How to Care For and Grow Your Lady Palm

How to care for Lady Palm

Unique and dramatic, the Lady Palm is a head-turning statement plant that brings a touch of tropical vibes to any space she graces. Suitable for many conditions and requiring little upkeep or maintenance, this slow growing beauty is a great choice for all types of plant parents. Read on to learn how to care for the Lady Palm and keep her glowing over time.

How much light does the Lady Palm need?

The Lady Palm prefers bright indirect light, but also does well in medium levels of light. She can easily adapt to low or artificial light but will grow very slowly in these conditions.

How to water your lady Palm

Regular watering is virtually the only maintenance required for Lady Palms. Water your Lady Palm once a week or just enough to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. While the Lady Palm prefers a humid environment, she will withstand drought relatively well.

How fast does a Lady Palm grow?

The Lady Palm is a slow grower, and takes many years to reach taller heights. All new growth will fan out from a clump of woody stems at the base. Fertilize your Lady Palm once or twice a month in the spring and summer, always using half the recommended dose for indoor plants.

Common problems with the Lady Palm

Brown tips

Brown tips in the Lady Palm are often the result of conditions being too dry. This could be the humidity levels in the plant’s environment, or it could be an issue with watering. Check the soil — if it feels very dry, try watering more frequently to ensure it stays evenly moist. Mist your plant regularly or use a humidifier to increase humidity in the plant’s environment.

Yellow leaves

It is not uncommon to see yellow leaves on the Lady Palm, especially when it receives very little light. Keep in mind that yellow leaves are not always a sign of overall plant health, and it may just be their time to go. Yellow leaves may also indicate a lack in nutrients (fertilizer). As a slow grower, the Lady Palm needs little fertilizer, but it is still recommended to fertilizer 1-2 times per month in the spring and summer.

How to care for Lady Palm rhapis excelsa

How to maintain a beautiful and healthy Lady Palm

The Lady Palm requires little maintenance to keep it glowing over time. Read up on simple care tips to maintain its freshness, beauty, and overall growth.

  • Pruning - As mentioned above, yellow leaves will commonly appear towards the bottom of this plant, especially if it receives little natural light. Remove these leaves regularly: doing so will give your plant more energy for new growth!

  • Cleaning - The leaves of your Lady Palm will collect dust build up over time. To ensure it soaks in as much light as possible, regularly clean the leaves with a damp cloth and even better, a mild soap, which acts as a natural pest repellant.

How to grow and repot the Lady Palm

  • Growing - Lady Palms are slow growers— and this is part of what makes them so special! During spring and summer, fertilize once a month, and use half the dose recommended by regular indoor plant foods.

  • Repotting - The Lady Palm will need repotting every three to four years, but you do not necessarily need to increase the pot size. The main benefit of repotting is to give your plant fresh nutrients in the soil. Here’s how to repot your Lady Palm:

    • Remove the plant from its plastic nursery pot and shake off as much soil as you can from the clump of roots. “Tease” the root ball by gently pressing it to loosen compacted soil in the root system. Fill the plastic nursery pot about halfway with fresh indoor potting soil (you may use the same one as before, or size up if you’d like your plant to grow larger) and place the root ball inside. Surround with more soil, filling to the top and pressing down on the soil with your hands. Gently water the soil thoroughly. You’re done! Be sure to keep the soil just moist to the touch for the first several weeks to avoid any shock the plant may experience from repotting.


isaac-leon-and-george-9-3-19-3x2- (1).jpg

Indoor plants, potted & Delivered

Premium plants paired with stylish ceramics, plus lifetime plant care support. Order online at leonandgeorge.com