Propagating an Areca Palm (also known as the Butterfly Palm or Golden Cane Palm) is actually pretty straightforward! Whether you want to try your hand at growing them from scratch with seeds or take a shortcut using offshoots, you can easily expand your indoor jungle. Follow these tips, and you’ll have fresh baby palms in no time.
How to Grow Areca Palms from Seed
Growing Areca Palms from seeds takes a little bit of “TLC.” These seeds need just the right amount of light and moisture to wake up, and even then, they aren’t in any rush. You’ll definitely need to pack your patience while waiting for those iconic feathery fronds to appear!
Step-by-Step Seed Starting:
- Soak the seeds in a glass of water to help them swell.
- Fill your pots with a high-quality seed-starting mix.
- Place the seeds on the soil and cover them with just a thin layer of dirt.
- Move the pots to a warm, bright spot.
- Cover the pots with plastic wrap to create a mini-greenhouse effect.
- Water regularly to keep the soil moist, and lift the plastic every now and then to let the soil breathe.
Spring is the absolute best time to start your seeds. Just make sure the room temperature stays at least 65°F (18°C). Anything cooler, and those seeds likely won’t sprout.
Propagating with Offshoots (The Easy Way!)
If you’re looking for a faster route, propagating via offshoots is the way to go. All you have to do is look for “pups” or suckers growing at the base of a mature palm. You’ll want to find an offshoot that’s about 12 inches tall and—this is the important part—already has some of its own little roots starting to form.
In the springtime, fill a pot with palm-specific potting soil or a good compost mix. Plant the offshoot, and just like with the seeds, cover the pot with plastic wrap. Once a day, take the cover off for some fresh air and water it consistently. Keep the pot in a warm, sunny area. After about five weeks, the roots should be well-established. At that point, you can treat it just like a grown-up Areca Palm!
