The mountain palm (Chamaedorea), which comes from the rainforests of Mexico, is one of the easy-care palm species. It needs less light than other species and forgives small care mistakes. It even blooms quite quickly. The only thing you should pay close attention to is pests when caring for a mountain palm as a houseplant.
How to care for a mountain palm as a houseplant?
To care for a mountain palm as a houseplant, place it in a bright but not directly sunny location, water a lot in summer, fertilize moderately monthly, repot it annually and keep it cooler in winter 12-14 degrees.
Mountain palms don't tolerate direct sunlight very well
In their homeland, mountain palms get a lot of light, but they are never in direct sunlight. If you keep a mountain palm as a houseplant, look for a location where it will only receive direct sunlight in the morning or evening hours.
The mountain palm should not be too dark because if there is too little light it will rot and turn brown leaves. The growth then appears rather stunted.
In summer you are welcome to put your mountain palm outside. Find a spot in partial shade and do not place them in direct sun to prevent the fronds from burning. If it gets cooler than ten degrees, bring the houseplant back into the house.
Properly care for mountain palm as a houseplant
- Water a lot in summer
- fertilize moderately
- repot annually
- keep cooler in winter
Mountain palms need a lot of water. Dip the pot ball in a bucket of water every two weeks so that the substrate can soak up. The mountain palm can even tolerate standing water at the roots for a short time. Spray the leaves with water more often to prevent brown fronds from forming.
The mountain palm is fertilized once a month with normal liquid fertilizer (€8.00 at Amazon). Reduce the amount indicated on the packaging by half.
Mountain palms should be repotted every spring. A larger pot is only necessary if the roots protrude from the top of the container.
Winter a little cooler
During the growth phase from March to September, the mountain palm loves high temperatures. In winter you should keep them cooler. Ideal winter temperatures are between 12 and 14 degrees.
In winter, the mountain palm is watered more sparingly. Only give fresh water if the top of the pot ball has already dried out.
Mountain palms are not hardy and can only tolerate temperatures below ten degrees for a short time.
Tip
Mountain palms can be propagated from seeds. However, propagating the non-toxic houseplant is lengthy and therefore only recommended for palm tree lovers with a lot of patience.