Lady Palm Care Must-Knows
Lady palm spreads by underground stems called rhizomes. Plan to remove the suckers on the outskirts of a lady palm regularly to keep the plant contained. Dig the suckers out with a sharp spade or cut them off with hedge trimmers. Otherwise, lady palms don’t require much pruning, except for damaged or dead fronds. Use a sharp pair of sterilized pruners to snip off the fronds. Rich in texture, lady palm makes an attractive accent plant for indoors, too. Small varieties, sometimes called miniature varieties, are wonderful for tabletops in large spaces like living rooms and family rooms. Large varieties can enliven the corner of a room. All lady palms grow best in bright, indirect light. A south- or west-facing window covered by a sheer curtain is a good choice. These adaptable palms will grow in low-light areas, such as north- or east-facing windows, but expect them to grow exceptionally slow in this condition. Water lady palms thoroughly when the surface of the soil mix is dry to the touch. Lady palms are slow-growing and benefit from a monthly dose of fertilizer from April through September. Use a houseplant fertilizer and dilute it to half-strength.
More Varieties of Lady Palm
Slender lady palm
Rhapis humilis gets its name from its long, slender leaf segments, which grow to 18 inches long. And despite their common name, all slender lady palms sold are male, which means that they will not bear fruit. It makes a good container plant or privacy screen 15 feet tall and wide. Zones 9-11
Broadleaf lady palm
Rhapis excelsa is the most widely grown species of lady palm. It has been cultivated for so long that its exact origins are unknown. This lady palm grows in light to heavy shade and makes an elegant houseplant. It also forms an excellent privacy screen. It grows 10 feet tall and wide. Zones 9-11
Thai lady palm
Rhapis subtilis is highly variable, ranging in size from 2 to 7 feet tall and wide. The fan-shape leaves are divided into three to 12 segments. It is a slow-growing palm that likes consistent moisture. Thai lady palm is native to Southeast Asia and is less hardy than most other lady palms. Zones 10-11
