How to Grow and Care for Parlor Palm

Bring the color, texture, and energy of plant life to any low-light room by adding an easy-to-grow parlor palm. This rainforest native is a single-trunk palm with a compact habit and handsome arching green pinnate leaves comprised of narrow leaflets. It may even bear clusters of yellow flowers in the spring if it gets enough light.

The parlor palm is arguably the best-known palm of Chamaedorea, a genus of over 100 palms that are native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Central and South America. The genus—which includes the bamboo palm, cat palm, and pacaya palm—is made up of small palms with slender, cane-like stems that can be grown indoors in cooler climates.

This palm typically grows to about 3 or 4 feet tall indoors but can grow taller in ideal conditions. In hardiness zones 10-12—where parlor palms can be grown outdoors—well-cared-for trees have been known to stretch as tall as 8 feet. Desktop specimens, on the other hand, tend to stand about 1 foot tall, making them suitable for small spaces like nightstands and kitchen countertops.

Where to Grow Parlor Palm

In their natural habitat, the parlor palms thrive under dappled sunlight, so they will fare best when placed in an area with bright, indirect light—like an east facing window. You can also place your palm away from the window in a sunny room or behind a sheer curtain. If you don’t have a bright spot, don’t despair. Parlor palms have been known to adapt to low-light conditions and may grow well in shaded or north-facing windows.

If you are planting your parlor palm outdoors, look for a spot with high humidity, dappled sunlight, and well-drained soil that has been amended with organic matter. Choose a location that is protected from strong, damaging winds that also offers shelter from the harsh afternoon sun (like a spot with northern or eastern exposure).

How and When to Plant Parlor Palm

If you are planting your parlor palm indoors, you can do it any time of the year. Choose a container with excellent drainage that is just an inch or two bigger than the plant’s root system and fill it with a high-quality, well-draining potting mix that is acidic to slightly alkaline (with a pH between 6.0 to 7.8). Avoid using very deep or very large containers. Parlor palms have shallow root systems and like to be snug in their pot.

Outdoor-grown parlor palms should be planted in the spring. To plant your parlor palm outdoors, dig a hole twice the size of the root ball and make sure it is clear of rocks and debris. Place the plant in the hole and hold it steady as you backfill with soil halfway. Water the surrounding soil well and continue filling the hole. When you finish, the top of the root ball should sit at the same level as the surrounding soil. Tamp down the soil, add a 2-to-3-inch layer of mulch (to help the soil maintain its moisture), and water deeply again.

Parlor Palm Care Tips

Parlor palms are very forgiving, which makes them excellent houseplants for beginners.

Light

Indoors as a houseplant, parlor palm grows well in bright filtered light, like what you'd get at a south- or west-facing window with a sheer curtain. But this adaptable plant also tolerates low light and can thrive in spaces with east- or north-facing windows.

Outdoor parlor palms also love lots of light but will welcome some shade from the high afternoon sun (which can scorch the fronds).

Soil and Water

Indoors, parlor palms thrive when potted in well-drained potting mix with an acidic to slightly alkaline pH (6.0 to 7.8). Outdoors, parlor palms are hardy in Zones 10 to 12; they grow easily in rich, moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. If your outdoor soil lacks nutrients, enrich it with well-decomposed compost prior to planting.

Parlor palms like moist (but not wet) soil and are drought-tolerant once established. When the soil of your potted plant feels dry down to your second knuckle, water your palm thoroughly until the excess escapes through pot's drainage hole. These palms don't like sitting in wet soil, so be sure to dump any water-filled saucers. Outdoor parlor palms should be watered regularly when planted in well-drained soil but be careful of overwatering. They will not tolerate sitting in waterlogged soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Most palms need temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to thrive and parlor palms are no exception. They are happiest when temperatures are between 65 and 80 degrees, but can tolerate short cold or hot bouts. If the weather is fair and warm, indoor parlor palms can be moved outdoors in the summer. Just be sure to protect them from direct sun, which will scorch their leaves. Choose a shaded outdoor location and water daily in hot, dry conditions. Move your plant back indoors when night temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing conditions are likely to cause irreparable damage or death.

