Areca palm

All about the Areca palm

Similar to other house plants, Areca Chrysalidocarpus doesn't require a lot of care. Since many stems growing out of its trunk, it gives the illusion of a bamboo plant.

The trunks are golden and yellow-colored, which earned them the nickname Golden or Yellow palm. The leaves are long and green, with an aura of elegance. The trunks are tall and attractive and grow up to 365 centimeters (cm) indoors. Some types of Areca palm have fruits growing on them. Nevertheless, any indoor Areca palm won't produce any kind of fruits on them.

Nicknames

As mentioned above, the plant is fondly called Golden Cane or Yellow palm because of its trunks color. They are also called Butterfly palm and Areca palm since their leaves can stretch and curl like wings. The family name of Areca Chrysalidocarpus is Arecacea (Palmae).

Different types of the Areca palm

There are various types of the Areca palm, such as Areca three stalked and the Areca catechu. The most popular of these three is the Areca catechu which can grow up to 2000 cm, and the leaves up to 200 cm.

Origin of the Areca palm

Native to tropical Asia such as Indonesia, this plant originates from an environment of high humidity hence, why they can't survive in extremely cold climates.

How to take care of an Areca palm

There are a few essential notes to keep in mind when investing in an Areca palm, but as long as you follow the basic directions, your plant will bloom to the fullest.

Watering

This plant prefers the soil to have a proper drainage system as overwatering can lead to the rotting of the roots and the end of this plant. You can water the plants once the top couple of inches are dry upon touching. The soil has to be moist but not wet.

During growing months from spring to summer, you can water the plant regularly, even as much as twice a week but slow down once winter starts as the plants go dormant and retain water for more extended periods.

Sunlight

Like most houseplants, the Areca palm requires bright but indirect sunlight. However, they can also tolerate direct sunlight or intense shade, but for shorter periods. If exposed to direct sunlight for a long while, the leaves can scorch and burn.

Location

As the plant requires bright but indirect sunlight, the prime location for its placement is indoors. But they can survive on balconies or patios as well, as long as they aren't exposed to a lot of direct sunlight.

Plant Nutrition

During the growing months from spring through autumn, a monthly fertilizer provides a boost to the plant. However, during the winter months, you shouldn't feed the plant any fertilizer since it doesn't grow during these months. The leaves turn yellow and die from over-fertilization.

Temperature & Humidity

Since these plants originate from tropical regions, they prefer higher temperatures, such as between 16°C - 24°C. Naturally, you'll require air conditioners in warmer climates, but try to avoid placing the plants in front of vents as they don't respond well to drafts nor temperatures less than 10°C.

Considering the plant is native to tropical regions, humidity around the plant should be high. There are quite a few ways to increase humidity around the plant, such as misting the air with water, placing the plant among other plants, and creating a pebble tray.

How to create a pebble tray?

Place a tray where you want to keep your plant. Put a few pebbles on the tray and fill the tray with water until only the top layer of pebbles are dry. Place the pot on top of the pebbles. This will create a constant atmosphere of humidity.

Air purifier

This plant is known to purify the air of substances such as carbon monoxide and benzene. It's ranked as the best houseplant to cleanse the air. The leaves tend to get dusty so wipe them off gently with a damp cloth so they can purify the air without any hindrance.

Toxicity

The plant isn't toxic to children and pets.

Additional care

Although it's easy to take care of this plant, the leaves are still prone to mealybugs or scale. The simplest way to get rid of them is to use insecticide until the bugs disappear, but you have to discover them earlier before they damage the plants. Areca palm doesn't require pruning, but you can remove the dead leaves from the trunks carefully without disturbing the other areas.

Usually, it doesn't require repotting, but if you feel the container has become cramped, you can move the plant to a slightly bigger container during the growing months. Make sure you're careful during the process, as the roots are sensitive to movement.

You also need to make sure the new pot's depth is the same, and there aren't any air pockets in the soil when the plant is inside. It's low maintenance and can survive for an extended period. Since the plant's growth is moderate to slow, it'll eventually reach the highest height in a few years.

Propagation of an Areca palm

People tend to use seeds to produce new Areca palms as it's easier than dividing the bush. But if you don't want to buy new seeds, you can divide the bush in April and place them in pots that already contain an appropriate mixture of soil. Keep the pot in a humid environment and a higher temperature for ideal growing conditions.