Areca Palm

Getting your watering routine right is paramount in the care of your Areca Palm. Aim to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. If your Areca is allowed to sit in water this can lead to root-rot and ultimately the death of your Palm.

Allow the soil to dry a little more between watering in winter. If possible, use distilled water – especially if you live in an area with hard water as the chemicals in the water can be damaging to Arecas.

Find a bright, indirect spot in your home which is warm and away from any cold drafts. Arecas are more shade tolerant than other indoor plants, but still want a brighter spot if possible to keep them in optimum health.

Areca Palms do prefer a slightly humid atmosphere, so will benefit from a misting every now and again. Consider purchasing a water mister to keep your palm happy year-round.

Areca Palms want organically rich, loose, free-draining compost. You can add perlite, bark or sand to help allow the water to drain away freely. It is also ideal if you can add stones to the bottom of your pot so the roots are never sat directly in water, which has drained away.

The Areca palm will need fertilising in spring/early fall but you won’t need to bother during late fall/winter as the palm is dormant during this time. Choose a houseplant fertiliser to suit your needs.

If using fertiliser is new to you, read our “How to Fertilise Your Houseplant” page!

Indoor Areca palms can occasionally be vulnerable to common houseplant pests which cause foliage damage and discolouration so treat any infestation as soon as possible with an insecticide.

If you think your plant is suffering from a pest or disease, take a look at our Pests and Infections page!

Repot your Areca every other year to freshen the soil and remove any fertiliser salt deposits that have built up in the container.

Wondering how to repot your houseplant? Take a look at our repotting guide. It has all the information you’ll need!