The Areca Palm is a commonly used plant, especially for accessorizing your interiors. With about 100 leaflets and beautiful fronds, it is a plant that grabs attention.
But how fast does this palm variety grow? Is there any standard growth rate for Areca Palm?
In the following guide, I have tried to address some of these common queries related to this plant. So, do check it out below.
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What Is The Growth Rate Of Areca Palm?
An indoor Areca Palm can grow 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm) annually.
As for the peak height, they grow up to 6 to 7 feet(1.8-2.1 m) tall. This is also one of the plants that can tolerate being trimmed yearly without damaging the plant's health.
Therefore, you can keep it indoors as a mature plant for up to ten years. The key to growing a strong Areca Palm is to give it lots of light but not direct sunlight, which can cause its leaves to turn yellow or brown.
As for outdoor Areca Palms, they grow faster than their indoor counterparts. This is because an outdoor plant has no restriction on its growth. Outdoors Areca Palms can grow 10 inches every year in ideal conditions. These plants generally reach up to almost 30 feet in height.
6 Reasons Why Your Areca Palm Is Growing Slowly
Although this plant has a tremendous growth rate, some factors can stunt its growth. So, what are these factors? Let's find out in the following section.
1. Incorrect Lighting
The Areca Palm can be quite finicky when it comes to receiving the light they need.
To ensure that it gets a balanced amount of light, place your Areca plant near a south or west-facing window. However, place it in such a way that it does not receive too much light. If you provide direct sunlight, it can cause yellowing and browning of the leaves.
2. Low Soil Drainage
The soil is another primary reason you might see growth in your Areca Palm.
In general, you should have soil with good drainage properties; otherwise, it can cause root rot. In case you don't know, root rot is one of the common plant issues that directly affects the growth of roots.
To avoid this, do not over-water your plant so that too much moisture is not retained in the soil. To allow water to drain well, mix pebbles or gravel into your soil.
3. Lack Of Watering
As mentioned above, overwatering can be a challenging issue while growing Areca Palms in an indoor pot. But the same goes for lack of watering as well!
To not over-water the plant, some may completely neglect to water the plant. This is one of the leading causes that will slow the growth of your palm.
If your plant leaves start turning yellow despite not leaving them in direct sunlight, it means your plant is not receiving enough water. If you start noticing this, water your plant regularly so that it can regain its health back.
4. Humidity Levels
Outdoor Palms love humid climates. However, once an Areca Palm is placed indoors, it quickly gets used to the home environment. If you notice that the Areca leaves are turning brown, it is most likely because the air is too dry inside.
To prevent this from happening, sprinkle a little water on the leaves from time to time so that the plant remains moist. The leaves will also look more green and full if you do this regularly.
5. Over-fertilizing
It is very easy to overfertilize an Areca Palm.
Did you know? A fertilizer applied regularly or used in a concentrated form can cause the leaves to turn brown.
Areca Palms should be fertilized every two months during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer made up of half the concentration recommended in the instructions.
6. Chlorinated Water
Many indoor plants are sensitive to the type of water they receive.
While Chlorine water is absolutely safe for drinking for us humans, it is not so for plants. When you provide such water to your Areca Palms, their leaves turn brown.
If you feel like you are doing everything right in maintaining the plant, do check the kind of water you are giving the plant. It could be the reason for the yellow or brown leaf problem in your plants. Instead, I'd suggest you give Chlorine-free water to the plant.
Tip - Chlorine-free water can be procured by filtering rainwater or leaving your tap water in sunlight for a day so that the chlorine in it is eliminated.
4 Tips For The Natural Growth Of Your Areca Plant
Areca palms are quite fussy when it comes to getting light, and they require soil that has good drainage for them to flourish. Here are some tips to help your plant naturally grow:
1. Temperature
The ideal temperature for Areca Palm is 60°F (16°C) to 75°F (24°C).
If the temperature drops lower than this, it can cause the leaves to yellow and the fronds to wilt. So, try to keep this plant away from doorways or any place where it can receive a constant flow of cold air, as it is quite susceptible to cold temperatures.
2. Repotting
Once every two years, you should repot your plant.
Since the Areca Palm can quickly get root-bound, it needs plenty of space to grow. When you repot this plant, do so in a pot that is 3-4 inches wider than the previous pot. It will allow more space for the roots to grow inside the pot.
3. Clipping
Ensure that you do not clip the plant's brown ends, as this might stunt its growth. If you notice brown ends on the leaves, give them moisture instead of clipping.
4. Watering
Water the plant so that the soil remains slightly moist, especially during the spring and summer. During fall and winter, you should allow the soil to dry before watering again.
FAQ
Areca Palms are a naturally fast-growing plant. But if you wish to boost its growth, use a fertilizer specifically made for palm trees. It will help in getting the right nutrients for its speedy growth.
As mentioned in the guide, you can use Jobe's 05101 Fern & Palm Fertilizer Spikes fertilizer for this purpose.
Yes, Areca Palms do not need quite a lot of maintenance. However, you should give it plenty of indirect sunlight, moisture, humidity, and a big pot to grow in.
No, do not expose your plant to direct sunlight, as it can cause its leaves to turn yellow and droop. You can place it in the west or south-facing windows. If your room gets plenty of sunlight, try to filter the light with blinds or curtains.
Indoor Areca Palms grow 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm) every year. On the other hand, the outdoor variety grows much faster than indoor plants and grows up to a height of 30 feet.
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