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A Rhapis or Lady Palm is an elegant durable
palm that can adapt to almost all conditions. The best variety to use as a houseplant is the Rhapis
Excelsa. This slow growing plant has large shiny dark green fronds with 5-10 deeply veined leaflets per frond. The
fronds grow out of multiple sturdy stems that are covered in a hairy brown fiber. When potted in a 6” or 8”container,
this compact upright palm makes a great table plant. In a 10” or larger pot, a rhapis can grow up to 14 ft. tall. A
rhapis palm is quite pricy but well worth it when you consider the following: it grows slowly; it is insect resistant; it
has a long life span; it demands little in the way of care; and it is a beautiful plant.
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CARE OF RHAPIS PALM (LADY PALM)
Light: A rhapis palm grows best in bright indirect light but can adapt to lower light: . In lower light it will grow even more slowly and require even less plant food and water.
Water: Allow your rhapis palm to almost completely dry out before watering it. A rhapis, like many palms, is
sensitive to chlorine, fluoride, and boron in the water. If these chemicals are present allow the water to sit out for 24-48
hours before using it or use distilled water. If your palm is in a large pot, be sure to check that the soil at the bottom
of the pot is dry before watering. The lower the light level the less often this plant needs water. Consistent over watering
will cause root rot.
Temperature: Thi amazing palm can adapt to temperatures
between 20-100 degrees so it will do well in any home or office.
Fertilizer:
This slow growing plant needs very little fertilizer. As long as the existing leaves and new leaves are dark green it does
not need food. If the frond looks a little yellow feed it with a basic houseplant food at ½ strength or with some fish
emulsion.
Soil: Plant a rhapis in a well drained dense soil and add additional
humus if needed. African Violet soil is ideal for rhapis palms. This palm likes to be root bound in a small pot. When you
do repot a rhapis be sure to cover all of the roots and bases of the canes. This encourages new shoots and suckers that will
make the palm even fuller.
Pests: If your rhapis does get spider mites or scale the insects will hide under stem coverings that are difficult to reach with the green solution. For this reason use a systemic insecticide that you pour into the soil to control the problem.
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RHAPIS PALM FAQ’S
1. I wanted to buy a Lady palm (rhapis) but the size I wanted was really expensive. If I buy a small one how fast will
it grow?
A rhapis grows very slowly! You should buy one almost exactly the size you eventually want it to be.
2. The tips of my rhapis palm are turning brown. What am I doing?
You
are probably over watering your palm. Cut back on your water and use a serrated or pinking shear to trim the tips. This is
a slow grower so never cut the entire frond off unless absolutely necessary or you won’t have very many leaves left.
Using a serrated scissors keeps the original look of the blunt leaf tip.
3. All
of the fronds on one side of my rhapis are turning yellow. I am feeding it so it’s not that.
It sounds like
one side of your palm is getting too much light. Move it further from the window.
4.
The foliage on my palm is getting gray and brittle.
Your plant definitely needs more water.
5. Why are the tips of my rhapis turning black?
Black tips or tip burn, means there is too much fertilizer
in the soil. Stop feeding your plant for several months. Drench the soil two or three times until water comes out the drip
hole to wash out the accumulated salts that are damaging the leaves.
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