Bella Palm

Bella Palm Care

Chamaedorea elegans

What is the plant

Bella Palm is a plant from the palm family. In the wild, Chamaedorea thrives in Mexico and Guatemala. This plant looks great in any apartment and perfectly complements the interior. Luckily, taking care of Bella Palm is easy, even for beginners!

Chamaedorea looks like a small palm tree with a row of upright, thin stems. The length of such a stem can reach 6 feet (about 2 meters). On top of it, there is a panicle with a row of thin and long leaves. The length of the leaves of an adult plant is up to 8 inches (more than 20 centimeters). During flowering, Bella Palm acquires small yellow flowers.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

15°C - 26°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 12b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Water when the top 1-2 inches of the soil are dry to touch. Only do it once every 7-10 days. Bella Palm likes slightly moist soil. Too much moisture can be a cause of root rot disease. It’s best to leave the soil to dry out completely in-between waterings. However, irrigation has to be regular because too little moisture can lead to leaf browning.
Pruning
It is best to refrain from pruning Bella Palm. Any careless manipulations can harm the plant.
Fertilizer
Young plants do not need fertilizing. An adult Chamaedorea (2-3 years old), however, requires a nitrogen fertilizer or a standard palm fertilizer. You should use the fertilizer from the beginning of spring until the end of autumn, about once every two weeks.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
In nature, this plant lives in partial shade. You probably should not be afraid your Bella Palm is not getting enough light since it does not need much. It is best to place the plant next to a north window. Remember that the scorching sun can be dangerous for this plant species!
Soil
You can use palm soil for your plant, which provides good drainage. For self-preparation of the potting mix, you will need turf, leafy soil, sand, and peat in a ratio of 3:1:1:1.
Propagation
Chamaedorea can be propagated by seed or by dividing the bush. You can buy seeds for planting at the store or collect them yourself. Gardeners recommend planting seeds in containers that look like small greenhouses.Bella Palm sprouts usually appear in one to two months, but sometimes this process takes longer (up to six months). When young plants emerge, you can transplant them into a new container.

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Temperature
Bella Palm does not like sudden temperature changes. The best option for your plant would be a range between 68-77˚F (20-25˚C) in summer and 59-61˚F (15˚C) in winter.
Container
The container for the Chamaedorea should be deep enough to accommodate the plant's root system. Make sure your pot has proper drainage. As your plant grows, you will eventually need to repot it into a new container. An adult Bella Palm needs a new container about once every three years.
Fun fact
Chamaedorea perfectly purifies the air and enriches the atmosphere with oxygen.