas being the Amazon and Indo-Malaysia. The palm is a special tree. The trunk of a palm tree is not made up of bark but of leaf bases which have grown together; this is called a false trunk. A false trunk does not grow in width like the trunk of other trees and does not branch. At the top of the trunk, the fan-shaped leaves appear, which only grow in length. We would like to tell you more about the origin, care and the many variations of the palm.
Care
Position
Although the origin of palms makes you think of a nice sunny spot, the tree generally prefers a sheltered sunny to semi-shady spot. In full sunlight the combination of too much heat and bright sunlight can cause burning. There is also a risk of the whole palm drying out. More information on the ideal location can be found under the descriptions for each type of palm.
Watering
The palm needs plenty of water. Depending on the location and the size of the tree, you can water once every 5 days during spring and summer, and once every 10 days during autumn and winter. The amount of water given each time can be quite large, as long as you make sure the excess water can drain away. It is also important that the substrate is well-drained, as palms are very susceptible to root rot. If the palm gets too little water, the leaves will droop. Discoloured leaves (brown/yellow) and falling leaves are also signs of a lack of water.
Spraying and temperature
In the wild, palms regularly get tropical showers. By spraying regularly you can imitate this natural shower which will certainly improve the health of the tree. It also reduces the risk of pests. We advise you to spray with rainwater or decalcified water, otherwise lime stains will be left on the leaves. The minimum environment temperature for a palm varies between -15 and +15°C. Read more about this in the description of each species.
Pruning
A palm continually produces new leaves from above, and the lowest leaves die. This creates the trunk. In this process, the old lower leaves first turn brown and/or yellow and then eventually wither. When the leaves start to discolour, there is no more recovery and it is best to cut them off at the trunk. Leaving them on will cost the palm a lot of energy.
Nutrition
Most palms grow quite quickly and need extra feeding in the spring and summer months. As well as stimulating growth, nutrition also enhances the green colour of the leaves. There are special palm foods that can be used for this purpose. The packaging of the plant food will tell you how many times you should feed your palms and how much you should use each time.
Types
Palm trees belong to the Arecaceae family, which consists of no less than 2600 different species. A number of palm species can even survive in the colder climate, as long as they are sheltered from wind and strong sunshine. The most hardy palm trees are the Chinese fan palm and the European dwarf palm.
Popular indoor palms
We offer a wide choice in indoor palms. For example, the Areca palm, the most famous palm among the palms, the Caryota with leaves that look like fish tails, or the Rhapis which thrives on a shady location. We would like to tell you more about the most popular indoor palms.
Kentia forsteriana (Howea forsteriana) or Kentia palm
The Kentia forsteriana, also known as the Kentia palm, originally occurs on an island east of Australia and is one of the stronger palm species. It is a very popular office plant due to its low maintenance requirements. The palm can be kept relatively dark, but if growth is slow, the palm is kept too dark. Yellow leaves indicate that the plant is exposed to too much light. The minimum temperature for a Kentia is 13°C during the day, and 8°C at night.
Dypsis lutescens (Areca lutescens) or Areca palm or Golden palm
With its beautiful pinnate leaves, this palm is one of the best known and most popular indoor palms. And rightly so, because as well as its great ornamental value, the Areca palm is also very air-purifying. This palm likes to stand in the light but does not tolerate much direct sunlight. For this reason the Areca is best placed in front of a north-facing window. A west or east-facing position is possible, but make sure that the distance from the window is sufficient. If south-facing placement is the only option, the palm should be positioned about 3 metres from the window. The minimum temperature for an Areca is 15°C during the day and 8°C at night.
Caryota or Fishtail palm
A Caryota is an attractive palm with leaves which look like fish tails. Hence its common name, Fishtailpalm. It's a fast-growing palm which can reach 12 metres in height in the wild, but this won't happen easily indoors. The Fishtail palm does well in a shady spot, is easy to care for and therefore popular as an office plant. Make sure that the plant continues to grow sufficiently. If not, the palm is too dark. Yellow leaves indicate that the palm is too light. The minimum temperature for a Caryota is 15°C during the day, and 7°C at night.
Chamaedorea
Originating in Mexico, this is one of the smaller palm species. The common name is Mexican dwarf palm or Parlor palm. The Chamaedorea has various varieties including the elegans, the seifrizii and the metallica, whereby the metallica is the most sturdy variety. A Chamaedorea is a real light-lover, but absolutely does not like direct sunlight. The only right place for the Mexican dwarf palm is therefore in front of a north-facing window. The minimum temperature for a Chamaedorea is 17 °C during the day and 12 °C at night.
