How to Grow a Bottle Palm Tree

If you are a "green thumb," then you probably are not reading this right now. If you are known as a "black thumb" like me, then read on. I have killed it all, including cacti. I had moved to Florida from NY recently and I was in awe of all the beautiful fauna. My friend gave me a bottle palm tree as a housewarming gift, and my husband was taking bets on when it would be dead. That gave me all the motivation I needed to keep it alive. It was the perfect time to learn how to garden. They say that bottle palms are slow growing, but mine is growing tall and lush extremely fast.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Potted bottle palm tree
• Warm climate never falling below 38º F (if this is not the type of climate that you live it, you can grow this palm indoors with full sun!)
• Spot with full sun
• Sandy good draining soil
• Peat moss
• Palm tree food
• Top soil
• Root stimulator
• Gardening gloves
• Trowel

1. Find a spot that is in full sun.

2. Dig a hole deep enough to plant the bottle palm. Do not submerge any part of the trunk in the ground. Make sure the area where the roots meet the trunk are slightly above the soil line.

3. Throw a handful of peat moss in the hole and wet with root stimulator. Use the directions to measure depending on the size of the tree that you are starting with.

4. Place the roots into the hole and pack with top soil.

5. Add palm food, water regularly and hope for the best.

Tips & Warnings

• If the palm is in full sun, make sure it's watered regularly.
• If leaves get yellow, that means it's not getting enough water.
• Trim yellow leaves.

Resources

• Basic bottle palm tree information