Rhapis Palm Care Guide: How to Grow a Lady Palm

A lady palm is a broadleaf member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) growing naturally in tropical and subtropical climates. It is also known as a bamboo palm for its bamboo-like stalks that grow individual, fan-shaped palm fronds made of narrow spikes. Lady palms propagate through underground rhizome offshoots that create extensive underground root systems for the plant.

Lady palms are popular house plants because they don’t require much care and can adapt to nearly any conditions. Lady palms can grow as tall as 14 feet or remain as short as two, making them suitable on tabletops, or as free-standing tropical accents. The lady palm is also a very slow grower so there’s no need to continually change pots or location.

Lady palms are subtropical plants that thrive in warm temperatures. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. If you’re growing them inside, keep temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature outside dips below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, move it inside. They do best in bright, filtered sunlight but should be protected from full sun.

Lady palms are fan palms that have a few specific cultivars, all of which have slight variations on the fan-shaped palm leaf.

1. 1. Rhapis excelsa: This is the most popular type of lady palm. Its leaf segments spread outwards in a classic palm frond shape.
2. 2. Rhapis subtilis (“Thailand Lady Palm”): The Thailand lady palm is a small species of lady palm. They flower often, making an abundant amount of seeds available. The spires of its leaves are more spread out than the leaves of the Rhapis excelsa.
3. 3. Rhapis humilis (“Slender Lady Palm”): Rhapis humilis is a large variety of lady palm that often exceeds 18 feet in height. The leaves of this palm often have around 10 to 12 leaflets, while Rhapis excelsa fronds usually have about six to ten leaflets.
4. 4. Rhapis laosensis (“Laos Lady Palm”): The leaflets of the Laos lady palm stalks are especially thin, even more so than the other cultivars of the plant.

Lady palms have a relatively slow growth rate, therefore it is faster to purchase an already-established lady palm tree from your local garden store or nursery than to start the plant from a seed or a cutting. Here is an overview of how to grow lady palms at home.

1. 1. Purchase your lady palm. You can buy an established lady palm from any nursery or gardening store. This is the plant you will be repotting.
2. 2. Prepare your potting mix. Lady palms prefer loamy, well-draining soil. Buy potting soil that is made specifically for palm trees. You can also use soil mixed for African violets.
3. 3. Choose your container. Choose a container for your lady palm that is just slightly larger than its root ball. You will likely need to repot it as it grows, but this may take a few years for your palm to grow to that size.
4. 4. Choose your location. Make sure to keep your lady palm in a place that has indirect, bright light. Lady palms do well in fresh air, and a room with east-facing windows would be best for this plant.
5. 5. Plant your lady palm. Plant your lady palm in your prepared soil. Water your lady palm semi-regularly. When the first two inches of the soil are dry, it’s time to water your palm.

Broadleaf lady palms are fairly hardy and resilient plants. Follow these tips to help your lady palm thrive.

1. 1. Prune your lady palm occasionally. As the lady palm ages, its lower leaves will begin to discolor and die. It is best to prune these before they fall off, because this can leave scars on the plant’s stems. Check for newly-formed stalks that fail to mature and prune them off so they don’t damage your tree’s trunk.
2. 2. Make sure your palm is getting enough water. Rhapis palms are very low-maintenance, but you might notice brown tips on its leaves if you don’t water it enough. Be careful not to over-water your palm though, because this can lead to root rot. Water your lady palm when the soil becomes dry to a depth of two inches.
3. 3. Monitor your light. Lady palms thrive best in bright, indirect light and they are also very tolerant of low light conditions. If your lady palm isn’t growing, try rotating your plant’s pot to expose all of its sides to the sun.
4. 4. Watch out for pests and fungi. Mealybugs and spider mites will often hide in the fibrous bases of lady palm leaves, making them difficult to spot and reach. For the best protection, use a systemic insecticide and avoid spraying, as it damages the leaves. While rhapis are resistant to most pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium, and other root rots can occur.

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