Indoor palms are the ultimate way to bring those tropical, exotic vibes right into your living room or sunroom. And let’s be honest—once you have one, you’re going to want a whole jungle of them! If you’ve got a bit of a green thumb and some patience, propagating your own palms is a super rewarding DIY project.
Ways to Propagate Your Palms
The best way to grow new palms depends entirely on which species you’re working with. First, it helps to know the difference between “true” palms and “false” palms.
Common true palms include:
- Windmill Palms
- Date Palms
- Washington Palms (Mexican Fan Palms)
- Phoenix Palms (Canary Island Date Palms)
Once these beauties reach a certain age, they produce flower stalks that eventually turn into seeds. These seeds are your ticket to growing brand-new baby palms.
On the other hand, you have “false palms” like the Yucca or the Dragon Tree (Dracaena). These aren’t technically palms, and they are much easier to propagate using cuttings.
Growing Palms from Seed
You can grab a packet of seeds from your local garden center or, if you’re lucky, harvest them right from your own mature plant.
- Start by soaking the seeds in water for a few days so they can swell up—this helps jumpstart the germination process.
- Pick up some high-quality palm potting mix and a sturdy pot.
- Fill your pot with the soil and spread the seeds across the surface.
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
- Pro tip: If you’re trying to sprout a coconut, make sure the top half of the nut stays above the soil line!
- Cover the pot with plastic wrap or a clear bag to create a mini-greenhouse effect with plenty of humidity.
- Place the pot in a bright, warm spot.
- Don’t forget to lift the plastic daily to let in some fresh air.
Now comes the hard part: waiting. It can take anywhere from a few months to over a year for palm seeds to sprout, so don’t give up on them!
Propagating Palms with Cuttings
This method is perfect for palms (and false palms) that grow side shoots or “pups.” Simply take a sharp, clean knife and carefully remove a side shoot from the main trunk. Plant it directly into a pot with fresh palm soil. To give it a head start, you can dip the end in some rooting hormone first. Keep your cutting in a warm, bright area and make sure the soil stays consistently moist. Just like with seeds, covering the cutting with plastic wrap helps maintain that tropical humidity—just remember to vent it daily to prevent mold. Once you see a new leaf or shoot popping up, you’ll know it has successfully rooted. Congrats, you’ve got yourself a new palm!
