Plant lovers without much experience who would like to bring exotic leaf decorations into their rooms are well advised to choose the mountain palm. Because the delicately feathered Central American does not require any complex or particularly demanding care.
What are the care requirements of a mountain palm?
The mountain palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is an easy-care, exotic houseplant that can grow to 1.30 meters high. It requires a bright but sun-protected location, uniform humidity without waterlogging and moderate temperatures around 20°C. They are particularly uncomplicated in hydroponics.
Origin
The mountain palm, botanically Chamaedorea, is a moderately species-rich plant genus. However, their total of 104 species are quite diverse. Their areas of origin extend from Mexico to Brazil in South America. As their name suggests, most species come from higher altitude habitats, only a few are also native to lowlands. What all Chamaedorea species have in common is their settlement in the understory zone of moist forests. They are therefore adapted to more semi-shady lighting conditions.
Of the various types of Chamaedorea, only the Chamaedorea elegans, the Mexican or ornamental mountain palm, is relevant to the local houseplant culture. As its German name suggests, it comes from the mountainous regions of Mexico and Guatemala.
The origin of the mountain palm at a glance:
- The areas of origin of the 104 species extend from Central to South America
- Most species from mountainous regions
- Understory plant from moist forests
- Species cultivated in this country as a houseplant Mexican mountain palm from Mexico and Guatemala
Growth
As already mentioned above, the species of the genus Chamaedorea are quite diverse - this also applies to their respective habits. There are both upright growing and prostrate or even climbing species. But they are all rather small to medium sized. Most species have single stems, others also form clumps.
The Chamaedorea elegans, which is relevant for Central European houseplant cultivators, grows as an upright tree with a slender trunk with an umbrella-like tuft of leaves. In its homeland it grows up to 3 meters high and spreads its crown around 2 meters. In indoor cultivation, however, it usually only reaches a height of 1.30 meters, which is easier to handle.
Houseplant
As a houseplant, the Chamaedorea elegans is extremely easy to care for and is therefore also suitable for beginners. She doesn't need too much attention and is very tolerant of care mistakes.read more
leaves
The mountain palm is valued as a foliage houseplant, especially because of its delicately feathered, fresh green and slightly shiny leaves. They are placed closely opposite each other at the top of the trunk and have a delicate pinnate structure made up of 20 to 40 narrow, lanceolate individual leaves up to 15 centimeters long. With the medium-long stem, which is flattened at the top and round at the bottom, the palm fronds reach a total length of around 60 centimeters.
Bloom
The Mexican mountain palm forms very delicate, widely fanned flower panicles with small, yellowish, spherical flowers throughout the entire growing season from spring to autumn. They don't stand out particularly visually from the green leaves, but the attentive observer can certainly enjoy their delicate structure. The mountain palm is dioecious, meaning it has separate sexes. If you have a female specimen, the flower will also fill the room with a pleasant scent.read more
Which location is suitable?
As an understory plant, the mountain palm is of course not used to direct sunlight. Their equatorial region of origin still requires a lot of brightness. You should therefore offer it a bright location in the room where it is protected from direct sunlight. In summer you can also put it outside, but of course in a shaded spot.
Since the Chamaedorea elegans comes from the Central American mountain regions, it practically does not need tropical forest temperatures. A living temperature of 20°C, which is also pleasant for us, is ideal for them. In winter, however, it needs cooler temperatures of around 12 to 16°C if you want flowers to form in the next vegetation phase. A place to spend the winter in an unheated stairwell is ideal - and might also provide some tropical joy when you come home on cold, wet winter days.
The location requirements at a glance:
- Mountain palm should be kept bright but protected from direct sunlight
- Temperatures in summer moderately warm, around 20°C
- Exposed possible, but shaded
- Cooler in winter (12-15°C), so that there is a temperature incentive for flower formation next spring
read more
What soil does the plant need?
The mountain palm should be in a loose, not too compact substrate. Potting soil is particularly suitable for palm trees or herbs. You can make the soil a little more humus-rich with a little compost. Good drainage made of coarse sand or volcanic rock is definitely recommended because of the relatively high sensitivity to waterlogging.
The pH value should be alkaline rather than acidic.
To remember:
- permeable substrate made of (special palm or herb) soil and some compost
- Drainage made of coarse sand or volcanic rock
- ph value rather alkaline
Watering mountain palm
When watering the mountain palm, the simple rule of thumb applies: not too little and not too much. In concrete terms, this means: It should be kept evenly moist and not allowed to dry out, but waterlogging should also be avoided as far as possible. Give it plenty of water, especially during hot, dry periods in summer and make sure that the ball of the pot always remains moist. However, there should not be permanent water in the coaster. In any case, it should be absorbed by the plant before watering again.
A dipping bath once a week is also recommended: immerse the pot completely in water and then let it drain well.
During the winter break, reduce watering a little, but even then the substrate should always remain slightly moist.
Pouring rules again in key words:
- not too little, not too much
- always keep moist, but avoid waterlogging
- In the summer, occasional diving is recommended
- keep only slightly moist in winter
Hydroculture
The Chamaedorea elegans can also be grown hydroponically. It is particularly recommended for beginners or offices as it requires even less attention when watering and caring for it. Overall, hydroponics is also somewhat more hygienic, as there is less breeding ground for pests and allergens to colonize. Particularly sensitive people can also benefit from this.
However, it is important that the decision to go for hydroponics is made right from the start. The mountain palm does not tolerate a switch from soil culture to hydroculture well - its roots have to be used to this “clinical” water and nutrient absorption right from the start.
