How Do I Care for Areca Indoor Palm Trees?

Arecas palms have feathery green leaves.

Areca palm trees, with their graceful, feathery, drooping fronds and tropical feel, are popular indoor trees. Arecas are sensitive plants and require special care to keep them healthy. You will need to spend some time with these beauties, but they are well worth it. Proper watering, fertilization and pest control is essential in their care, however, a few minutes a day is all it takes to ensure that your Areca is getting exactly what it needs to thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Potting soil
• Trowel or shovel
• Container
• Palm fertilizer
• Sprayer
• Dishwashing liquid
• Dolomitic lime (if needed)

Instructions

1. Plant arecas in a humus-rich potting mix. Arecas thrive in rich soil at a pH near 6.0. Arecas spread outward in a clumping fashion, so give each plant a container with plenty of room.

2. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Don't allow it to stay dry for extended periods. Arecas are sensitive to fluoride, so if your water source contains fluoride, add dolomitic lime to the mix to bring the pH of the soil to around 6.0, making the fluoride unavailable to the plant. Do not use water that has been softened with salt.

3. Provide humidity. Arecas need high humidity. Place the plant on a pebble-filled tray to keep the air around your Areca palm humid. If this is not possible, mist the plant at least once a day.

4. Check for and control insects regularly. Dry indoor conditions are the perfect breeding ground for the worst pest of Areca palm trees--spider mites. If fronds start to turn yellow or spotted, check the undersides for mites and their webs. Maintain high humidity and wipe the fronds to help control the spider mites. Less common pests include mealybugs, thrips and scales. Treat them with Neem oil or an indoor houseplant spray.

5. Fertilize your Areca properly. Arecas are sensitive to excess soil salts, so use any fertilizer sparingly. Make sure that any fertilizer you use contains iron, manganese and zinc to prevent deficiency symptoms, such as yellow or chlorotic fronds and brown leaf tips.

6. Keep Areca fronds dust-free. Remove dust and deter pests by wiping the tops and bottoms of fronds with a solution of 1 tsp. of dishwashing liquid--without grease cutters--to 1 gallon of water. If possible, move your tree outside and spray with a strong stream of water from the hose at least once a month.

Tips & Warnings

• Arecas adjust readily to low-light conditions and will thrive in a corner where other palms would not, however, bright, indirect light is best.

• Plant shine may be used sparingly, but draws dust to the plant, which clogs pores and causes frond death.

• If your palm fronds turn yellow, don't over-fertilize. Check for pests, and add minor elements. Epsom salts will usually correct yellowing in Arecas. Give the tree at least four weeks to see if new growth is coming out healthy.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension Service: Areca Palm Production Guide
• Florida Palm Trees: Areca Palm Tree