Pygmy date palm care guide
Phoenix roebelenii, also called dwarf date palm, miniature date palm, robellini palm
Published 2022-08-24
Quick care
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- When the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry
- Humidity
- Average room air is fine. More helps.
- Temperature
- 16 to 27°C (60 to 80°F). Keep above 10°C (50°F).
- Soil
- Well-draining houseplant mix
- Feeding
- Palm fertilizer monthly in spring and summer
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs, but the spines can poke
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Mature size
- 1 to 1.8 m (3 to 6 ft) tall indoors
- Propagation
- Grown from seed
The pygmy date palm is a small date palm with a slim trunk and a fountain of soft, feathery fronds. It looks like a tiny tropical tree. It is safe for pets, but it has sharp spines at the base of each frond, so place it where no one brushes past.
Light
Give it bright, indirect light, near a large east, south, or west window. A few hours of gentle sun is fine.
In low light, it grows slow and the fronds stretch and yellow.
Water
Water when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry. Water until it drains, then empty the saucer.
It is sensitive to soggy soil. Yellow fronds and a soft trunk base mean too much water. Brown, crispy fronds mean too little. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.
Soil and potting
Use a well-draining houseplant mix with some perlite.
It has delicate roots and likes a snug pot. Repot every two to three years in spring, one size up, and disturb the roots as little as you can. Use a heavy pot. Wear gloves. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.
Humidity and temperature
Average room air is fine. Dry winter air browns the frond tips. Keep it between 16 and 27°C (60 and 80°F), away from heat vents and cold drafts.
Feeding
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a palm fertilizer. Palms need extra potassium, magnesium, and manganese. Yellow, spotted fronds can mean the plant is hungry for them.
Pruning
Wear gloves and long sleeves. The spines near the base of each frond are long and sharp.
Cut fully brown fronds off near the trunk. Leave yellowing fronds until they brown. Do not cut the top. Palms grow from the tip.
Several trunks in one pot
Stores often plant two or three pygmy date palms together for a fuller look. Leave them together.
Propagation
Pygmy date palms grow from seed. They seldom flower indoors.
Problems
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Yellow fronds with spots | Hungry for potassium or magnesium |
| Yellow fronds, wet soil | Too much water |
| Brown, crispy tips | Dry air or dry soil |
| Stretched, pale fronds | Not enough light |
| Lowest fronds brown | Normal aging |
Pests
Scale, mealybugs, and spider mites can show up. Check along the frond stems and leaflet undersides.
Pet safety
The ASPCA lists the pygmy date palm as non-toxic to cats and dogs. The sharp spines at the base of the fronds can still injure a curious pet or child. Keep it where it will not get bumped.
Varieties
Pygmy date palm is sold under one main name, often as single, double, or triple trunks in one pot.