Pygmy date palm
Also called Miniature date palm, Robellini palm.
| Light | bright indirect light |
|---|---|
| Water | Every 6 days in the growing season, every 14 in winter |
| Pets | Cats safe, dogs safe |
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control, toxic and non-toxic plants, Miniature Date Palm entry.
A genuine date palm at a quarter of the size, from Laos and southern China, with fine soft fronds arching out of a stout ringed trunk. It is one of the better palms indoors because it stays a sensible size and takes more light than most, including some direct sun once it has hardened to it. Two things go wrong. Dry heated air brings red spider mite, which finds palms before anything else in the room, so check the undersides of the fronds weekly through the winter. And hard water browns the tips. Beyond that it wants steady moisture, monthly feeding and a gritty compost. The base of each frond carries sharp spines, so wear gloves when you prune it.
Ailments observed
| Brown tips on otherwise healthy leaves | Dry air, hard water or a shortage of feed. Raise the humidity, use rainwater and feed monthly in the growing season. Trim the brown at an angle rather than cutting the frond off. |
|---|---|
| Fine webbing between the leaves | Red spider mite, which loves a palm in a dry heated room. Rinse the fronds thoroughly including the undersides, raise the humidity and check weekly. Palms are the plant this pest finds first. |
Filed underPlants that will not poison the cat, Plants for humid air, Statement plants
Neighbouring entries
Areca palm
Dypsis lutescensAreca palm care that keeps the fronds green, with how often to water, what browns the tips, why spider mites arrive, and how big it really gets.
Chinese fan palm
Livistona chinensisPleated circular fronds that split into drooping fingers, a slow tolerant palm for a bright corner and a large pot.
Fishtail palm
Caryota mitisLeaflets shaped like ragged fish tails, unlike any other palm. Bright light, steady moisture, and a plant that flowers once and dies.