Cardboard palm care guide

Pets and children

How often to water Cardboard palm

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Every 7 days

Water thoroughly once the soil has dried out, as a guide; it copes with drought, but roots suffer in soil that stays wet.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Every 10 days

Growth slows, so water only about two to three days after the soil dries.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Every 3 weeks

Wait about a week after the soil dries, then give a little water on a mild day.

Light and placement for Cardboard palm

It likes plenty of sun, generally a bright south-facing window indoors; short of light the new leaves stretch, and a plant grown indoors scorches if suddenly put in midsummer sun.

Overwintering Cardboard palm

Overwintering guide: 5°C (41°F) or above

Move it to a bright spot indoors when nights fall below about 10°C; it tolerates roughly 5°C, but keep the soil on the dry side in winter so cold and wet do not combine.

Fertilizing and repotting Cardboard palm

Fertilizer

Slow-release fertilizer about every two months from May to September; it grows slowly, so keep doses modest and give none from autumn through winter.

When to repot

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Common problems with Cardboard palm

• Overwatering rots the roots; the leaves yellow and pull out easily.
• In poor light the new leaves grow long and floppy.
• Scale insects settle on leaf undersides and bases.

Tips for growing Cardboard palm

• New leaves come in one or two flushes a year; do not turn the pot while they unfurl.
• Use a fast-draining mix and keep water from pooling at the bottom of the pot.
• It grows slowly, so repot only once the roots fill the pot.

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