Here’s how to care for a majesty palm so you can bring the tropics indoors!
If you want a striking houseplant that adds tropical flair to your space, a majesty palm is a perfect choice!
Also called majestic palms or ravanea palms, these gorgeous plants grow near tropical rivers in Madagascar. Outdoors, they can grow up to 80 feet tall! Luckily, these palms also grow slowly, so they won’t outgrow your house anytime soon and you won’t have to prune much. Even if you’re able to plant one outside, it will stay short and easy to maintain for many years.
Majesty palms are also relatively low-maintenance and will reward you with lots of tall, graceful palm fronds.
Here’s the rundown on majesty palm care!
How to Care for a Majesty Palm
Soil and Potting
Majesty palms like a light, fast-draining soil like cactus mix, possibly with a little peat moss mixed in. Make sure your pot has great drainage and is about 2-3 inches larger than the root ball.
You may need to repot every other year to give the roots room to grow and change out the soil.
Light
These plants enjoy 4-8 hours of bright, indirect light per day, so they’ll enjoy a home by a nice, sunny window. They can thrive in the shade as well, but they’ll be healthier and use water more efficiently with lots of bright light.
Water
Unlike other palm species, majesty palms don’t like to dry out completely between waterings. Remember, these plants grow near rivers in their native habitat, so they’re used to damper soil and more frequent watering.
Water thoroughly when the top 2-3 inches feel dry to the touch, and never let the soil dry out completely between waterings.
Temperature and Humidity
As tropical plants, majesty palms like heat and humidity. They’ll do best in temperatures from 65 to 85 degrees (which covers most room temperatures) and 50% humidity or more. If you live in a dry climate, you may want to supplement with a humidifier or a pebble tray.
To make a pebble tray, simply fill a shallow tray with pebbles and water and set the whole plant, pot and all, on top. Make sure the roots do not touch the water. The water will create extra humidity around your plant as it evaporates! Make sure to refill the tray when the water gets low.
Also, protect your tree from drafts and dry air from AC/heating vents, space heaters, etc.
Fertilizer
Fertilize regularly during the spring and summer when the palm is actively growing, and less often in the winter.
Or, if you don’t want to remember a watering schedule, simply add some Indoor Plant Food to your watering can each time you water! I do this and all my plants love it!
Pruning
Majesty palms grow very slowly, so you won’t have to do much pruning beyond removing the occasional dry or yellowed leaf or trimming off dried tips.
Common Majesty Palm Issues:
Insects
Majesty palms are susceptible to household pests like spider mites. If you see tiny insects or webbing, you can take your plant outside to hose it off or wipe the leaves with a cloth to remove as many of them as you can. We also recommend Leaf Armor to clean and protect your leaves from pests, dust, bacteria, and debris.
Discoloration
If the tips of your leaves start to brown, your palm may be underwatered. If you notice your leaves turning yellow, your palm may be overwatered and/or need more light.
Dry, brown leaves
Your leaves may be scorched from too much direct sun, so you may want to scoot it back from the window so it’s not in direct light.
Majesty palms are gorgeous, easy to care for and bring a laid back, summery vibe to any space. Give one a try!
For more tips, browse our other plant posts here!
