The Lady Palm is an exceptionally beautiful and truly unique houseplant that instantly brings elegance into any room. Learn how to care for your Lady Palm.
The Lady Palm or Rhapis excelsa is one of the easiest and most popular palms to grow indoors because it’s extremely tolerant of low-light conditions. The Lady Palm, also known as Bamboo Palm or Miniature Fan Palm, originated from China and first became notable as a feature in Japanese palaces. Its popularity rose in Europe and America during the 1770s and 1850s, respectively. With broad, dark green, fan-shaped leaves on tall stalks, the Lady Palm instantly brings elegance into any room. When planted in groups, it creates a tropical atmosphere.
Fun Fact: The Lady Palm is one of the best air-purifying houseplants. It cleans toxins from the air, such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and xylene.
The Lady Palm is one of the ‘it’ plants of 2021. It’s a classic ornamental palm that has been over 300 years. The Lady Palm has medicinal properties, such as the bark and roots can stimulate circulation and help with rheumatism. Indoors, the Lady Palm can reach heights of 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Outdoors, can reach heights of 6 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 12 feet wide.
It’s best to plant Lady Palm at the start of the spring season, but indoor Lady Palm can be planted year-round. Similar to the indoor Palm Tree, the Lady Palm is quite pricey, but it’s worth it since it’s a beautiful décor to your home, has a long life span, low-maintenance, and it’s a slow grower. Plus, the Lady Palm is a great choice for people with pets since it’s non-toxic. It’s also perfect for people who are on the go and want a tropical vibe in their home. Here’s everything you need to know on how to care for your Lady Palm.
| Botanical Name | Rhapis excelsa |
| Common Name | Bamboo Palm and Miniature Fan Palm |
| Plant Size | Indoors: 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, Outdoors: 6 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 12 feet wide. |
| Types of Palm Plants | Areca Palm, Bamboo Palm, Canary Island Date Palm, Cascade Palm, Chinese Fan Palm, European Fan Palm, Fishtail Palm, Kentia Palm, Lady Palm, Majesty Palm, Parlor Palm, Ponytail Palm, Pygmy Date Palm, Sago Palm, and Yucca Palm |
| Sunlight | The Lady Palm grows best in bright, indirect light to low-light environments. |
| Water | Allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering. |
| Humidity | The Lady Palm prefers a humidity level at 50% or higher. |
| Temperature | It can adapt to temperatures between 50°F and 80°F. |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic. However, the Lady Palm has sharp spines at its base that may cut your cat, dog, or kid’s skin if they get close. |
| Food | The Lady Palm has a fairly slow growth rate, so it needs very little fertilizer. Feed every other month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/4 the recommended strength. |
| Pests and Problems | The Lady Palm is susceptible to root rot, scale, and spider mites. Avoid over-watering. Use a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol and a systemic insecticide to get rid of pests. |
| Omysa Plant Care Tip | The Lady Palm likes to be root-bound in a small container. Be sure to cover all of the roots and bases of the canes when you repot to encourage new shoots and suckers. |
Lady Palm Care Tips
To keep your Lady Palm happy and healthy, clean and dust off the leaves monthly by placing your Lady Palm in a shower tub, filled with bottled or filtered water or water free of chlorine and fluoride. Clean each leaf, so it’s clear of dirt and dust. Let the water drain, and return your Lady palm in its clean container. Use sterile pruners when cutting off the old leaves. Trim brown tips to help your Lady Palm regain strength.
Since the Lady Palm is quite pricey, it’s best to propagate, according to Lively Root. Start by removing a 6-8 inch cutting from the mother plant. Place the cut stem in water. Make sure to replace the water every week. Once the stem grows at least two inches of roots, create a hole in damp soil mixed with some rooting hormone and plant the stem.
