houseplant care

Palms are now very popular as indoor plants. Whether as a special gift or to beautify your own home - indoor palms are part of the plant inventory of every plant lover. Even if they normally only occur in nature in considerable size with their different high demands, there are many palm species nowadays that are also suitable as house plants.

5 indoor plants palm species

You got a house palm for your birthday or you just bought a plant with beautiful long fronds in the garden center and you don't know what to do? That shouldn't be a problem, because we'll show you how easy it is to care for five houseplant palm species. After that, you should no longer be afraid to take care of your beloved houseplant/palm or perhaps bring a whole kingdom of palm trees into your home.

1. Palm recommendation: Livistona rotundifolia

If you have decided to cultivate a palm tree as a houseplant at home, then the Livistona rotundifolia might be just the right palm tree for you. It is also often called the Round Leafed Livingston Palm and has moderate maintenance requirements. Their original home is in tropical Indonesia, more precisely on the island of Java. There it can reach a growth height of up to 15 meters. With you it can grow up to five meters high. The circular green leaves are typical of the palm tree, which we regard as a houseplant. These can often be cut in half. This creates individually protruding segments.

Caring for Livistona rotundifolia

The Livistona prefers a bright location. There it can easily withstand a few hours a day of direct sunlight (morning or afternoon). In the warm months you are very welcome to place your palm tree outdoors, but protect it from the midday sun. Since it does not tolerate temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius very well, it is advisable to bring it back inside in winter. Make sure that the top layer of soil is always slightly dry before the next water supply. When watering yourself, it should be watered evenly so that the root ball is completely moist. Again, avoid dry balls and waterlogging. If you want your palm tree to be completely happy as a houseplant, then you should provide it with a special palm fertilizer every two weeks.

Tip: Before you bring a Livistona home, you should think carefully about where it will find its place over the years. This should be big enough because the palm cannot be cut back.

2. Palm recommendation: Kentia palm

The Kentia palm is also a popular houseplant/palm. Not only in living rooms, but also in offices, it is now doing very well as a plant decoration. The two species of Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana and Howea belmoreana) form a genus of plants that are found only on the Australian Lord Howe Island. Both are used as popular ornamental plants and differ primarily in their growth height. The hardy Kentia palms are very attractive not only because of their external appearance, but also because of their undemanding care. Also, with proper care, they can live to be over 40 years old.

Caring for the Kentia Palm

As already mentioned, easy care is one of the positive properties of houseplants (palms). A location with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius and partial shade is ideal for them.Due to possible burns on the leaves, you should avoid placing them in direct sunlight. You should always keep the special palm soil slightly moist. In winter, the Kentia palm has a dormant phase, then you should turn down the water supply a bit. You only have to fertilize in the growth phase and that about once a month. Please do not give the palm any additional nutrients during the winter months.

3. Palm recommendation: Yucca palm

With its pointed, long leaves and slightly thicker trunk, it looks very much like a palm tree. From a botanical point of view, the term palm tree is incorrect, since this is not a palm plant, but an asparagus plant (Asparagaceae). Approximately 30 different species belong to the yucca palm, which has its original home in Central and South America. There it can reach a height of up to five meters. The plant is characterized by a woody trunk, palm-like leaves and lily-like flowers. With its classic and simple appearance, the robust and resilient yucca palm fits into every living room and is perhaps the beginning of your Urban Jungle.

Caring for the yucca palm

The yucca palm is very tolerant of site conditions. You can place them in a bright sunny spot but also in a partially shaded spot. Of course, it thrives better in the sunny spot, but it doesn't mind the darker locations either. You can also put some Yucca palm species outdoors in summer. However, you should bring them back into the house for the winter. The plants do not tolerate frost. The yucca palm needs very little water for optimal growth. You should always remove excess irrigation water to avoid waterlogging. In the growth phase (April to October), we advise you to supply your plant with a green plant fertilizer every two weeks. In winter, your easy-care houseplant needs a rest period. It also makes sense to repot (every two to three years) for healthy growth.

Tip: If the soil feels dry at a depth of two centimeters, you can water the yucca palm so that it is slightly damp but not soaking wet.

4. Palm recommendation: golden fruit palm

The golden fruit palm, which is widespread as a houseplant/palm, originally comes from Madagascar. As a rather slow-growing indoor palm, it now adorns numerous apartments and exudes a tropical atmosphere. Their reed-like trunks branch out in a bushy manner. Their typically curved fronds grow on the up to 70 centimeters long stems. These can even reach a length of over 100 centimeters and are divided into several yellowish-green pairs of feathers.

The care of the golden fruit palm

From spring to late autumn, the golden fruit palm can be in a bright location. In winter, however, it definitely needs a place in full sun. A temperature between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius is recommended all year round. This is how you enable the golden fruit palm to thrive. Make sure that the air does not get too dry, especially in winter. If this should happen due to heating air, you can spray the leaf fronds with water from time to time. When watering you have to make sure that the root ball is always slightly moist. Please always remove excess water immediately. For optimal palm growth, it is advisable to fertilize the plant every two weeks with a special palm fertilizer.

5.Recommended Palm: Dragon Tree

Like the yucca palm, the dragon tree belongs to the asparagus family of plants (Asparagaceae). The green, red or white borders on the foliage are typical of the plant. Dragon trees that live in nature often develop pleasantly scented flowers. Unfortunately, the species kept as houseplants (palms) can only rarely show this. Nevertheless, the dragon tree not only decorates your living room, but can also create a pleasant atmosphere as a beautiful plant ornament in work rooms.

Caring for the dragon tree

Depending on the type of dragon tree, the location can also vary. But you can still remember: the fewer leaves the plant has, the more sunlight it needs. In general, dragon trees like a sunny to semi-shady location without direct sunlight, as they tend to burn quickly. The composted potting soil should be watered at regular intervals so that it remains slightly moist. However, no water should remain in the saucer. In addition, it is advisable to add liquid fertilizer to the soil every two weeks. This encourages leaf growth.

Tip: You should rotate your plant at certain intervals, as the leaves always grow towards the sunlight.

Find your personal houseplant

Now you've got five different inspirations for palm trees as houseplants. But are you still looking for the right counterpart to the evergreen tropical beauties? That's no problem, because on our site you will find a range of (indoor) plants that are perfectly tailored to you and your environment. Now it's up to you to put your green fingers in your hands and create a green and lively atmosphere!