Majesty Palm Care

The majesty palm, known botanically as Ravenea rivularis, is a popular houseplant which is identified by tall stalks of bladed green foliage. It is a large indoor plotted plant that grows fast up to 10 feet tall. Known for its large bladed fronds, this indoor palm plant with proper attention in the form of adequate care, adds beauty and class to any room and enhances the interior of a house to a great extend.

The plant grows well in temperate, tropical as well as sub tropical climates and thrives well in a partially shaded area, receiving dappled sunlight. However, the majesty palm can be grown either inside or outside the house, and just requires good soil, water and right amount of sunlight for its growth. So, if you are planning to grow this amazing majesty palm tree in your house, here are some tips on how to care for a majesty palm.

Majesty Palm Care

Soil Type: A good general purpose potting soil, i.e. a soil that retains water yet drains well, is considered best for a majesty palm tree. The soil should be well aerated and if it looks too tight, you can add sand or perlite and peat moss to loosen it. For potting the plant, use a 14 to 16 inch pot with a hole. Add nearly 1 to 2 inches of pea gravel to the bottom of the pot to provide proper drainage, else the roots that sit in water may rot.

Watering: The most important factor in the care program is watering the plant. It is vital to keep the tree moist all the times, without letting it dry completely and the roots to sit in water. Since the plant dwells in slightly high humidity level, a daily mist on the fronds will add plenty of beauty to the plant. In case, if the foliage tips start turning brown, it means you are under watering the plant, on the other hand, if they are becoming yellow, you may be over watering it. Hence, be careful while watering the majesty palm plant.

Pruning: Trim damaged, diseased or dying foliage by gradually tugging them off the trunk if they are loose or cutting them off with loppers or a small hand saw. When the tree grows upward, new foliage appear at the top of the plant, while the lower foliage turn brown and dry up. Hence, it is better to prune such fronds in order to keep the plant from utilizing the energy on them, and use or store that energy for new and healthy plant growth. You can prune the stalks to within 2 to 3 inches of the trunk.

Fertilizers: The most common pest to this plant is spider mites, which can be treated by misting the plant with a soapy water mixture twice or thrice a day. However, if the mites persist, use a powerful, commercial spray (pesticide) until the mites are gone. Apply slow-release fertilizers containing the two most important micro nutrient magnesium and calcium or formulated with a 3-1-3 or 15-5-15 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, once or twice a day to reduce maintenance time and promote healthy plant growth.

For feeding the majesty palm, select one of the many palm foods available in the market and apply as per the manufacturer's instructions around the pre watered root ball. As long as you understand what type of environment your majesty palm tree needs, growing it will not at all be difficult. Hence, follow the aforementioned majesty palm care tips and let this beautiful tree grace your home for years and years.