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How to Care for Indoor Potted Majesty Palms

By: Bridget Kelly

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21 September, 2017

Ravenea rivularis, or majesty palm, is native to Madagascar. Although it is a slow grower, the majesty palm, in the wild, can eventually reach 40 feet in height. The trunk tends to grow rather thick, so this palm does not take well to being planted in a pot and is quite challenging to grow indoors. Pay close attention to the majesty palm's needs for water, light and fertilizer for best results. The majesty palm is hardy to USDA Zones 10 and 11.

Provide your majesty palm with rich soil. According to growers at the University of Oklahoma, a suitable potting mix contains two parts peat moss, two parts sand, and one part loam. To this mixture they suggest adding 14-14-14 slow-release fertilizer, according to package directions. This is a fertilizer that will provide your majesty palm with continuous feeding.

Ravenea rivularis, or majesty palm, is native to Madagascar.
To this mixture they suggest adding 14-14-14 slow-release fertilizer, according to package directions.

Ensure that your palm gets lots of light, preferably full sunlight. The tree will tolerate a bit of light shade for part of the day.

Give your tree plenty of water and make sure the soil is kept moist at all times. Water is vital for the majesty palm, as it grows naturally on riverbanks. If the fronds turn brown, give the palm more water. Should they turn yellow, back off a bit on watering.

Mist the majesty palm daily using water and a spray bottle to provide for its high humidity requirements.

Ensure that your palm gets lots of light, preferably full sunlight.
Mist the majesty palm daily using water and a spray bottle to provide for its high humidity requirements.

Inspect the palm frequently for mites and mealy bugs. Use Neem oil for an infestation.

Cut the dead fronds from your majesty palm, being careful to prune only when they are completely dead. Only cut these dead fronds to within 3 inches of the trunk of the palm.

Care For Indoor Potted Majesty Palms

Majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis), is a robust, low-maintenance tropical palm with graceful, feathery fronds. Majesty palm is a warm-climate tree suitable for growing outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 to 11. Water thoroughly, and then let the pot drain before returning the pot to the drainage saucer, as the plant may develop stem rot and other diseases in soggy soil. Fertilize majesty palm every three months during spring and summer, using a general-purpose, slow-release fertilizer according to the instructions on the label. Avoid excessive fertilization, which may result in spotted foliage. Protect majestic palm from cold air from doors, drafty windows or air conditioning vents. Although majesty palm tolerates temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit, it prefers normal room temperatures between 70 and 80 F during the day and about 10 F cooler at night.

Inspect the palm frequently for mites and mealy bugs.
Water thoroughly, and then let the pot drain before returning the pot to the drainage saucer, as the plant may develop stem rot and other diseases in soggy soil.