Neanthe Bella Palm is a beautiful plant known for its air purifying properties. It is native to Southern Mexico and Guatemala, and it can thrive in many homes. One of the best things about Neanthe Bella Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is that it can adapt to lower light conditions. Also known as Parlor Palm, it is a great choice for a houseplant because of its gorgeous appearance and air-purifying qualities.

In order to make your Neanthe Bella Palm thrive, you need to provide it with specific growing conditions. The good news is that these plants are very adaptable and not difficult to care for, so they are ideal houseplants even for those who are not particularly experienced with gardening, or who do not have enough time to dedicate to their plants.

How to Make Your Plant Thrive

The first thing you need to understand about a Neanthe Bella Palm is that it doesn't tolerate well bright or direct light. Too much light can lead to sunburn or even scorching of the leaves. Because of this, it is best to place your Neanthe Bella Palm in a place away from direct light.

This is a plant that can tolerate lower lighting conditions, but it doesn't mean that it loves it. Being in darkness for too long will lad to leggy growth, so this is another thing to keep in mind. To make your plant thrive, it is best to place it a few feet away from a southern, western or perhaps eastern window. You can also grow this plant successfully in a northern window, but in this case, you should place it directly near the window so your Neanthe Bella Palm can get enough light.

The good news about Neanthe Bella Palm is that it is a small species that only grow to a few feet in height. It will rarely become too big for a room, and you will be able to find a suitable container for it easily. In fact, these plants prefer to grow with a bit of crowded roots, so you do not have to rush to repot them. On the other hand, when the palm gets larger, the quicker it will dry the soil, so you might need to adjust your watering schedule.

The first thing you need to so once you have bought your Neanthe Bella Palm is to see whether it needs to be watered or not. Always check the moisture level of the soil before you do the watering. If the soil feels wet to the touch right beneath the surface, do not water. You may also wish to aerate the soil a bit before the initial watering.

The watering regime should be consistent. Remember, Neanthe Bella Palm likes soil that is lightly moist, so you should never allow it to sit in water. It prefers a short period of drought between two waterings.

You should water your Neanthe Bella Palm when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are dry. This means watering once a week or once in ten days. Do not water too much or else it might cause root rot and is dangerous to your plant. On the other hand, too few waterings can lead your plant to develop brown and curled leaves.

To ensure that your Neanthe Bella Palm grows evenly, you will need to rotate it from time to time. Dust the leaves to make the plant use energy efficiently, and rotate to make it grow evenly on all sides.

Additional tips

Here are some additional tips for Neanthe Bella Palm care that will make your plant thrive:

Observe your plant regularly to notice potential problems. Rotating or cleaning the leaves might be a good time to check the health of your plant and make sure that there are no pests to worry about. If you notice that your Neanthe Bella Palm develops crispy and grey leaves, it might be a sign of underwatering. Make sure to check the soil for moisture. However, keep in mind that overwatering can lead to brown leaves, so it is important to identify the source of the problem. Adjust the watering regime accordingly and chances are that your plant will recover quickly.

Keep in mind that Neanthe Bella Palm is susceptible to spider mites. These are tiny pests that are difficult to spot. In order to prevent spider mites from attacking your plant, make sure to mist your Neanthe Bella Palm often. These pests prefer dry conditions so misting the plant regularly will discourage them from attacking your Neanthe Bella Palm. Make sure to fertilize your plant regularly. This is the best way to make your Neanthe Bella Palm thrive. It is best to fertilize with an organic fertilizer throughout the growing season, from spring through the fall.

Neanthe Bella Palm does not need to be repotted often. Keep in mind that this is a plant that can tolerate or even love crowded roots, so moving it to a larger container is not always necessary. However, a plant that is too crowded may exhibit some problems, so repotting every few years might be beneficial, depending on the size of your plant. If you choose to repot, make sure to only use a container that is a few inches bigger than the old one. Never pick a pot that is too big for your plant. When repotting, make sure to pick the right time, when your plant is the strongest. Spring and summer months are ideal for this purpose. Use repotting time to observe your plant even more closely to identify any potential pests, diseases and other issues. If you see any problems, make sure to fix them right away in order to make your plant thrive.

Photo credit: lukestehr