Palms are my favorite type of indoor plant. PALM is actually the name for a “family” of plants with characteristics that differentiate them from Trees, Canes, vines, succulents, etc. People who love palms are reminded of far away places; exotic lands and vacation spots such as Hawaii, the Bahamas, Fiji, Costa Rica, and Bali. They create a nice ambiance for a restaurant, home or office and will impress your clients and friends.
Indoor palms do well in medium light and are also fine in high light as long as it is not direct. They don’t need quite as much as trees (ie: Ficus). Trees tolerate and need brighter light even if its direct sun. The woody trunks of trees allow them to use the water quickly, whereas Palms use the water less quickly. This is why you usually allow a palm to dry out longer then a tree. On the other hand, the most popular indoor office plant, Dracaena, does well with less light and less water then Trees or palms. Their canes and thicker leaves retain moisture longer then the other plant types.
Pictured below are the Chameadorea (bamboo) palm, Kentia Palm, Rhaphis Palm, Fishtail Palm, and Bird of Paradise. The Bamboo and Fishtail Palms have slightly thinner leaves; they dry out a little faster and are not quite as hardy as the other three . ( Actually they are fronds, not leaves ) They are also slightly more susceptible to mites or mealy bugs. That is more of a problem indoors, because the air is drier then outdoors. Having said that, its not hard to treat pest problems if you spot them early, and that is why our indoor plant service always comes with a free plant replacement guarantee.
Although we prefer to use these indoors, they can acclimate to the outdoor environment in L.A. If you keep one long enough, and it grows too large, moving it outdoors may be the best option! Its best if you allow them to get used to outdoor conditions gradually. Start them outdoors in the shade, and if you want, move into the sun a little later. They will live in the full sun, but usually prefer at least partial shade. We have moved the Bird of Paradise into full sun and had good results, but for the others, moving into full sun too soon can cause leaf burn, and usually results in fronds turning a lighter shade of green.
Outdoor palms we use (usually for patios) , include Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix Roebellini), Queen Palms, Mediterranean Fan Palms, Areca Palms, and sometimes King Palms. We repot them into larger pots to prepare for faster growth in the brighter light, but rarely put them into the ground. For that its usually best to hire a landscaping company that specializes in outdoor gardening.
We have over 35 years experience finding and caring for palms in containers. So, for a beautiful tropical interior design, contact 310 305 7030 or btvsmith@verizon.net