For hydroponics, use the classic method to place the mountain palm in a planter with expanded clay and a water-nutrient solution as a base. A water level indicator is important to always stay informed about the hydro status and to be able to refill in a timely manner.
What you need to consider when doing hydroponics:
- Suitable for beginners, offices and allergy sufferers
- If so, then cultivate like this from the start
- Classic variant is best: expanded clay substrate over water-nutrient solution with water level indicator
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Fertilize mountain palm properly
You should only fertilize a mountain palm when it is older. In the first year of life, the plant should have the opportunity to develop its roots well. Later you can give it some universal liquid fertilizer every now and then during the growing season from early spring to late summer. However, you should dose this lightly and leave a gap of at least 2 to 3 weeks between fertilizer applications.
Diseases
Diseases are generally not known for the mountain palm.read more
Pests
However, pests can occasionally attack the Chamaedorea elegans. It is most likely to be attacked by the most common houseplant parasites, spider mites and scale insects. In both cases, heating air that is too dry is usually the cause. If the substrate is too wet, fungus gnats can also settle.
Spider mites
These tiny little animals colonize many house plants and feed on their plant sap. The damage is initially manifested by the fine webs with which the reddish to yellowish or greenish mites cover their host plant. Later, small dots appear on the leaves, which gradually expand into larger spots. At some point the leaves curl up and are shed.
Thanks to the webs, spider mite infestation can usually be detected and combated early on. The spray and foil method has proven to be effective here. First, spray the palm tree under a stronger jet of water to mechanically remove the pests. In order to eradicate all of them, cover the plant completely with foil, making it as airtight as possible at the bottom. The mites die within a week.
Scale insects
These slightly larger parasites also feed on the plant sap of their host and leave behind excreta (honeydew) that sticks to the area around the houseplant. The best way to combat scale insects is to start by wiping them off the leaves with a damp cloth. Then apply a spray treatment of garlic, nettle or tansy decoction. For more stubborn infestations, you can also use an oil preparation that will suffocate the pests.
Sad gnats
Sad gnats prefer to settle in wet soil substrate. For this reason alone, you should not keep the mountain palm too moist over the long term. The parasites are easy to spot because they swarm around the plant every time you water it. Then you should act quickly, because the larvae deposited in the soil eat all lower parts of the plant, especially the roots.
You can contain a large part of the population with sticky yellow boards. A completely biological method is the use of beneficial organisms such as nematodes, which you can buy from specialist retailers. If you release these on the fungus gnats, they will satisfy their hunger immediately.
As a preventative measure, you can also keep carnivorous plants in the room - they also do a reliable job.
Brown leaves
drought
Brown leaves on the mountain palm are in most cases an indication of dryness - either it has not been supplied with enough irrigation water from below or the surrounding air is too dry for it. Be sure to keep the pot ball evenly moist - or simplify the water supply through hydroponics. To keep the humidity in the room high, you can place a bowl of water on the heater. You also benefit from this. An occasional spray shower is also good for the mountain palm.
Sunburn
Another reason for brown leaves can be sunburn. As an understory plant, the mountain palm cannot tolerate direct sunlight. So protect them in the still necessary bright location by shading them from other plants or even a thin cloth sail.read more
Brown Laces
If the leaf tips of the mountain palm turn brown, the reasons are the same as for completely brown leaves - here you just recognized the problem earlier. Of course, this also makes the fix easier. Immediately increase the watering quantity or frequency and, if necessary, increase the humidity in the room.
If the sun bothers the mountain palm too much, shade it from light.read more
Propagate mountain palm
Saplings
The easiest way to propagate a mountain palm is through saplings. It regularly forms these as side shoots in the lower parts of the plant. You can simply cut them off with a sharp knife and place them in a planter with potting soil. Grow it in a bright, warm place protected from direct sun and keep it evenly moist - an evenly moist and warm microclimate is conducive to growth, which you can achieve by covering it with a film.
Seed cultivation
Another method is seed cultivation. You can either buy seeds from specialist retailers or take some yourself from two mother plants. However, this requires a little skill and motivation. First of all, you need a male and a female plant specimen so that fertilization is possible. When both specimens are blooming, use a brush (€7.00 on Amazon) to brush over the male and female flowers again and again over several days. You can then remove the seeds from the ripe, blackish fruits.
Growing the seeds requires a lot of patience. Because they first have to be soaked in water for about two days so that the hard capsule dissolves. Once this is done, place them in nursery pots and place them in a protected, bright, warm and evenly humid place - a mini greenhouse offers the highest chance of success. Alternatively, you can also create a suitable microclimate by covering it with foil.
When the seedlings emerge, they need some ventilation. When you have reached a stable size, you can move them to larger planters and continue cultivating them appropriately.read more
Is mountain palm poisonous?
It is not entirely clear whether the mountain palm is poisonous. It is often classified as harmless, but some experts attribute it to a slight toxicity due to the saponins it supposedly contains. In any case, the toxicity, if present at all, is only weak. In order to minimize risks, mountain palms should be placed high in households with small children and pets and any fallen plant parts should be collected and disposed of.read more
Tip
If you particularly value the not particularly showy, but very pretty flowers, cut them off immediately after they have bloomed. This generally promotes new formation.
Varieties
Chamaedorea elegans Bella
This is the most common variety of Mexican mountain palm that can be purchased locally. Occasionally you can also find varieties of other species such as the particularly delicate Chamaedorea metallica or the unfeathered Ch. Ernesti-augustii.
The Chamaedorea elegans Bella is characterized by its compact growth and its shapely, fresh green palm fronds. It grows up to 1.30 meters high and shows the typically delicate, panicle-shaped inflorescences with yellowish spherical flowers. It can bloom throughout the entire growing season.
