PlantWhy

Parlor Palm

Chamaedorea elegans · Houseplant

A small, slow palm that copes with lower light better than most. Its feathery fronds suit a shelf or a dim corner, and it is safe around cats and dogs.

Parlor Palm
Photo: Bachelot Pierre J-P, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
💧WaterWhen the top 1 in is dry (estimated)
☀️LightMedium indirect light
🐾PetsPet-safe

Care at a glance

Light
Medium to bright indirect light; no direct sun
Water
When the top 1 in is dry
Soil
Peat-free potting mix, well-drained
Temperature
65–80 °F; keep above 50 °F
Pot size
Repot every 2–3 years, one size up
Container
Pot with drainage holes
Growth
Slow; a few fronds a year
Lifespan
Perennial, many years

When?

Repot in spring if roots crowd the pot; it dislikes root disturbance, so only go one size up.

Step by step

  1. Choose a pot just larger than the root ball, with drainage.
  2. Plant at the same depth; don't bury the stems.
  3. Water until it drains, then let the top inch dry.
  4. Keep out of direct sun, which scorches the fronds.
  5. Mist or group with other plants if the air is very dry.
  6. Feed lightly every month or two in spring and summer.
  7. Cut off fully brown fronds at the base.

Common problems

Brown frond tipsDry air or uneven watering; raise humidity and water more evenly.
Yellowing frondsOverwatering; let the soil dry more between waterings.
Fine webbing under frondsSpider mites; rinse the plant and raise humidity.

Pets

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Related tools

Soil and mulch calculator

Similar plants

Areca palmSpider PlantCalathea

Sources

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