Areca palm’s botanical name is Dypsis Lutescens also commonly known as yellow palm, golden cane palm, or butterfly palm. It originates from the humid tropics of Madagascar and South India, where the climate is warm. It keeps the air healthy and cleans up large amounts of CO2.
Features
- It is a popular inexpensive evergreen indoor plant that is 10 to 30 feet tall and spreads around 8 to 15 feet.
- An attractive, tall plant that has bamboo-like leaves is an excellent air purifier, pet friendly, non-toxic, and also easy to grow.
- The palms sometimes have golden trunks which are smooth and hence it is called golden cane palm
- It has fragile, narrow, and full leaves that grow outward in a curved manner.
Growing Areca Palms
- These plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight as it may burn the leaves and turn them yellowish-greenish but requires a lot of light to grow. If not, its growth will considerably slow down, which is the reason it dies.
- Also, these palms are hefty eaters and require magnesium, iron, and the proper amount of light.
- If grown outdoors, these plants prefer partial shade or constant filtered sunlight.
Watering
- The Areca Palm needs to be watered once a week. These plants are susceptible to overwatering and cannot tolerate waterlogging until and unless the topsoil dries out.
- Therefore the water is to be given more frequently in summers and spring than in winters.
- The soil has to be kept moist so that it does not become soggy or dry out, and the right amount of pH is to be maintained.
- There should be drainage holes in the soil so that the water does not collect.
- One can also add some organic material to keep the plant healthy, and peat is an ideal addition to it. For faster growth of plants, we can fertilize the plant according to their needs once or twice during the season but not during winter.
Temperature requirement
- The best average temperature for areca palms is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit but a sudden drop in temperature can turn the leaves brown.
- So, while keeping it as an indoor plant, one must keep the leaves away from air conditioners, strong winds, and heat sources, and if it is seeded outside, then it must be kept in regions where the temperature does not drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- High humidity is essential for the nourishment of these plants. It can also adapt itself to the average room temperature.
Seeds
- For propagating these indoor palms, one can take seeds in a single pot or cluster that takes 2 to 4 months to germinate.
- It should be seed in acidic soil that drains well.
- The best condition for germination is when the temperature of the soil is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and there is relatively high humidity.
Usually, orange color seeds that are older and better have a higher germination rate than green color seeds.
Lifespan
- Areca palms are one of the few plants that can trim without much harm, and mature indoor plants can live with a full lifespan of up to 10 years.
- Another point that is to be taken care of is never to take off the brown tips of the palm unless the leaf foliage.
- Clipping off the brown tips may cease the growth of the plant.
Common problems
If not taken care of, Areca palms can easily get affected by pests or diseases.
Some of them can be-
- Fungi which lead to leaf-spotting,
- Whiteflies
- Red spider mites reduce growth and also turn the leaves yellow because of low humidity and dry conditions
- Scale insects that look like brown spots on palm leaves and have white bumps
- Mealybugs leave black spots on the stem and tiny bits of white fluff.
To get rid of these pests, we can clean palm fronds with soapy water, trimming of leaves must be done, offshoot can be removed and rooted, infesting can be done, and its treatment with the least toxic option, organic neem oil solution is also helpful.
Style and decor
It can be placed anywhere, in your garden or room where there is a bright light, and is the best choice for interior design.
For styling your home, it can be put near your living rooms or near bedside tables to make your home look classy and vibrant. These plants create a very different look adding a soft and elegant touch to your home.
Conclusion
When grown as indoor plants, Areca Palms resemble palm grass. It is a beautiful plant with feathery leaves, which helps in absorbing air pollutants and gives a freshening vibe. These plants adapt themselves to a variety of growing conditions and can add a tropical vibe to any space.
