Majesty Palms are beautiful plants that are featured in many magazines and blog posts due to their graceful nature and taller than average height for a houseplant. Slightly resembling a kind of fern, this emerald beauty is a palm, with many long, slender leaves that climb up a central stalk.What is Majesty Palm?
The majesty palm, or Ravenea rivularis, is native to Madagascar. Growing mainly along riverbanks and areas where it can receive constant moisture. This plant is endangered in its native region, but interestingly enough, it is finding a type of conservation due to its increasing popularity as a houseplant. So, while it is becoming harder to find natively, it is not in danger of going extinct.
How to Grow Majesty Palm?
Majesty palms, as with any other plant, have a specific set of sun, water, and soil needs to prosper. Whether they're inside or outdoors, knowing how to grow and take care of your majesty palm will help you become the proud plant parent you've always dreamt of being.
Where is the Majesty Palm Grown?
Majesty palms come from Madagascar and can be found naturally in other tropical and sub-tropical areas. They grow where there is plenty of moisture, like riverbanks, and other water-heavy areas. They do not, however, like constantly submerged roots, just lots of water and soil that drains well. They also appreciate humidity, and partial sunlight, not loving either full shade or constant full sun when growing in prime conditions.
When growing them inside, place them near a window where they'll receive several hours of sunlight, whether it be direct or indirect. If they get too much direct sunlight throughout the day, they'll begin to burn, and the leaves will start to turn brown. Place them near an east or west-facing window, so it gets the several hours it needs, without being exposed to the sun all day.
How Big is the Plant and How Long Would it Take it to Reach That Size?
Majesty palms can grow to heights between twenty and forty feet, but they won't reach this height unless they are given the root space to do it, and they are slow growers. Generally purchased at around 3 feet tall, it will be several years before they can grow tall enough to start to pose a problem. To find out more about how tall your majesty palm can grow inside, click here.
Best Growing Zones and Weather Conditions (if Outdoors).
Majesty palms will thrive best in zones nine through eleven, and when it comes to weather conditions, they prefer sunny and humid weather. However, it can adjust to many different light levels so long as it doesn't spend all day in the shade.
Type of Soil
Majesty palm trees do best in a soil that will retain moisture reasonably well, while still having decent drainage. You can purchase this soil, or you can mix your own by purchasing regular potting soil and adding something like perlite or peat moss to it, which will assist in preventing the soil from becoming too compact. To find out more about the best soil for majesty palms, click here!
Amount of Light/Shade
If you have an east or west-facing window, that may be a good place for your majesty palm! The same goes for your palm if the conditions are right for you to plant it outside. It will like having several hours of light, but too much and it will start to burn.
Watering and Fertilization Requirements
Give the plant enough water to provide the roots with a constant supply of moisture, but don't keep the soil waterlogged, as that will encourage root rot and certain pests to flourish in the soil. You can use a general indoor plant fertilizer for the indoor majesty palms, and a normal outdoor one for the plants you include in your landscape.
Fertilize your palm once a month with the slow-release fertilizer to maximize growth, or less often if you want to slow the growth down.
Pests
Two of the most common pests for majesty palms are mealy bugs and spider mites. Thankfully, if you can catch them early enough, they are relatively simple to treat.
Spider Mites
Spider Mites are obnoxious, but thankfully you will generally have everything you need to get rid of them already in your kitchen.
If the plant is stable enough and not too heavy, take it outside and spray it down with a hose, which will get rid of the majority of them. Then fill a spray bottle with soapy water, and once the plant is dry, spray the plant at least once a day for about a week. This will help trap and kill any remaining invaders. If the infestation persists, repeat these steps and change out the dirt in the pot with fresh soil, removing the chance that there could be eggs surviving in the dirt.
Mealy Bugs
Mealybugs are one of the worst pests a plant owner can encounter, attaching themselves to the plant and sucking them dry. They're reasonably visible pests, making it easy to remove all the visible ones with tweezers and kill them. However, you will probably have missed their eggs. Next, take a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol and wipe down the majesty palm as thoroughly as you can. Depending on the severity of the infestation, repotting the palm in new dirt may be needed as well.
A Short Step-by-Step Guide for Planting These Plants
When you purchase a majesty palm, you will generally be buying a plant that has already had some time to grow and establish itself; not a full-grown plant, but not a seedling either. However, you can purchase majesty palm seeds if you wish to grow them from scratch, as it were.
Place two or three seeds in a hole about an inch deep in a nice loamy soil. Water the seeds every day to keep them damp. This is necessary for germination, which can take up to several months, so be patient! Keep them in a warm room. Once they are between six to eight inches tall, transplant them to their pots, and enjoy your new plants!
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Where to Buy This Plant Online
Costa Farms Majesty Palm
Palm Potting Mix
Using a soil formulated explicitly for palm trees is an ideal way to make sure you're giving your tree the best chances to thrive right off the bat. This bug resistant, synthetic chemical-free palm soil is developed to make sure your plant produces the foliage and root mass it needs to grow strong and healthy. Click here to purchase this product from Amazon.
Miracle Grow Palm Food
Whether your majesty palm is new or old, it will occasionally need to be fertilized, and this Miracle Grow Fertilizer has been curated to perfectly complement and nurture your palm tree. Click here to purchase this product from Amazon.
We hope you found this guide useful. If so, please help us spread the word by sharing it. And if you have more care tips for majesty palms, leave us a comment to let us know.
I brought a majestic palm inside last fall and I’m so proud it survived the winter inside. I took it back out to the deck yesterday and the wind picked up and bent a few of the palms. Should I cut them or will they survive?