|
Whether you call this plant by its scientific name, Chamadorea elegans “bella”
or by any of its nicknames, table palm, parlor palm,
neanthe bella palm, this compact dark green houseplant with long graceful fronds does
well in almost all locations. A Neanthe bella can be small enough to use in a terrarium
or tall enough to sit on the floor. In a 6” pot it makes a perfect table plant; when in a 10” pot it can grow
to up to 4ft. tall. Since it requires very little care, a Neanthe bella palm is the perfect plant for offices, businesses,
and for less than optimal growing conditions in the home.
Houseplant 411 for the iPhone & i Pod Touch
|
CARE OF NEANTHE BELLA PALM
Light: A Neanthe bella palm is a great plant for those low light: corners where nothing else seems to grow. If you can read a book during the day without putting on a light you can
put a parlor palm there. Of course, this palm will grow faster in brighter filtered light.
Water: Water well until water comes out of the bottom drip holes in the pot; then allow at least half of the
soil to dry out before watering again. Under watering may result in entire fronds turning yellow; but over watering is much
more serious, quickly resulting in root rot and the plant dying. The more light a Neanthe bella gets the more water it needs.
Fertilizer: Feed once a month in the spring and summer with a basic houseplant
food; feed every other month in the fall and winter. Palms in low light conditions grow more slowly and need less food.
Pruning: A parlor palm is not pruned like other plants. When a leaf dies remove
ONLY the leaf and not its stem that connects to the main stem of the plant. New growth will emerge from the leaf stem.
Pests: Neanthe bella palms attract mealy bugs and spider mites. In mild infestations use the green solution but dilute the alcohol 50% with warm water to prevent leaf damage. In more serious cases use the commercial product called
Safer Insecticidal Soap.
 |
NEANTHE BELLA PALM FAQ’S
1. There is very fine webbing on my palm and the leaves look pale.
It sounds like your
plant has spider mites. Spray it with the green solution, but dilute the alcohol 50%. Palm leaves are a little sensitive. Repeat the spraying every 10 days for a month. Be sure to
do the backs of the leaves.
2. Entire fronds on my parlor palm suddenly turn yellow
and die. I am very careful about letting my plant get totally dried out before watering. Does it need to be fed more often?
Try giving your palm more water; you are allowing it to dry out too much.
3.
There is this sticky white stuff all over the backs of my Neanthe bella palm leaves. What is it and how to I get rid of it?
It seems to be on almost every leaf.
Your plant has a serious case of mealy bugs. Dip a Q Tip in alcohol and wipe the worst areas. Then spray the entire plant with the green solution; dilute the alcohol 50%. Be sure to get inside the new growth, spray the roots, and reach inside the stem covering. If this
doesn’t stop the infestation after three treatments, 10 days apart, user the commercial product called Safer Insecticidal Soap.
4. The tips of the leaves on my Neanthe bella palm are turning brown. It’s
in a pretty dark corner so I know the sun is not burning it.
Try lifting your plant; I bet it’s pretty heavy!
You're over watering and the excess water is collecting in the leaf tips. Stop watering for several weeks or a month until
the roots have had a chance to thoroughly dry out.
|
