Question

Palm Tree   QUESTION: I recently bought this 5+ foot palm plant. It had no name label. Im not sure how to take care of it. Can you tell me the name of this plant? I have more pics if you need them.

ANSWER: Mychele,

I believe that your palm is a Majestic or Majesty palm. The Latin name is Ravina Rivularis. This is definitely one of the more difficult palms to grow. It needs very bright light without direct sun right on it. As for care watering of the Majesty Palm is crucial. The plant must have proper drainage set up. The pot must have drain holes and a drain tray under it that you can get to.  Do not allow the roots to sit in water. An hour after you water use a turkey baster and bucket to empty any excess water out of the drain tray. On the other hand, do not allow the plant to dry out completely in between waterings either. When the top 2 inches of soil is feeling dry it is time to water again. This palm also prefers a higher humidity level, so  daily misting in the morning and evening will add plenty of beauty to your plant. If you can set water on your heat ducts out of sight to evaporate and humidify the air that would be helpful. If you like tea and boil an extra pot of water on the stove while you are making tea or just while you are cooking to humidify the air it would be helpful.

If the foliage tips begin turning brown, you are probably under watering the plant. Try watering it more often. On the other hand, if the foliage tips begin turning yellow, you may be over watering it.

A common pest to this plant is spider mites. If problems with pests appear, try misting the plant with a soapy water and isopropyl alcohol mixture twice a day. Mix 1 part water to 1 part isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and add 1 teaspoon dish detergent and put it in a sray bottle and spray the plant thoroughly.

How much water? Just enough to thoroughly water the plant and have a little go into the drain tray then you empty the drain tray an hour later. This palm does not require a lot of feeding, give it a dose of Miracid fertilizer or a timed release acidic fertilizer in April, July and and October. That is enough. Only repot any plant including this one between April 1st and July 30th. Only repot this plant no more often than every 3 to 4 years and then only if it is root bound and when you remove it from the pot you see mostly roots an no soil. You should only move any plant to a pot with a diameter 2 inches larger than the diameter of the pot you are removing it from. Any larger is overpotting it and risking the health of the plant.

Good luck with your new palm.

Darlene




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Palm Tree   QUESTION: Thank you so much for your thorough and informative answer. Is it possible my plant could be a Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii)?

Answer
It doesn't have the trunk of a Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii) and unless you live in south Florida or Southern California and paid more than $50.00 for it then it is not likely that it is a Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii).  They are a fairly expensive palm and generally only common in sounthern California or south Florida. You might call the manager of where you bought it and ask what types of palms they had in the store lately. I'm still betting it is a Majesty Palm. They are very commom and look exactly like what you have.

Darlene