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Plant care

Parlour Palm (Parlor Palm) care

Chamaedorea elegans

Also called Parlour Palm, Parlor Palm, Neanthe Bella Palm, Good Luck Palm.

RHS H1bUSDA 10-12Pet-safeIndoor Typically 1–1.8 m tall and 60–90 cm wide as an indoor container plant

Watering rhythm

7-10days

Every 7–10 days in spring and summer; every 14–21 days in winter

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Light

Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)

Soil

Well-draining peat-free compost with added perlite

Humidity

40–60%

Temp

16 to 29°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Typically 1–1.8 m tall and 60–90 cm wide as an indoor container plant

Care at a glance

Light

The Goldilocks zone. Not the south-facing windowsill (too hot, too direct), not the back of the room (too dim, growth stalls). Thrives in bright to medium indirect light; tolerates low-light corners better than almost any other palm, though growth slows considerably. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the fronds. If you can't decide, a free phone lux-meter app aimed at the leaf at noon should read between 800 and 1,500 lux.

Watering

Watering parlour palm: every 7–10 days in spring and summer; every 14–21 days in winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Allow the top 2–3 cm of compost to dry out before watering; empty saucers after 30 minutes to prevent roots from sitting in water, which is the primary cause of decline.

Soil and pot

Parlour Palm grows best in well-draining peat-free compost with added perlite. A mix of 60% peat-free multipurpose compost and 40% perlite or coarse grit provides the drainage this species requires; avoid heavy, moisture-retentive composts. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Parlour Palm sits happiest at around 40–60% humidity and 16 to 29°C (61 to 84°F). Tolerates average household humidity but appreciates occasional misting of the fronds or a pebble tray with water to boost local humidity and reduce spider mite risk. If you keep the room above 16 to 29°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed parlour palm sparingly. Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength from April to September; do not fertilise in autumn and winter as unused nutrients accumulate and burn roots. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on parlour palm in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Spider mites — The most common pest, causing fine yellow stippling on fronds and visible webbing in dry conditions; increase humidity, mist fronds regularly, and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
  • Root rot — Caused by overwatering or a poorly drained potting mix; early signs are yellowing lower fronds and a mushy stem base — reduce watering immediately and repot into fresh, gritty compost if roots are brown and soft.

Propagation

Propagated by seed, which requires temperatures of 26–29°C and takes 3–6 months to germinate; division of established clumps is possible but rarely gives clean results as canes do not readily re-root after separation. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Parlour Palm is pet-safe. Listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses by the ASPCA (listed under Parlor Palm, Neanthe Bella Palm, Chamaedorea, and Dwarf Palm). No toxic compounds have been identified. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Parlour Palm care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Chamaedorea elegans?

Chamaedorea elegans is most commonly called Parlour Palm, but it is also known as Parlour Palm, Parlor Palm, Neanthe Bella Palm, Good Luck Palm. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Parlour Palm apply identically to anything sold as Parlor Palm.

How much light does parlour palm need?

Parlour Palm grows best in medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window). Thrives in bright to medium indirect light; tolerates low-light corners better than almost any other palm, though growth slows considerably. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the fronds.

How often should I water parlour palm?

Water parlour palm every 7–10 days in spring and summer; every 14–21 days in winter. Allow the top 2–3 cm of compost to dry out before watering; empty saucers after 30 minutes to prevent roots from sitting in water, which is the primary cause of decline. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is parlour palm toxic to cats and dogs?

Parlour Palm is pet-safe. Listed as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses by the ASPCA (listed under Parlor Palm, Neanthe Bella Palm, Chamaedorea, and Dwarf Palm). No toxic compounds have been identified.

What USDA hardiness zone does parlour palm grow in?

Parlour Palm is rated for USDA zone 10-12 (indoor in most climates) and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Parlour Palm deep-dive guides

Every aspect of parlour palm care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Parlour Palm qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

  • Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
  • Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
  • Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
  • Best pet-safe low-light plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs AND happy with no direct sun — the two hardest constraints to satisfy at once.
  • Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
  • Best pet-safe bedroom plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in lower light — calming greenery for a bedroom where a pet often sleeps too.
  • Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
  • Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
  • Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Parlour Palm is also known as Parlour Palm, Parlor Palm, Neanthe Bella Palm, and Good Luck Palm.