Dreaming of the warmth and festive atmosphere of the tropics? Why not recreate it at home? How, you will ask? It’s easy: plant palm trees! Indeed, it is possible to have a palm tree to brighten up your decor, even in Quebec. The Majesty palm tree does well in our climate in summer, and can spend the winter inside without too much hassle. In order for your Majesty to stay beautiful for a long time, here are some tips for its maintenance.
Repotting
After your purchase, repot your palm tree in a larger pot than the one you bought it in – palm trees are often very cramped in their growing pots. Choose a heavy and solid pot so your tree won’t topple over. Use a soil made for cactus, that drains well.
It is also possible to plant your Majesty in the ground. If you want to make the task easier for when winter comes and you need to enter it inside, bury the pot directly in the ground.
Exposure
Like all good palm trees, Majesty loves an intense light, but can tolerate partial shade fairly well. When placed under direct sunlight, its leaves can burn. Early morning and late afternoon sun is ideal for it. When you bring it into the house, place it in the brightest part of your home, away from heat sources.
Watering
In its natural state, in Madagascar, the Majesty palm tree grows alongside rivers and has part of its roots submerged in water. It needs watering as soon as the soil starts to dry up, and do not neglect watering. You can also place the pot on a saucer filled with water in order for the roots to draw what they need from it. If your palm tree lacks water, its leaves will yellow and it will be very hard to bring them back to their beautiful tropical green.
When inside, the lack of humidity in our homes, especially during winter, can be a bit problematic. Spray the foliage with water and, if possible, shower your palm tree a few times during its stay.
Fertilization
To help your palm tree to stay green and healthy, feed it with an all-purpose fertilizer every 4 weeks. During the winter months, avoid fertilizing.
The Majesty palm tree as houseplant
When the warm weather is behind us and temperatures start going down, it is time to bring your beautiful Majesty inside. Inspect the leaves, top to bottom, as well as the soil in order to not bring any unwanted insects with it. The palm tree is prone to spider mites and scale insects. Place it in a bright spot, but without direct sun, away from heat sources and draughts.
The Majesty palm is a fast-growing plant that can quickly become too big for your space. You can’t really prune it, and you must avoid topping it at all costs. Make sure to cut only the yellowed or unhealthy fronds. If it becomes too big, you will need to find a new place for it so it can continue growing as it pleases.
Make sure its soil is always moist, and gently wash the leaves to clean up any dust that accumulates.
My Majesty palm tree is unwell, what is going on?
If the leaves, or even whole palms of your Majesty are yellowing, it is probably due to a lack or excess of water. Check on your soil, it needs to be moist but not soggy. Inside, make your environment more humid with a humidifier, by spraying the foliage regularly or by growing your plant on a bed of gravel.
If the leaves become yellow, then turn translucent in some places, it might be a sunburn. The palm trees love light, but intense sun can burn them. It would be better to place your tree where it can get a bit of shade during the day.
If you see whitish spots resembling cotton balls, it’s likely mealybug. Clean your plant well with a black soap solution. If small webs are covering it, then it’s probably spider mites. The black soap solution will also work. In both cases, put your palm tree apart from your other plants to avoid contamination between them.
Enjoy a warm, festive atmosphere all summer long on your patio, and in your living room during winter. For other advice on the maintenance of your palm trees and other tropical plants, come meet our advisors in our garden center, who will be happy to help you maintain your plants healthy and beautiful.
