If you want a unique greenery that can bring a huge appeal to both your indoor and outdoor setting, you can always consider choosing Areca Bamboo Palm. This palm tree isn’t only clumping and tall, but the trunk looks like bamboo clumps too – earning its name.
With narrow fronds like bamboo leaves, the low maintenance plant has its own beneficial trait. One of the many Areca Palm indoor plant benefits is to purify the air, so you can expect cleaner air inside your house. But be careful as the plant can grow very tall. Think about placement and space before you have one inside your house.
About the Plant
Also known as Yellow Palm, Golden Cane Palm, or Bamboo Palm, this plant can grow up to 8 feet. Although people like to place it indoor (aside from the outdoor setting), they must also consider replanting it when it becomes too big for the inside space. Areca Bamboo Palm can also be beneficial as privacy screen as the wide and big leaves can provide extra sight protection.
How Can the Plant Make You Happy?
• You can enjoy the immediate calming and lush vibe to the space, thanks to the plant’s shape and fronds. The plant is popular for its original nature appeal. Not to mention that you can also enjoy the added privacy from its natural screening ability.
• The plant is harmless for pets and kids. They aren’t toxic, so having it around your pets and children would be completely okay.
• As it was mentioned before, the plant can purify the air. It absorbs dangerous toxins from the surrounding air. When you clean up the air, you basically create a healthier atmosphere for everyone.
The General Caring Tips
• Areca Bamboo Palm loves moderate (but indirect) light up to bright mode. Avoid direct sunlight if you don’t want your plant to be scorched or burnt. Go with filtered sunlight.
• The plant loves humid surroundings. You can either use a spray bottle to mist the plant or directly place it within a humid and warm space.
• You need to water the plant as soon as the soil dries out. Don’t wait up until it becomes completely dry.
• The plant loves warm temperature, starting from 70 degrees Fahrenheit or even higher.
• The plant loves a bit acidic soil in a well-draining soil. You can also use a special potting mix for palm varieties.
• You want to fertilize your plant regularly during the growing season, especially in summer and spring months.
Pruning Time
Unlike other plants that need regular pruning, Areca Bamboo Palm doesn’t need much trimming. The plant has its own natural self-cleaning ability. It will shed off the brown fronds itself and the process happens automatically. You can help by removing the dying fronds but wait until they have turned brown completely. If they haven’t turned brown completely, they are still important for the photosynthesis process.
Ways to Propagate the Plant
Root division would be the best way to propagate this plant. Some people may choose seed propagation, but it’s typically done in the nursery industry because of the complicated steps and the lengthy stages. For home gardeners, root division is the best option.
One of the best things about root division is the fact that you can do it anytime of the year. Mind you, though, that the best time to do it is in the spring months because the plant would be on its strongest point. Here’s how you should do it:
• Go with a (mature) plant having several stems.
• Water the plant a day before so the roots would loosen up and not attached so much to the soil.
• Pat the container’s side so you can remove the plant (from the pot). The patting action will loosen up the root ball.
• After you remove the plant, shake off the soil so there won’t be any roots. Rinse each stem’s roots off.
• Go with 4 stems (5 are still okay) and then cut them from the parent stem. Use a shark and clean knife.
• Divide the stems gently within a pot. Use 2:1 potting soil mixture and also coarse sand to ensure the success.
• You can place the container in an area with indirect and bright light. Make sure that the soil remains moist most of the time, but don’t let it too wet or too soggy.
Proper Potting and Repotting
If you want to grow Areca Bamboo Palm as your houseplant, make sure that the roots aren’t overcrowded and the container has enough holes. That’s why you should repot the plant regularly. Do it once in two years. You can also consider refreshing the pot mix so you can remove any built-up deposits of the fertilizer salt. Also check the root ball regularly. If it grows too big, even if it’s not yet 2 years, you need to repot the plant.
Water Routine
Understanding Areca palm water requirements is the key to successful outcome. As stated before, the plant loves moist soil with well-draining quality. It doesn’t appreciate completely dry soil or completely wet or even flooded setting. You can do manual checking (by sticking your finger into the soil) or use the moisture meter. The latter can be very helpful to help you understand the water level of your plant. When needed, water it thoroughly.
Humidity and Temperature
The ideal temperature would be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In the event it goes down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it can still survive the condition, but barely. Choose an area where the temperature doesn’t go below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant loves high humidity and it does best in such a condition. Be aware of browning leafy tips because it’s the sign that the air has turned too dry.
Don’t forget about the soil condition either. It thrives well in rich, but a tad acidic soil condition. Good drainage is needed. Go with a potting mix that is peat based that is formulated especially for palm varieties. In the end, you can expect growing healthy Areca Bamboo Palm if you do everything properly and correctly.