Rhapis or bamboo palm
The Rhapis owes its common name to its unusual trunk which resembles a (bamboo) stick. This palm is a true shade-loving plant which feels most comfortable in a somewhat darker position. This makes the Rhapis an ideal interior plant for offices with less natural light. Because of its shady position, the Rhapis needs little water. However, make sure that the soil remains slightly moist and that excess water can drain away. The minimum temperature for this palm is 12°C during the day and 8°C at night.
Special palms
As well as the popular indoor palms, we also have a number of special varieties in its range. For example, a palm which fruits red in December and therefore looks like a decorated Christmas tree, or a palm with closed, circular leaves. We also have indoor palms that can easily be placed outside, even in case of a few degrees of frost.
Veitchia (Adonidia) merrilli or Christmas palm
The Veitchia merrilli is also known as Christmas palm due to the red fruits it naturally bears in December each year. It is a well-known palm tree, found in large numbers on Pacific islands such as the Philippines. The Veitchia has pinnate leaves which grow from the top of the trunk. The green top of the trunk is very vulnerable, so make sure that you grasp the palm by the 'woody' part, to avoid damage to the plant cells. The Christmas palm can be placed in front of a north, east or west window without any problems. If south-facing, the palm should be at least 3 metres from the window. The minimum temperature for this palm is 15°C during the day and 10°C at night.
Licuala grandis
As you can see in the image here, The Licuala grandis palm with its large fan-shaped leaves is a very special specimen. This slow-growing palm, native to South-east Asia and Northern Australia, likes a high level of humidity, which can be met by regular spraying. Otherwise the Licuala is not difficult and adapts well indoors. The palm can be placed in a light spot and if you keep the soil slightly moist and make sure the roots are not standing in water you will be rewarded with a very long life. The minimum temperature for this palm is 13°C.
Cocos nucifera or Coconut palm
Cocos nucifera is found in nearly all tropical regions of the world and can grow up to 30 metres tall in the wild. It can be placed indoors in full sun and needs a high humidity level of 70-80%. The palm needs plenty of water each time it is watered and you should also ensure that the (sandy) soil does not dry out. A true warmth-lover, the coconut palm needs a temperature of at least 20°C.
Palms for a cooler climate
Palms are well known for their tropical origins and for the beautiful rows along the boulevards in warmer places. However, there are palm species which can survive outdoors in a cooler climate, even in winter. These palms do require a little extra care, such as shelter from wind and strong sunshine and protection during periods of frost.
Trachycarpus fortunei - Chinese fan palm
With its rough, fibrous trunk and green fan-shaped leaves, the Chinese fan palm makes an impressive sight. Trachycarpus fortunei is native to the mountainous regions of China, where harsh winters with low temperatures are a common occurrence. This palm tree is capable of surviving in temperatures down to -18°C. In areas where the freezing temperatures are so low, the palm tree is able to survive. In areas where freezing temperatures are more common, we recommend that you pack the root ball of the palm during periods of frost. After winter, the lower leaves are often somewhat unsightly, but you can simply cut these off. The Chinese fan palm prefers a sheltered spot out of the wind and requires extra nutrition in the spring and summer months. Trachycarpus fortunei does not like wet soils, so a well drained pot is essential. The trunk of this palm grows at a rate of 20 centimetres per year and can reach a height of 20 metres in a relatively short period of time.
Chamaerops humilis or European dwarf palm
The Chamaerops humulis is the only palm species native to Europe, which is also reflected in the common names of European dwarf palm or European dwarf fan palm. This small-sized palm grows mainly in the Mediterranean area and, in case the root ball and the trunk are wrapped up, can tolerate frost well. This makes Chamaerops humilis a very popular outdoor palm. The palm is happy in direct sunlight provided that it is adequately watered. The soil should not be allowed to dry out, but as with indoor palms, it is important that excess water can drain away to prevent root rot. When the European dwarf palm is kept indoors it requires at least 5 hours of direct sunlight every day. The minimum temperature for this palm is -10°C during the day and -13°C at night.
Washingtonia robusta or Mexican fan palm
The sun-loving Washingtonia robusta originally grows in California and Mexico. The tree, which is also known as the Mexican Fan Palm, is a true outdoor palm because it needs a lot of direct sunlight. The soil of the Washingtonia should remain constantly moist, without the roots being too immersed in water. In the winter months this plant can endure frost as low as -8°C, provided that the root ball and trunk are properly wrapped. As the palm ages, the lower leaves will turn yellow or brown, a natural process of rejuvenation. These can be cut close to the trunk. Washingtonia robusta requires at least 5 hours of direct sunlight every day when kept indoors. Due to the wide range of house palms, it can be difficult to choose a suitable variety. The Nieuwkoop Europe team will be happy to advise you.
