How to Care for an Indoor Palm Tree

An indoor palm is a beautiful addition to any home.

Indoor palm trees provide a green and graceful touch to your home - but they require some weekly TLC. Here's how to care for your palm and keep it in top condition.

Things You'll Need

• A spot in your home that offers sunlight.
• A watering can and time to weekly water the palm.
• Fertilizer (on some occasions)

Instructions

1. When choosing a spot for the tree in your home, try to find a sunny spot for it. However, palms don't need constant sunlight, making a place under a skylight or at a window that doesn't provide direct sunlight to the palm. Dependent on the type of palm, low light may be preferred.

2. While few homes replicate the tropical environment palms typically grow in outdoors, it is important not to place an indoor palm too close to an air conditioning vent or heating unit. This constant change in temperature can cause the palm to dry out.

3. Water is a necessity for all palms, but there is a proper balance to strike between too much and too little. You can, however, take cues from your palm's soil. Try to establish a set day every week to water the palm, and fill a watering can or jug with room-temperature water and being watering the palm.

4. If the water seems to overflow over the soil, or if your palm has a tray below the pot to capture dirt and excess water, pay careful attention to stop watering when this occurs.

5. While palm trees do not require frequent fertilization, you may want to fertilize two to three times a year with a fertilizer made specially for palms. Note that it's not necessary to fertilize in the winter because palms do not actively grow then.

6. Repotting a palm is recommended only if the palm appears to be outgrowing its current home. Take great care not to disturb the roots and be sure not to place the palm in too large a pot, which can make the soil difficult to stay aired out.

Tips & Warnings

• Too much water in the soil can cause a palm's roots to rot - take care not to over-water.

• While occasionally taking a palm outside to expose it to sunlight and fresher air may help to keep it healthy, try not to leave it outside too long. Believe it or not, the leaves can actually get a sunburn!

Resources

• eHow Home and Garden Topic Guide