Chamaedorea Elegans, Parlour Palm

Planting and care

Caring for Chamaedorea Elegans

• After your parlour palm has had time to establish itself you can move it into a shady spot or an area with indirect sun.
• The care is fairly simple, just water your plants when the soil becomes dry.
• Using a palm fertilizer is a good idea, but you should wait with newly planted palms for at least two months.
• Mites can be an issue with palms so keep an eye on the undersides of the leaves.
• If you notice mites, simply wash the leaves carefully in a warm water with mild soap.
• Do this periodically until the mites are gone.
• Also, remove brown and damaged leaves regularly.

Typical uses of Chamaedorea Elegans

Special features: 

Palms tend to lend themselves to creating shadows and reflections. You can stand a palm in an alcove that is lined with a mirror and create stunning effects. If you put one on each side of a fireplace, it’s even doubly stunning. The shadows cast by the palm’s fronds can pattern a plain wall. Spotlights can create good strong light for bold shadows.

These are quite dramatic. Don’t position spotlights too closely because this generates too much heat for the palm to withstand. Finally, lighting the plant from below can cast shadows onto opposite walls and even the ceiling.