How to grow Areca palm

Dypsis lutescens · butterfly palm, bamboo palm, golden feather palm

Clustering palm from Madagascar with several bamboo-like stems and arching, feathery leaves with yellowish stalks; one of the most popular indoor palms.

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Family	Arecaceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 13 °C
Where it grows	At home

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	20…30 °C	balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 14 days	13…22 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright, indirect light; it needs good light, but direct sun through glass scorches the leaves.

Soil

Well-drained, loam-based potting compost; coarse sand can be added for drainage. Keep it moist but not soggy in the growing season and never leave it standing in water.

Care

Water freely in spring and summer so the compost never dries out; in winter let it dry slightly before watering and keep it above 13 °C. Mist the leaves if the room is centrally heated or very hot, or use a humidifier; dry air browns the leaf tips. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser two or three times in the growing season. Repot every two to three years in spring. Non-toxic to cats and dogs, but the heart of the palm should not be eaten.

Pests and diseases of Areca palm

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.