Parlor Palm Care: Low-Light Palm Growing Guide

Parlor palm care is easier than most palms, which is why Chamaedorea elegans has been a houseplant since Victorian parlours. Native to the rainforest understorey of Mexico and Guatemala, it's used to shade, steady warmth and evenly moist soil. It grows slowly to about 1 to 2 m indoors, forms clumps of feathery fronds, and is safe for cats and dogs. The main things to get right are watering, humidity and avoiding strong sun.

Parlor palm care at a glance

The NC State Extension Chamaedorea elegans profile describes it as tolerant of low light and suited to indoor containers.

Light

Parlor palms grow best in bright, indirect light: near an east or north window, or a couple of metres from a south or west window with a sheer curtain. They tolerate low light better than almost any other palm, so they're a good option for hallways and rooms with small windows, but growth will be slow and the plant thinner. Direct sun through glass can yellow and scorch the fronds.

For other plants that handle shade, see best low-light houseplants and the low-light plant finder.

Watering

Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist. Water when the top 2 to 3 cm is dry, give enough that water drains from the bottom, and empty the saucer. In summer, this is usually every 7 to 10 days; in winter, every two to three weeks. Parlor palms dislike both extremes: soggy soil rots the roots, while letting the pot dry out completely gives brown frond tips.

If your tap water is very hard or fluoridated, using rainwater or filtered water can reduce brown tips. The plant watering schedule builder gives a starting check interval.

Humidity and temperature

Parlor palms like humidity of 40 to 60 percent or more. In heated winter rooms below 35 percent, brown tips become common. Group plants, use a humidifier, or keep the palm in a bright bathroom. Room temperatures of 18 to 27°C are ideal, and anything below 10°C can damage it. Check whether your room is humid enough with the plant humidity checker.

Soil and repotting

Parlor palms have fine, sensitive roots and grow happily in snug pots. Repot only every two to three years, in spring, into a pot one size larger with a free-draining, peat-free mix. Many shop-bought "plants" are actually several seedlings in one pot; it's best to leave these clumps together rather than splitting them, since the roots dislike disturbance. The repotting pot size calculator suggests the next size.

Feeding

Palms are light feeders. Use a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength once a month in spring and summer, and stop in autumn and winter. Overfeeding causes brown tips and salt build-up. Work out the dose with the fertilizer dilution calculator.

Pruning

Parlor palms need very little pruning:

1. Remove fully brown or yellow fronds at the base of their stalks.
2. Trim brown tips with clean scissors, following the natural shape of the leaflet and leaving a thin line of brown so you don't cut into healthy tissue.
3. Never cut the top of a stem. Each stem grows from a single growing point, and cutting it stops that stem growing.

Pests

Spider mites are the main pest, especially in dry air. Look for fine webbing and speckled, dull fronds. Showering the plant, raising humidity and treating with insecticidal soap help; see spider mites on plants. Mealybugs and scale also appear occasionally; see mealybugs on plants and houseplant pests.

Propagation

Parlor palms aren't propagated from cuttings. They're grown from seed, which is slow, or by dividing a large clump in spring. Division carries risk because of the delicate roots: gently tease apart a clump into sections with several stems each, pot them in moist mix, and keep them warm and humid for a few weeks while they settle. Expect some dieback.

Where to put a parlor palm

Good spots include a north-facing living room, a bright hallway, a bedroom with an east window, an office desk under fluorescent light, and a bathroom with a frosted window. Avoid the space right in front of a radiator or air-conditioning outlet, and don't press the fronds against cold window glass in winter. Parlor palms also suit offices, because they cope with artificial light and irregular care; see plants for an office with no windows for other choices.

Because they grow slowly, buy a plant close to the size you want. A 1 m plant usually costs more than a small one, but it may take five years or more for a tabletop palm to reach that height indoors.

Flowers and seeds

Mature parlor palms sometimes produce sprays of small yellow flowers on branched stalks, followed by small black berries if male and female plants grow together, since each plant carries only one type of flower. Flowering is a good sign of a healthy plant, but it uses energy. Some growers cut flower stalks off to keep foliage lush; others leave them for interest. Either is fine.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists parlor palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs, which makes it one of the best larger plants for pet homes. Cats sometimes chew the fronds, which doesn't harm them but makes the plant look tatty. Note that some other plants called "palms", such as sago palm, are highly toxic. See pet-safe houseplants and check plants with the plant toxicity checker.

Parlor palm vs other indoor palms

Seasonal care

More tips in houseplant winter care.

Why is my parlor palm dying?

When a parlor palm declines, check these in order:

1. Roots: slide it out of the pot. Brown, mushy, smelly roots mean rot; see root rot treatment.
2. Watering: is the soil soggy or bone dry?
3. Pests: look under fronds for webbing and specks.
4. Light: is it in harsh sun or very deep shade?
5. Temperature: is it near a cold window or a radiator?

Most palms bounce back slowly once the cause is fixed, but damaged fronds won't recover, so judge progress by new growth.

Bottom line

Parlor palms want medium to bright indirect light, evenly moist but well-drained soil, decent humidity and little fuss. They tolerate lower light than most houseplants, they're safe for pets, and with steady care they'll grow into full, graceful clumps for years.

Sources: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, Chamaedorea elegans; ASPCA, Parlor palm.