Thriving indoors or outdoors, in pots on the patio and in low light conditions, Areca Palms boldly go farther up North than any other palms have before. In fact, if you live outside of the Areca Palm’s recommended growing zones, you can simply bring them indoors during the colder months. Island-inspired good looks in any part of the country? It sounds too good to be true, but it's possible with the Areca.
And don't be daunted by its exotic good looks or its care. Especially since we're here to help you keep this already-carefree plant growing strong.
How to Plant the Areca Palm Tree
With Areca Palms, the perks are endless. First, you'll breathe easy because they filter and clean the air. Even better is the fact that each stem is covered with dark, lush, green leaf fronds that bring a tropical look to any space.
Your Areca Palm is ideal for indoor growth or zones 9 to 11 outside (any area that stays warm and humid year-round). If you're growing inside or on your patio, simply place in an area with full to partial sunlight (any space with a minimum of 4 to 5 hours of sunlight daily).
Once you've got your location and are ready to plant, dig a hole that's about three times the width of your tree's root ball. From there, place your tree, backfill the soil, and then water the surrounding soil to settle your tree's roots.
If you're keeping your Areca inside, place in a pot large enough to accommodate its root ball with some space to grow. Use organic soil mix, place your tree, and then water until you see it flowing from your pot's drainage holes.
Ongoing Care
The most important part of long-term care is watering, but the Areca won't need much. We recommend watering your tree about twice or three times weekly, but if you're not sure when to water, just check the soil about 3 or 4 inches down - if the soil is dry here, it's time to water.
Once your Areca Palm is established, fertilize with a nitrogen blend. Apply this blend once in the spring, and follow with a well-balanced fertilizer in the summer.Always follow the fertilizer's label instructions for best results.
How to Prune an Areca Palm Tree
Simply remove any dead or weak fronds on your Areca to bolster new growth.
FGT Tip: Remember to sterilize your shearing tools with rubbing alcohol so that your cuts are clean.
Caring for the Areca Palm Tree
Here are a few more tips to keep your Areca Palm growing strong.
Blair is the Content Marketing Manager at FastGrowingTrees.com, and though she's not your traditional gardener, the planting world is definitely growing on her (pun intended!). She's enjoyed digging into plant care and maintenance and growing her plant collection, especially with exotic indoor varieties.
