Areca palm

Dypsis lutescens · Houseplant

A clumping palm with feathery, golden-green fronds that brings a tropical feel to a bright room. It needs more light than most palms sold for indoors and likes steady moisture. With space and care it becomes a tall, airy screen.

💧WaterWhen the top 1–2 in is dry, about weekly (estimated)

☀️LightBright, indirect

🐾PetsNon-toxic

Care at a glance

Light: Bright, indirect light; some gentle morning sun is fine
Water: When the top 1–2 in of soil is dry
Soil: Well-drained palm or general potting mix
Temperature: Best 65–80 °F; keep above 55 °F
Pot size: 10–14 in pot; repot every 2–3 years
Pot: Heavy pot with drainage hole
Growth: Moderate; 4–7 ft indoors over years (estimated)
Lifespan: Perennial; many years

When?

Repot in spring only when roots crowd the pot; palms prefer to be slightly rootbound. It can go outdoors in summer in light shade once nights stay above 60 °F (estimated).

Step by step

Place near a bright window, out of strong afternoon sun.
Water thoroughly when the top layer is dry; never leave it in standing water.
Use filtered or rested tap water if leaf tips brown.
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a palm fertilizer at half strength.
Cut fully brown fronds at the base; leave partly yellow ones until they are fully dry.
Mist or use a humidifier in dry, heated rooms.
Check under fronds regularly for spider mites and scale.

Common problems

Brown leaf tipsDry air, salt buildup or irregular watering; flush the soil and raise humidity.

Yellowing frondsToo little light, nutrient shortage or overwatering; check each in turn.

Fine webbing and speckled leavesSpider mites; rinse foliage and raise humidity.

Pets

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Chewed fronds may still cause mild stomach upset. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Related tools

Soil and mulch calculator

Similar plants

Parlor Palm Boston fern Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Sources

ASPCA — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

This page is general guidance; no pesticide doses are given.