Majesty palm care guide

The majesty palm is big, lush, and cheap for its size, which is why it shows up in every big box store. It grows along riverbanks in Madagascar, so it wants more water and more light than most indoor palms. Give it both and it can live for years. Skimp on either and it fades to yellow.

Light

Give it bright, indirect light, close to a large east, south, or west window. It needs more light than a parlor palm or kentia palm.

In low light, the fronds yellow, the stems stretch, and the plant declines over months. A few hours of gentle sun is fine. Hot afternoon sun through glass scorches the fronds.

How often to water a majesty palm

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.

In a bright room in summer, that may be once or twice a week. In winter, it may be every week or two. Check the soil, not the calendar.

Majesty palms do not forgive drying out. Brown, crispy fronds mean the soil got too dry. Never let it sit in water, though. Yellow fronds and a sour smell mean the roots are rotting. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use a rich houseplant mix that holds some water but drains well.

Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up. Use a heavy pot. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Majesty palms like humid air. Dry winter air browns the frond tips and draws spider mites. A humidifier or a group of plants helps.

Keep it between 18 and 27°C (65 and 80°F). Keep it away from heat vents and cold drafts.

Feeding

Feed monthly in spring and summer with a palm fertilizer or a balanced liquid fertilizer. Majesty palms are hungry. Pale, yellowing new fronds can mean it needs magnesium or iron. A palm fertilizer includes both.

Pruning

Cut fully brown or yellow fronds off near the base. Trim brown tips with clean scissors. Do not cut the top of a stem. Palms grow from the tip, and a cut stem does not grow back.

Propagation

Majesty palms grow from seed. They do not make pups or root from cuttings.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Yellowing fronds	Too little light, or hungry for magnesium or iron
Brown, crispy fronds	Soil dried out, or dry air
Yellow fronds, wet soil, sour smell	Root rot from soggy soil
Speckled fronds with fine webbing	Spider mites
Stretched, floppy stems	Not enough light
Lowest fronds turn brown	Normal aging

Pests

Spider mites are the top pest, above all in winter. Look for fine webbing between the fronds. Rinse the plant in the shower and raise the humidity. Mealybugs and scale can also show up.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists majesty palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Be careful with the sago palm, which stores sometimes shelve beside it. It is not a true palm, and it is toxic to pets, even in small amounts. Check the botanical name on the tag.

Varieties

Majesty palm is sold under one main name. Small plants are often several seedlings potted together. Leave them together.