Indoor palms are a total fan favorite—they’re low-maintenance and instantly give your living room those relaxing tropical vibes. But if you want your palm to stay happy and healthy for the long haul, you’ve got to get the care routine right. That means finding the perfect sunny spot, keeping up with watering, and, of course, nailing the fertilizer game.
What Your Palm Craves
Every palm species has its own little quirks, but there’s one golden rule for all of them: only fertilize during the growing season, which runs from spring through fall. During the winter months, your palm just wants to chill in a bright, frost-free spot without any extra “food.”
While your palm is busy pushing out those beautiful new fronds, it’ll need a little boost every two to four weeks. A liquid palm fertilizer mixed right into your watering can is usually your best bet—it helps replenish the nutrients in that sandy, fast-draining palm soil. If you don’t have specific palm food on hand, a standard green plant fertilizer works too; just use a bit less than the bottle recommends.
You can skip the fertilizer if:
- It’s winter dormancy time.
- You just bought the plant (you can usually wait a few months since the nursery soil is already packed with nutrients).
- Your palm has just been repotted, as fresh potting mix has enough built-in fertilizer to last several weeks.
- You’re currently dealing with a pest infestation.
Common Fertilizing Fails
If you’re like me and can’t always remember the last time you fed your plants, try keeping a “fertilizer calendar.” It’s a lifesaver! When it comes to palms, less is definitely more. Over-fertilizing is way worse than under-feeding.
Too many nutrients in the soil can actually “burn” those delicate roots. If the roots get damaged, the plant won’t be able to soak up water or food properly, and you’ll start seeing the effects on the leaves.
Caring for the “Imposter” Palms
You’ve probably seen Yuccas and Dragon Trees (Dracaena) sold as indoor palms, but fun fact: they aren’t actually palms at all! Yuccas are part of the asparagus family, and Dragon Trees belong to their own genus with about 50 different species.
Yuccas are a bit hungrier—they like a special fertilizer (or even fertilizer spikes) once a week from March to October. Along with potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium, they really love calcium. Make sure your fertilizer has some, or simply water your Yucca with tap water if you live in an area with hard water.
Dragon Trees, on the other hand, aren’t picky eaters. A standard liquid fertilizer or slow-release spikes will give them everything they need. Just add a small dose of liquid food to your watering can every two weeks during the growing season, and they’ll be good to go!
