Areca Palms are known for their ability to brighten up any living space they are kept in.
This bold, feathery and elegant plant is quite alluring and an ideal choice for your home.
Most plant parents prefer buying a young Areca Palm plant, as mature ones are more expensive.
However, these plants grow fast, provided that they get plenty of sunlight.
New plant owners often wonder if their plants receive a proper amount of sunlight because too much light can burn the palm leaves, and too little can damage it eventually.
In this guide, we will discuss how much light is appropriate for the Areca Palm to thrive in.
Can Areca Palm Grow In Shade?
Areca Palm thrives in bright but indirect sunlight and can manage fairly well in the shade.
It needs to be protected from harsh sunlight, especially during afternoons.
It is not good for an Areca Palm to be exposed to direct sunlight constantly as this can burn its leaves.
Placing the plant near a south or west-facing window is ideal for its light needs.
Tips To Fix Low Light Issue For Your Indoor Areca Palm
Bright light is absolutely necessary for an Areca Palm to grow well.
In their natural habitat, they grow under the shade of other trees, which is why bright but indirect sunlight is preferred for the Areca Palm.
While direct sunlight can harm the leaves, not getting enough light can be detrimental to the health of the plant.
Brown tips and spots begin appearing on the leaves of the Areca Palm when it does not get enough sunlight.
To know whether the plant is getting enough light, examine it over a period of time.
The leaves will appear dull and subsequently turn brown when they do not receive adequate sunlight.
This can also be due to its placement in a particular room.
A brighter location can help revitalize the plant.
If the plant is near a south-facing window, place it away from the window so that the plant is not exposed to direct sunlight.
When placed near a north-facing window, keep the plant closer to the window so that it can get as much sunlight as possible.
Direct sunlight in the morning and during the late afternoon is good for the plant.
If you want to plant your Areca Palm in a low-light area, you can do so by investing in artificial lights so that the palm tree gets its fair share of light during the day!
Placing a fluorescent light 12 inches above the plant can be helpful for the plant, but ensure that you set a timer for the light.
Keeping the lights on for 14 hours will give it the right amount of light it needs to grow.
Feeding the plant with a balanced fertilizer will also help maintain its growth rate.
In case you want to know about the best Areca Palm fertilizers, you should check out this guide.
7 Best Grow Lights for Areca Palms
Grow lights can replace the natural light, especially during winters and in spaces that do not get enough natural light.
Grow lights can bring about impressive results in a plant's growth.
Areca Palm is a fast grower, and all it needs is some light, water, and fertilizer.
With the right amount of light, this plant can thrive in your home!
Here are some grow lights that you can order from online retailers for affordable rates:
1. SERWING Grow Light
This highly efficient and pocket-friendly grow light provides sun-like light to the entire surface area evenly.
The spectrum of light is perfect for growing plants, and it is suitable for all stages of a plant's life - from germination to flowering!
The setup of this light is extremely easy, and the height can be adjusted according to the needs of the plant.
The affordable price and incredible features of this grow light make it a must-have for those who wish to add lights for their plant's well-being.
2. INDOSUN 600W LED Grow Light
This high-efficiency, energy-saving light is economical and easy to use.
These light aids all growing needs of the plant, including chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis.
The classy design and simplistic setup are why this grow light is a best-seller among plant parents.
For a hassle-free growing experience at home, this light provides everything you and your plant might need in a grow light.
3. BESTVA 1000W LED Grow Light
Consisting of nine different bands of LEDs, this grow light uses the newest technology to provide strong intensity light for plants.
This light is also suitable for flowering and vegetation bloom.
The light also contains a powerful cooling system that makes the heat convection run 50-60℉ lower than other LEDs.
This grow light is priced slightly higher than average, but it is worth the results it provides!
4. HONORSEN 600W LED Grow Light
This is a grow light that will not break your wallet and runs on 50% lesser power than other LEDs, helping you save on electricity bills!
The device is also noiseless, so it will not cause disturbance while running for long hours.
In addition, 4mm thick aluminum heat sinks built into the device dissipates the heat and keeps the surrounding area cool.
5. FREELICHT FLD-1000 LED Grow Light
This grow light claims to grow plants 30% quicker than other lights in the market.
The high efficiency and energy-saving light also saves on bills and is inexpensive to buy.
The thick aluminum plate achieves optimal heat dissipation.
If you have a large number of plants or wish to add more plants to your indoor garden, this professional grow light is what you need.
6. Elaine Sun-like Spectrum Grow Light
Cost-effective, flexible, and efficient, the Elaine Grow Light comes with 3 LED goosenecks.
The stretchy and flexible lighting area ensures that your plants have ideal lighting from this grow light.
There are five different kinds of brightness levels and three switch modes that can be adjusted according to your growing requirements.
The larger lighting area makes this light suitable for any kind of plants you may have, regardless of their growth stage.
This light is perfect for homes, offices, balconies, garages, plant rooms, and so on.
7. Otryad 15W LED Grow Light
Otryad Grow Light is one of the most affordable grow lights in the market and is perfect for new plant owners.
This light contains three light modes, including red, blue, and purple light modes.
It offers full-spectrum light from 380nm up to 800nm, which is suitable for indoor plants.
It also includes a 4,8,12-hour timer that can be adjusted to the amount of light your plant needs during the day.
The adjustable gooseneck is flexible, as well.
This is a device that is worth investing in for your plant!
FAQs
Areca Palms enjoy plenty of sunlight as long as it is not directly exposed to sunlight.
This is because direct sunlight can burn the leaves of the plant.
Areca Palm can be kept in the shade when it is extremely sunny, but keeping this plant in the shade for long hours can damage it.
Areca Palms thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, so it is important to give the plant its daily dose of bright light.
If the room your plant is kept in does not receive sunlight, consider buying grow lights.
Grow lights can immensely aid Areca Palm's growth.
Areca Palm is one of the few indoor plants that can tolerate trimming.
Trimming the plant once in a while can keep the plant fresh and even make it bushier.
However, the key to maintaining a mature plant for a long time is by trimming it routinely.
Areca Palm grows 10 to 15 cm in height until they reach a mature height of 6 or 7 feet (1.8 m 2.1 m).
Thus, compared to other similar indoor plants, this palm is quite fast-growing.
No, the Areca Palm should not be exposed to cold weather.
In US hardiness zones 10 and 11, Areca Palms are considered hardy, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
However, few nurseries consider these plants hardy in zone 9, too.
Therefore, cold weather, especially frost, can be dangerous for this palm in these US hardiness.
Temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit can be considered too cold for an Areca Palm, but mature trees can handle a few degrees below 30 as well.
Over To You
As you can see, Areca Palm can pretty well in shade and low light conditions.
But it's always a good idea to provide enough sunlight to this indoor plant.
Now, if you have any more questions related to this topic, please let me know in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this guide, do share it with your friends and family.
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