Cat Palms Care – Everything You Need to Know
Are you planning to have cat palms in your home? Did you know that this is a tropical plant. Therefore it thrives in lights that are bright? Of course, you also need to know some cat palms care tips, for you to ensure that it will last for an extended period.
Cat Palms Care – Everything You Need to Know
So What are Cat Palms?
One of the most beautiful trees is the Cat Palm wherein they can grow fluffy, which can then become a little, backdrop, and an accent to almost everywhere. It s similar to that of an Areca Palm, except that Cat Palms have green leaves. One thing that you will notice about this type of plant is that it has no trunk, all it has are stems with fronds that are feathery.
The Cat Palm can only grow from 6 to 9 feet in height. It grows slow and can tolerate shades and the sun. Since this plant is known to be one of the plants available, that is attractive, more and more people are using it to decorate their homes. If you want to add some dark green leaves that are glossy, then adding a Cat Palm trees in your home would be ideal.
Benefits of Having Cat Palms
Cat Palms have the ability to lift the spirits of people living around it. It can also serve as an added decoration in your living room. Another good thing about having Cat Palms at home is that it can help the air to be naturally purified.
Lastly, it can be beneficial for homes that have people who smoke, since the plant can remove carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde.
Of course, you need to know some information about Cat Palms care if you want your plant to last longer. You don’t have to worry about anything because this type of plant is not high maintenance.
Caring for Your Cat Palms
Providing them with Enough Sunlight
Always remember that Cat Palms need to have bright by indirect sunlight. Always remember not to put them in direct sunlight as they can instantly burn the plant’s leaves.
Also, do not bring them in places that are too dry and hot, since it can cause spider mites to invade your plants, which will make the color of the leaves to fade.
The best area to place Cat Palms is by putting them in front of a window that is facing the east, or within 1 to 3 feet of a window that is facing west.
Water Them Regularly
Another thing that you need to remember when watering your Cat Palms is that you need to water them just enough to make the soil moist. The plants can become unforgiving if you let the soil get dry. It would be best to use water that does not contain chemicals, including fluoride, as this can certainly burn the tip of the leaves.
Feeding Them with Fertilizer
You also need to feed your Cat Palms with fertilizer, most specifically during the summer and spring season. Put in mind that they will need once or twice of feeding during the seasons of fall and winter. Since Cat Palms is a plant that grows slowly, you need to feed it with just enough fertilizer.
Typically, a fertilizer contains potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen which are all ideal for a houseplant. Potassium and phosphorus are the two elements that are responsible the development of flower and root. The nitrogen, on the other hand, helps with the plant’s photosynthesis.
Maintain Their Temperature
Cat Palms love to be in a room that is warm, but too much heat and dryness can cause damages to the leaves. When placing the Cat Palms, make sure that you are not facing them in front of air conditioners and heaters.
During the winter, you also need to ensure that you don’t place them in rooms that are unheated. Typically, the ideal temperature for Cat Palms is 80 degrees during the daytime and 45 degrees at night time.
Provide Them with Enough Humidity
If you want your Cat Palms to live indoors for a long period, you need to provide it with the moisture that it needs. The ideal humidity that a Cat Palms need is 55%, but this is not the case for every room.
The best thing that you can do is to use a humidifier where the plant is for it to get the humidity that it needs. If you don’t have a humidifier, then placing the plant on a tray with wet gravel will work.
Watch Out for Pests and Diseases
Different pests can invade your Cat Palms, including ants, mealy bugs, scale, and spider mites. Watch out for these pests so you can get rid of them immediately. There are plant-insect repellents that you can purchase to ensure that your Cat Palms will stay protected.
You also need to check for diseases, such as fungal which will typically affect the Cat Palm’s leaves. The disease will appear as a lesion that is reddish to brown in color and measures 1/8 to 1/4 inches in length.
Choosing the Right Soil and Pot
Cat Palms will require a soil that can quickly drain. For you to be able to keep your soil light, it would be best to start adding peat moss on a regular basis. The peat moss will keep the soil from becoming clay-like and heavy.
Another thing that you need to do is to choose a pot size that will help the plant to let its roots grow freely.
Do a Regular Pruning
If you see some brown or yellow fronds, then cutting them off immediately is essential. The reason why cutting is necessary is because they will never look right. The tips of the leaves that have been burned should be trimmed.
These are the information about Cat Palms care that you need to follow, for you to ensure that your plant will live indoors for a long period. Start caring for them now for you to be able to have a beautiful plant that will help you to have cleaner air.
About the Author Ann Katelyn
I'm Ann Katelyn, Creator and Chief Author of Sumo Gardener. Since I was a child I've always been fascinated with plants and gardens, and as an adult this has developed into my most loved hobby. I have dedicated most of my life to gardening and started Sumo Gardener as a way to express my knowledge about gardening with the hope of helping other people's gardens thrive.
