Care Guide Areca Palm Golden Cane

DISCLOSURE
Please note Areca Palms are susceptible to some yellowing and browning of the bottom leaves, stress from shipping and natural growth will cause the bottom fronds to yellow before browning, some level of maintenance is needed, trimming the frond once they begin to brown is needed, you may prune the frond from the bottom section of its own stem about an inch from the main trunk, this will also help the plant remain vibrant and promote new growth while exposing the main trunk.

HOW TO CARE FOR ARECA PALM - Below see details on how to keep your new arrival healthy, happy and beautiful. If you’re a fan of indoor plants the Areca Palm is a great addition to any collection, is simple and easy to care for, thrives in neglect, like many other palm varieties such as Chinese Fan Palm, Cat Palm, Date Palm, Majesty Palm or  Lady Palm, If you’re looking to expand your indoor tree collection consider a Palm, anyone of this tree will add a touch of grace and elegance to your home.

WATER MANAGEMENT FOR ARECA PALM - Areca Palm do enjoy frequent watering, plants purchased for indoors use can be watered less frequent, however frequency of watering will depend on the size of the plant, humidity levels and rate of growth. One of the most common mistakes in the care of indoor plants is overwatering, indoor plants are far more tolerant to underwatering than overwatering, Improper watering can result in fungal issues and root rot. It is recommended to monitor your houseplants and water them when they need it, rather than on a schedule. When watering plants the objective is to maintain the soil moist but never soggy, a moisture meter is a great tool to utilize to reduce the guesswork, We recommend to sample the top soil an inch deep every 3-4 days, if you notice is still moist hold off on watering until it dries further, since most plants water needs may be different this is a good way to determine each individual plant water requirements.
Water Recommendations base on pot size, we suggest to utilize a soil probe initially to determine humidity levels and when to water.
6 inch Pot plants, every 5-7 Days, 10-12 inch Pot plants, every 7-12 days

LIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS - Areca Palm enjoy bright indirect light, they can adapt to lower lighting conditions, however if bright light is available it is optimal and will encourage a higher rate of growth. If outdoors it should remain in shaded areas, direct sun exposure will scorch its delicate leaves. You can place the Areca Palm near a window where the plant can receive the brightest available light, east, south, and west facing windows are the best options, we recommend to rotate the plant occasionally, this will allow the plant to receive bright light from different angles, it can minimize leaf drops from within the canopy and allow the plant to maintain even healthy growth all year round.

HUMIDITY - Regular Misting is recommended, Many of our houseplants come from the tropics, where humidity is very high, generally the air in our homes is dry, occasional misting houseplants is a very simple and effective way to boost humidity, an easy solution to the risk of overwatering your plants. Always pay attention to the color and texture of the leaves on your plant. Generally Plants with brown or dry leaf tips will benefit from regular misting to keep the plant happy and thriving, preferably in the mornings to allow the foliage to completely dry out during the day.

PLACEMENT AND TEMPERATURE - Selecting the right location for your plant indoors or outdoors is very important, micro climates can affect the health of the plant, make sure the plant does not receive air draft from near by AC/Heating vents, or warm air if close to a freezer, the foliage will dehydrate faster than it can hydrate from moisture in the air or in the soil, eventually turning brown and dropping, when plants are properly watered and care for and still display signs of wilting or seem sad it may help to relocate the plant to a different area for brighter indirect light. Please note most tropical plants are from the tropics, proper moisture is required for their health and survival, we highly recommend to bring your tropical plants indoors when temperatures are expected below 45s during winter months or above 90 during summer months, extreme weather can severely damage the plant.

REPOTTING - Areca Palm can grow exceptionally well in pots for long periods of time, generally you should repot your plant when it has become excessively rootbound that its roots are overgrown, you may not need to repot your Areca Palm for 2-3 years, do maintain a feeding schedule, the longer is kept in its existing pot the more nutrients are needed to maintain the plant happy and healthy. When repotting is due planting between spring and fall is recommended, use a potting mix with good drainage, Cactus or Succulent potting soil or indoor potting soil is recommended as long as the mix can drain freely, the objective is to avoid water log, you may increase the soil’s drainage properties by simply adding sand or perlite into the soil mix, now is a good time to integrate a slow release fertilizer in the soil, apply it base on label instructions, Most general all purpose fertilizer can work well. Select a pot 2-3 inches wider than your current pot, it should have drain holes if all possible, Do not remove all the soil from the root ball, this procedure can severely stress or may damage the plant, you may remove about an inch of the outer layer of soil as this can simulate growth, avoid planting too deep in the new pot, the top of the root ball should be level to the top of the soil in the new pot. In the event the new pot does not have drain holes you must avoid water from accumulating in the bottom of the pot, this will severely damage the plant, one possible solution is to water a fix amount of water, depending on the size of the plant 1 cup of water per gallon of soil may be sufficient once every 4-7 days. Water slowly to allow the soil to absorb the water and moist evenly, the objective is to avoid excess water build up in the bottom section of the pot.

FERTILIZING – No need to fertilize right away, We fertilize our plants during the production phase with slow release fertilizer which can last an additional 2-3 months supplying residual nutrients to the plant. Once you do decide to fertilize You may use a fertilizer formulated for interior plants, preferably a slow release fertilizer 180 days duration, fertilize during spring or fall base on label instructions.

CLEANING, REGULAR MAINTENANCE - Areca Palm tree leaves are large elongated stemming from individual fronds, exercise care when cleaning since leaves are very tender. Simply add a few drops of dish soil to a cup of water, wet a soft cloth and manually wipe off dust off the leaves, is a simple solution that is inexpensive and works well without damaging the plant.

INSECTS OR DESEASES - Here’s another plus, Areca Palm is not regularly affected by pests, however in the event that scale, mealy bugs, or mites are found to affect the plant, they can be controlled by applying horticultural neem oil that can be sprayed directly onto the insects, A second and third treatment, when using oils, will be necessary. Space out the sprays at 2 weeks intervals to break up the mealybug life cycle.