Next, cover the cutting with a clear, plastic bag and mist. Make sure to check soil moisture every week. Within six weeks, the roots should be getting established. Place your baby Lady Palm under bright to medium, indirect light. Here’s everything else you need to know on how to care for your Lady Palm, from sunlight requirements to common problems and their solutions.
Sunlight
First, on our list on how to care for your Lady Palm is to place it in a spot where it can receive bright, indirect light. However, it can also tolerate low-light conditions. Do not place your Lady Palm under direct sunlight because too much direct light can kill your plant.
Common Problem: If the leaves on your Lady Palm are turning yellow, this means it’s receiving too much light.
Solution: Your Lady Palm can tolerate less light, but it cannot tolerate direct sunlight. Its leaves will start to turn yellow since there’s too much direct light. It’s best if you can put it in an area where it can get medium to bright, indirect light.
Water
Next on our list on how to care for your Lady Palm is to water it when the top 50% of the soil is completely dry. Keep in mind that good drainage is important for your Lady Palm since it’s sensitive to root rot. Never let your plant’s root ball sit in water as this could lead to its death.
Common Problem: If the leaves on your Lady Palm are turning brown, this means consistent over-watering or unfiltered tap water.
Solution: Consistent over-watering causes root rot. The Lady Palm can tolerate dry periods, but keep them short. It’s also best if you can create a watering schedule. Always check if the soil feels dry. If it is, then water your Lady Palm accordingly.
Another cause could be the quality of the water you are using. Tap water is not suitable for Lady Palm because it contains chlorine, fluoride, minerals, and salt, which causes the tips of the leaves to burn, curl up, and turn brown. Filter the water by either using a water filtration system or by leaving the water in an open container overnight.
Humidity & Temperature
Adding to our list on how to care for your Lady Palm is to place it in a spot with room temperatures between 50°F and 80°F. It will perfectly thrive in any home or office. Your Lady Palm can thrive amazingly well in both dry and humid environments, but it’s recommended to mist it often, place it near a humidifier, or use a pebble tray.
Common Problem: If the leaves on your Lady Palm are drying out and wilting, this means that the area has low humidity, and the plant’s soil is completely dry.
Solution: If possible, get a humidifier for your Lady Palm. This is the best solution and also recommended by experts. Regular misting will also do the job. Avoid air conditioning vents, cold drafts, doors, and sudden temperature changes to keep your Lady Palm happy and healthy.
Toxicity
Non-toxic. However, the Lady Palm has sharp spines at its base that may cut your cat, dog, or kid’s skin if they get close.
Food
Another on our list on how to care for your Lady Palm is to feed it very little fertilizer. Feed every other month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/4 the recommended strength. Add an extra feeding if the fronds start to look a little yellow.
Note: Avoid over-fertilization since it can lead to fertilizer burn or plant burn. Fertilizer burn or plant burn is the result of applying too much fertilizer. Fertilizer contains salts, which draw moisture out of plants. Remember, anything too much is bad for your plant. To avoid plant burn, it’s best to follow the recommended amount of fertilizer and schedule.
Pests & Other Problems
Usually, the Lady Palm is quite hardy. However, it’s susceptible to root rot, scale, and spider mites.
- Avoid over-watering.
- Use a cotton swab with rubbing alcohol to get rid of spider mites.
- Use a systemic insecticide to get rid of scale insects.
- Always check for scale insects underneath the leaves of your Lady Palm, near the base of each leaf.
That’s a wrap on how to care for your Lady Palm. If you are looking for an easy-to-care, medium-sized palm, and slow-growing plant, then the Lady Palm is perfect for you!
Check out our Plant Care blog to learn more about different houseplants and tips on how to keep your plants alive and healthy.
Whatever houseplant you choose to transform your home into a lively oasis, you’ll definitely need a stylish planter to display your plant baby in. No matter what your style, there’s an Omysa planter that will be perfect with your garden and home’s décor. From ceramics to fiberstone, check out Omysa’s Shop and add it to your cart!
