In the vernacular, palms are often referred to as the "princes of the vegetable kingdom". Without a doubt, they are, regardless of whether they are small-stature like the mountain palm, have fan-like leaves like the umbrella palm or have pinnate leaves like the butia palm. Palm trees can even be kept in city apartments, where they freshen up the atmosphere and noticeably underline the radiance of the interior. In addition to an all-day bright location, many palm trees also need good humidity. We introduce you to some easy-care palm trees for room keeping.
Mountain Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The mountain palm is a widespread houseplant that adapts perfectly to living space conditions and can even bloom in the room. It remains quite small compared to the other palms, even if it can grow up to 5 m high as an undergrowth plant in its home in the mountain forests of Central America. The genus of the mountain palms comprises approx. 120 subspecies.
Plant shape:
- tubular, smooth trunk
- mostly pinnate leaves
- paniculate or simply branched, yellow flowers
- Flowers look similar to the flowers of the mimosa
- Flowers sit under or between the leaves
Substrate:
Mountain palms want to stand in well-drained substrates that can even be slightly alkaline. This palm species also tolerates slightly acidic soil.
Tip: The mountain palm thrives and blooms best in hydroponics. However, the conversion should be done when the plant is still young. Their delicate roots can later be injured.
Location:
Since mountain palms don't like full sun, they take up even the most shady place in the apartment Preferably, even if you prefer a bright location with a light irradiation of 700 lux would. In autumn and winter, the nighttime temperatures at the location should not drop below 12 ° C. Dry air does not harm it. However, a strongly heated room has a negative effect on the mountain palm in winter. In summer it can be given a shady spot outside.
- Water abundantly in summer
- Keep the pot ball slightly moist in winter
- weekly liquid fertilizer in moderate concentration
- Fertilizing time March to July
Propagation:
- by seeds with high soil warmth between 24 and 26 ° C
Butia palm (Butia capitata)
The butia palm originally comes from the South American continent. This feather palm species grows up to 5 m high there. Colloquially it is also called the jelly palm, as delicious jelly can be made from its berries. 
Plant shape:
- densely feathered, nicely curved fronds
- thorns sit at the base of a frond stem
- Remnants of dead palm fronds remain visible on the bottom of the plant
Substrate:
The butia palm likes loamy potting soil and only needs to be repotted every four years.
Location:
A bright, cool location all year round is best for the Butia capitata. In winter, the room temperature should not exceed 10 ° C. For example, a rarely used guest room or a cold winter garden are ideal.
Watering and fertilizing:
- likes moisture in the root area
- however, avoid waterlogging
- fertilize every 4 weeks in summer
- with liquid fertilizer
Propagation:
- by sowing
- Germination time up to six months
Kentia palm (Howea)
The Kentia palm, also often called Howea, is a well-known, easy-care and slow-growing palm that comes from the Lord Howe Islands. There it can reach a height of 17 m. 100 years ago it was a downright fashion palm. However, it has not lost any of its popularity to this day. It is a very popular houseplant. There are two subspecies: Howea forsteriana (max. Height 15 m)
and Howea belmoreana (max. Height 8 to 10 m).Plant shape:
- broadly spreading, especially Howea belmoreana
- elegant, slightly overhanging, feathery fronds
Substrate:
Both types of Kentia like well-drained substrate that can be slightly acidic. However, hydroponics is not desired.
Location:
The Kentia palm has few requirements when it comes to humidity and light. It should stand a little away from the window, as it cannot withstand full sunlight.
Watering and fertilizing:
- water sufficiently in summer
- less in winter
- Fertilize with complete fertilizer on moist soil
- March to July
Propagation:
- thrives by sowing from fresh seeds
- Germination sometimes takes up to 9 months
Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera)
The coconut palm is at home on all coasts of the tropics and is the most widespread crop. Almost all of your plant parts can be processed. At the age of 100 this feather palm can grow up to 30 m high in its home.
Plant shape:
- slender, brown trunk
- The trunk ends in a crest with 20 to 30 leaflets
- Feather can be up to 6 m long
- panicle-shaped inflorescences
- Inflorescences arise from the leaf axils
Substrate:
The coconut palm wants permeable substrate. For example, you can use garden soil and mix it with sand.
Location:
The coconut palm loves warmth, but does not want blazing sun. A bright place all year round with summer temperatures around 20 ° C is ideal. In winter, the temperature should be 15 to 18 ° C. Like the other palms, it likes high humidity.
Watering and fertilizing:
- there is plenty of watering in the summer
- In summer, fertilizer is used every 14 days
- water less and do not fertilize in winter
Propagation:
- by sowing
- only half of the coconut is used
- Place across the pan and keep moist and warm
- Germination time 4 to 6 months
Coconut palms (Microcoelum weddelianum)
The coconut palm was previously incorrectly assigned to the genus Cocos. The delicate feather palm comes from the tropics of Brazil, is only up to 1.5 m high and the trunk is only 3 cm thick.
Plant shape:
- up to 1 m long fronds
- pinnate leaves sitting in pairs on the midrib
- blue-white color on the underside of the feathers
- Inflorescences produce orange-red fruits
Substrate:
The coconut palm also likes permeable substrate.
Location:
Not in the blazing sun, but always in a bright place all year round. Ambient temperatures of 18 ° C are ideal.
Watering and fertilizing:
- Always keep the substrate moist
- Apply complete fertilizer every 3 weeks in summer
Propagation:
- by sowing
- Germination time 2 months
Umbrella palm (Livistona)
The Livistona is a beautiful fan palm. A distinction is made between 24 species, which come from Malaysia, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia. 3 species are only suitable as indoor plants: Livistona australis, Livistona chinensis and Livistona rotundifolia.
Plant shape:
- stems studded with thorns
- L. australis and L. rotundifolia: round fan
- l. chinensis: elliptical fans
Substrate:
The substrate should be well drained. L. rotundifolia likes sandy soil.
Location:
The umbrella palm likes a bright place with moderate temperatures. In winter temperatures between 14 and 18 ° C are sufficient.
Watering and fertilizing:
- water regularly
- if the palm is warmer, water more
- limit watering in winter
- Fertilize every 14 days in summer
Propagation:
- by sowing
- Germination time up to 4 months
High humidity
Palm trees generally like high humidity. Therefore, you can regularly spray the palm fronds with soft water or gently wipe them with a damp cloth. At the same time you avoid an infestation with pests, especially in the winter months when the room air becomes drier due to the heating. If your palms are not too big, they can be showered every now and then together with other indoor plants in the bathtub.
Tip: If the palm trees cannot be provided with sufficient humidity, the lack of humidity can be compensated for by a planter filled with water. However, the palm should not be in the water all the time!
Waterlogging
Palm trees like high humidity and need a lot of water in summer. However, they do not tolerate waterlogging, as their roots can then rot very quickly!
Diseases and pests
If the room air is too dry, spider mites, red spiders or mealybugs can settle on the fronds. The palms then quickly become unsightly and their frond tips yellowish or brown. However, with sufficient humidity of 40%, which is desired by almost all palm trees, you can prevent pest infestation. If you have discovered pests after all, you should resort to biological means and not proceed with aggressive, chemical means.
Conclusion
Basically, all of the palm species described can be looked after without much effort if, with a few exceptions such as the mountain palm, you can offer them a light spot. Palms do not like direct sunlight. If you water and fertilize the palm trees regularly, you will enjoy these beautiful creatures for a long time. If you do not like liquid palm fertilizer or if regular fertilization is too costly for you, you can use slow-release fertilizers at the beginning of summer. The older fronds of the palm trees regularly die. Therefore, they can cut off these fronds without remorse.