Whether grown indoors or outdoors, parlor palms enjoy a warm, humid environment that mimics the climate of a tropical forest. If your humidity levels indoors are below 40%, consider misting the plant 3 to 4 times per week or setting the pot on a tray of wet pebbles to increase the environmental humidity.

Fertilizer

You can encourage lush growth by feeding your palm with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer or fish emulsion every two weeks, according to product label instructions, but only in spring and summer.

Pruning

Parlor palms are slow-growing plants and aren’t likely to need pruning at all. In fact, too much pruning may kill the plant. Trim away dead or diseased fronds but avoid cutting the plant from the top.

Potting and Repotting

Palm trees are prone to stress from repotting, so it’s best to only repot your palm when it grows rootbound or needs a soil refresh (most likely every 2 to 3 years). If it becomes rootbound, you'll see roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. To check, lift the plant from its pot to peek at the roots every few months.

When needed, repot your palm into a container that is just 2 or 3 inches larger in diameter than the previous container. A much larger container could cause transplant shock. Prepare your new container by adding a layer of soil, remove the palm from its old container, and tease apart the roots. Lower the palm into the new pot and fill in the rest of the soil while holding the palm steady. Fill in the air pockets by tamping down the soil as you work. If necessary, you can stake your palm to keep it steady. Water immediately and deeply and place the plant back in a bright, warm location.

Pests and Problems

Parlor palms are prone to attacks from spider mites, which cause damage by feeding on the plant’s sap.  

Parlor palms can also have issues with aphids, scale, whiteflies, and mealy bugs—especially when grown outdoors. Both indoor and outdoor parlor palms may develop root rot and fungal leaf spots when overwatered or kept in poorly-drained soil.

How to Propagate Parlor Palm

Parlor palms are not easy to propagate, but it can be done via division or seed. If you choose to propagate via division, know that both the parent plant and new division will likely suffer a period of shock. When you repot your palm, find a stem or clump that has a system of roots attached and work it away from the main stem or cut it away with a sharp blade. Place the newly separated plant in a small container, water it well, and keep it in a warm, bright area until it adapts to the new environment. If need be, you can add some stabilizing stakes.

If you have palm parlor seeds or your palm produced seeds, you can collect them. Parlor palm seed viability decreases quickly after the fruits are harvested, so plan to collect and plant more than you think you will need. Start by soaking the seeds for 2 to 7 days in a container of warm water that is kept warm by placing the container on a heating mat or other source of continuous warmth. Change the water daily and watch for the seed coats to crack.

Next, nick the outer shell of the seeds with a knife and plant them just below the surface in a small container filled with well-draining potting mix. Wrap the container in a plastic bag and place it in a bright, sunlit area (but out of direct light).  Keep the soil warm (between 85- and 95-degrees Fahrenheit) and evenly moist as the seeds germinate—which may take several months.

Types of Parlor Palm

Bella Parlor Palm

There are just two known naturally occurring subspecies of Chamaedorea elegans, but a handful of cultivars, including this selection, the Bella parlor palm. The Bella is a compact parlor palm that remains under 4 feet tall for a long time.

Bamboo Palm

A relative of the parlor palm, the bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) earned its common name thanks to its resemblance to bamboo. Bamboo palm is a small, slow-growing multi-trunk palm with an upright shape that makes a good houseplant. It can also be grown outdoors in zones 9–11.

Cat Palm

Chamaedorea cataractarum, affectionately called cat palm, is a pretty palm with dark green, arching fronds. Outdoors, it is hardy in zones 9–11. In ideal conditions (indoor or out) a cat palm can grow as tall as 6 feet (but that may take 10 years or more). Cat palms are easygoing, low-maintenance plants that offer a lot of flourish for such little care. In fact, they are a popular choice among first-time houseplant growers who appreciate its forgiving, adaptable nature.