Parlor Palm
The small, feathery palm that has lived in dim Victorian parlours since the 1800s. Pet-safe, slow, tolerant of low light and dry air, and the easiest palm there is.
If you want a palm and you do not want a project, this is the palm. The parlor palm has been an indoor plant for a hundred and fifty years precisely because it copes with gaslight, drafts and neglect. It is safe for cats and dogs and stays small enough for a shelf or tabletop for years.
It is also the palm most likely to succeed in a dry, air-conditioned home.
Light
Medium indirect light, but it tolerates low light and even a room lit by lamps. A north window is ideal. Direct sun yellows and scorches the fronds.
Water
Water when the top inch or two is dry, every eight days or so in summer and every two weeks in winter. It prefers slightly moist to dry, but it tolerates the occasional miss. Filtered water helps with brown tips.
Soil and potting
A standard well-draining mix. It grows slowly and likes a snug pot; repot every three years or so.
Feeding
A half-strength feed every eight weeks in spring and summer. It is a light feeder.
Propagation
Division of a clump when repotting. Seed is slow. Most plants are sold as several seedlings in one pot, which is why they look full.
In a hot, dry home
The best palm for this climate indoors. It tolerates dry air far better than the areca or majesty palm and does not mind AC. Brown tips appear in the driest weeks; use filtered water and trim them.
Problems and fixes
Brown frond tips
Likely cause: Dry air or tap water salts
Fix: Use filtered water; trim tips. Mild browning is normal.
Yellow fronds
Likely cause: Too much light, or overwatering
Fix: Move out of direct sun. Let the soil dry more between waterings.
Fine webbing
Likely cause: Spider mites
Fix: Shower the plant and treat with insecticidal soap.
Parlor Palm questions
Is the parlor palm safe for cats and dogs?
Yes. It is non-toxic and one of the best pet-safe plants for low light.
Can a parlor palm live in low light?
Yes. It tolerates a north window or a room lit mostly by lamps, growing slowly.
How often should I water a parlor palm?
Every eight days or so in summer and every two weeks in winter, when the top inch or two is dry.
