Bella Palm Care: How to Grow and Maintain a Healthy Chamaedorea Elegans

Parlor palms (Chamaedorea elegans), also known as bella palms, are popular houseplants known for their graceful, arching fronds and easy care. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced plant owner, this guide provides essential tips on bella palm care, including watering, fertilising and repotting. 

Botanical overview: What is a parlour palm?

The parlour palm is a tropical plant native to Mexico and Guatemala. It belongs to the palm family (Arecaceae) and thrives naturally in shady, humid environments under the canopy of larger trees. 

Key features:

• Slender trunk with elegantly arching fronds 
• Deep green leaves with 21-40 pinnae, each up to 15cm long. 
• Indoor height: Up to 2 metres, although several plants are often grown together in a single pot for a fuller look 
• Natural outdoor height: Up to 3 metres. 

Parlour Palm Flowers 

Parlour palms begin to flower at a young age, producing small yellow flowers in panicles. They are monoecious, meaning that each plant has either male or female flowers. Only female plants produce black seeds and their flowers have a pleasant fragrance. 

Ideal location for a healthy parlour palm 

Placement is the key to the best Parlour Palm Care. 

• Best light: bright, indirect light (east or west facing windows work best) 
• Avoid direct sunlight: Too much sunlight can turn the leaves pale green or yellow. 
• Too Dark: Too much shade and the fronds will become thin and weak with long stems. 
• Temperature: Prefers 18-24°C; in winter keep above 12°C. 
• Humidity: Likes high humidity – spray leaves occasionally with soft water 

Tip: Parlor palms are more likely to flower if given a cooler winter rest (15-18°C). 

Salon Palm Care Guide

 Watering & soil requirements

• Use well-draining, structurally stable soil, such as palm, herb or tub plant potting soil.  You can mix regular potting soil with sand to improve drainage. 
• Keep the soil evenly moist – allow the top layer to dry slightly before watering. 
• Avoid overwatering as this can cause root rot. 

Tip: Occasional bathing  will help remove dust and keep the plant healthy. 

Fertilising Salon Palms

• No fertiliser is needed for the first year after repotting. 
• From April to September feed with a liquid palm food every two weeks. 
• Reduce the recommended fertiliser dose by half (palms have low nutrient needs) 
• Fertiliser sticks are an alternative to liquid fertiliser. 

Repotting palm trees

Repot every two years for young plants and every 3-5 years for older plants. 

Signs that your Parlor Palm needs repotting

• Roots pulling out of the pot. 
• Soil dries out too quickly after watering 
• Growth has slowed down considerably
• Best time to repot: Spring, just before the start of the growing season. 

How to repot:   

1. Choose a pot with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.
2. Place a flat stone or piece of clay over the drainage hole to prevent blockage.
3. Use fresh, well-drained soil to encourage healthy root growth

Pruning Salon Palms

Parlor Palms do not require pruning, but you can cut away brown leaf tips or dead fronds with sharp scissors to keep the plant looking neat.