Plants
Parlour palm care: light, water & problems
Scientific name: Chamaedorea elegans · Common name: Parlour palm
Small indoor palm with multiple slender, cane-like stems and graceful, pinnate bright green fronds.
Editorial revision:
Care at a glance
- Light
- It tolerates relatively low light levels. Always protect it from direct sun, which scorches its delicate leaves.
- Watering
- Water moderately, allowing the top inch or two of mix to dry out. It hates being waterlogged.
How to identify it
Small indoor palm with multiple slender, cane-like stems and graceful, pinnate bright green fronds.
Light
It tolerates relatively low light levels. Always protect it from direct sun, which scorches its delicate leaves.
Watering
Water moderately, allowing the top inch or two of mix to dry out. It hates being waterlogged.
Conditions vary with pot, season and location. Always check the mix and your plant's response.
Environment and placement
It grows well at standard room temperatures. It appreciates humidity but tolerates moderately dry indoor air.
Potting mix and feeding
Use a draining mix with room for roots, without leaving the pot base in water.
During active growth use suitable fertiliser as labelled; check dry air, light and water before feeding.
Problems to check
Dry brown tips often appear due to underwatering or very dry air in winter.
How to assess brown tips and edgesCommon question
Will it grow to touch the ceiling?
No, it is a very slow-growing species and rarely exceeds 1.5 metres (5 feet) indoors.
