Educational Materials & Marketing Services
Extension 4-H Youth Bldg.
Ames, Iowa 50011-3630
(515) 294-9915
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Educational Materials & Marketing Services |
1/15/04
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Reiman's Pick for the week of Jan. 12, 2004
Parlor Palm Adds Tropical Touch to a Room
Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
This is the season we spend a lot time indoors, looking out on a bleak, snow-covered
landscape that shows little sign of plant life. Houseplants give us a reprieve
from winter and research has shown they also lift our spirits and reduce stress.
Growing tropical plants indoors is not a new concept and dates much further back than the "Green Revolution" in the 1970s. During the Victorian era in the 19th century, people added life to their homes with houseplants. This week's Reiman's Pick, the parlor palm, was introduced into American homes in the 1850s. Its popularity as an indoor plant grew quickly due to its graceful beauty and durability in nearly any indoor environment.
The parlor palm likely got its common name from the location where it was commonly placed in a Victorian home - the parlor. It belongs to the Chanaedorea genus and is a tropical plant native to Guatemala.
Neanthe bella palm is a very familiar type of parlor palm that is grown as small terrarium plants or as a large floor specimen. It makes a great houseplant because it grows slowly and adapts well to indoor environments. It takes several years before a Neanthe bella palm will reach three to four feet tall. Fortunately, it will never out-grow a room.
Palms do quite well under moderate light levels, although they prefer bright, natural light. The soil should be kept moist at all times, but not soggy. They should never be allowed to dry out or stand in water. Excessively wet soil can result in root rot.
A major complaint about many palms is that the tip of the leaflets on lower fronds may turn brown. A number of factors, including excessive fertilization, salt accumulation in the soil, dry air, or lack of water, may cause the tips to brown.
A few pests attack palms grown under stressful indoor conditions. Low humidity levels and warm temperatures can result in the build up of spider mites. They feed on the sap from plants' leaves causing them to become discolored and dry.
Regularly rinse the foliage with a fine spray of lukewarm water in your shower to reduce these problems. It is also a good idea to leach the soil a few times a year with several volumes of water to flush the accumulated salts through the drainage hole and discard the excess water that collects in the saucer.
Palms enjoy spending the summer outdoors. Wait until the evening temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit then put it in a location that is shady nearly the entire day. Be sure to rinse the foliage well with a forceful stream of water before bringing the plant back inside in late August to remove possible hitch-hiking insects. Parlor palms prefer to be a bit root-bound, so they will only need to be repotted to a larger container every two or so years.
Parlor palms and several other types of tropical plants add more to a room than simply providing color and a peaceful atmosphere. Research has shown that an average-sized parlor palm in a 100 square foot room is all that is needed to clean impurities from the air.
Escape the cold and get a breath of fresh air in Reiman Gardens tropical conservatory where several palm species set the backdrop for the colorful "Taste of Spring" bulb show.
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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 448K. Caption: Parlor Palm |
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