Phoenix Rupicola Palm Care (Cliff Date Palm Tree)

Phoenix plants are originally native to the Canary island and have been cherished over the years. Like most palm plants, these plants are very easy to care for with their varying varieties.

These phoenix plants are mostly grown outside, but some fantastic varieties like the pygmy date palm can be grown inside the house as a houseplant.

Caring for your phoenix plant makes them healthy, happy, and thriving, and with this guide, we will guide you on ways you can adequately care for this plant without having to stress too much.

Phoenix Rupicola Palm Care Tips

The amazing bushy growth on the phoenix palm makes them unique and different from many other palm trees. These plants have long, arch fronds with spikes and feathery leaves with spines from their stems that make them look like cacti.

This variety of palm trees is slow-growing and would stay under 6 ft in height when grown indoors, and that means you do not have to worry about outgrowing your space with these palms.

Phoenix plants also perform the function of purifying your air and which in turn improves the quality of air in your home; these plants perform these by filtering out harmful toxins like benzene, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde.

Some ways you can take care of these plants to improve their life span and also helps you stress less when taking care of them include:

See Also: Best Queen Palm Companion Plants

Humidity and Water Needs

The dig about this point is that you should keep the compost of your phoenix plant moist but not too wet. It would be best if you didn’t water anytime you feel like it but should water sparingly whenever the soil looks and feels dry at the top.

A general fact known about palm trees is that they are most likely to generate root rot if they sit in water for too long.

Due to the weather conditions, you can water more or less; in the summer, it increases the watering rate, and during the winter, you can reduce it. If your potted plant is sitting in a tray, make sure it has a pothole that would be able to drain out excess water from the plant so water does not gather in it.

When it comes to palm trees, underwatering is always less dangerous than overwatering because once you overwater your plants and the root starts to rot, you have no choice but to cut the root out, and if it affects a lot of these plants, that would be a significant loss to you.

Temperature Requirements

Phoenix palm trees are hardy indoor plants that can withstand temperatures ranging from -5 degrees C to 30 degrees c. since the palm tree is familiar with a dry environment, you do not need to mist too often; you can mist 2-3 times a month, and that would be enough to carry it throughout.

You can opt to mist your plant more during the summer when the condition in the house is a little warmer.

Soil and Nutrients Requirements

For you to have a happy and healthy phoenix plant, grow in an environment where there is nutrient-rich compost and also has a sound drainage system.

Using too many heavy soils, even if they are rich in nutrients, can easily lead to moisture retention, and since the water is being preserved, it would eventually lead to root rot.

You can go with any standard potting mix, which would go well for you, but if you feel this is still too heavy, you can release the soil by adding organic matter, coarse grit, or even perlite.

You should ensure that you only feed your phoenix plant a couple of times when it is growing, but when it is winter season, you do not need to keep feeding them.

It would be best for you to be cautious of how much you water these plants because too much fertilizer application can result in a leggy growth, so two weeks before autumn, ensure that you stop feeding them with fertilizers.

Location And Light of Your Phoenix Plants

Phoenix planks love the sun, but direct contact with the sun can harm them and their leaves, so the best light option you should opt for is bright and filtered light during the day, and you can let them on with direct sunlight during the early hours of the mornings and late evenings.

How to Repot Phoenix Plants

Since these plants do not grow fast or too big, you would not need to be repotting, but if you still want a report, you should ensure that the pot you’re getting is not too big because these plants do better when they are pot bound a bit. To properly report your plant, you should follow the following steps;

• It would be best if you went for a pot that is visibly bigger than their present pot, around 2-3 inches
• Add a layer of compost filling to the base of the new pot and gently get the phoenix out of the previous post; ensure that the compost in the old port is a bit loose to hinder restrictions
• Loosen the roots slightly before placing the root ball into the old pot
• You can start filling every edge carefully with compost and then firm down the plant

Give The Plant a Good Water for The Root System to Establish Well in The New Soil

When filling the pot, make sure you fill it correctly with no spaces left out, and if you do not adequately fill, when you finally water the plant, you will notice some parts of the soil going down; this is a clear sign that you did not adequately fill it.

It would be best if you were cautious of your spines and wore gloves to protect your hands.

Is Phoenix Plant Toxic?

Just like the parlor palm, the phoenix plant belongs to a class of Aceraceae family, which are considered nontoxic palms, making it a great option if you have pets or little kids around.

Although these plants are not toxic to plants and animals, they have spines that grow up and down the trunk and could be injurious if they come in contact with flesh.

The best thing for you to do is place these plants away from every curious hand, and also, you can place a transparent glass border surrounding the plants.

Pests Of These Phoenix Palms

Phoenix plants are susceptible to a few pests like mealybugs and aphids. Mites, white flies, and scales, and if you can identify any of them, ensure that you get them out and check around the plants to see if you can find any other ones.

You can treat these animals with either natural or organic treatments. You can also apply a neem mixture to help as an alternative to commercial pesticides.

See Also: Mexican Blue Palm Care

Frequently Asked Question

Can You Keep a Phoenix Canariensis Indoors?

Yes, you can keep this indoor variety indoors due to its manageable height of 6 ft. this variety is native to the Mediterranean habitat. In its natural habitat, it can grow up to 20 m tall.

This phoenix plant is best grown in greenhouses and conservatories and can also be moved outside to your patios when the temperature rises in temperate regions.

How Quickly Does the Phoenix Canariensis Grow?

Phoenix canariensis grow at the height of 12 to 24 inches every year, according to the urban forest ecosystems institute.

How Do You Take Care of a Canary Palm Tree?

Taking care of these palm trees is relatively easy. Once you know the amount of water they need, the type of sunlight they prefer, and the best soil and conditions to plant them, you do not need to stress too much again about their maintenance except in the summer when their plant requirements slightly change.

How Big Does a Phoenix Palm Get?

The Phoenix plant is an impressive houseplant that grows to a height of 1.5m (5’) when restricted in containers or flower pots and when it is left to grow naturally in glass house borders, it can get up to 5m (16’) tall, with a spread of about 3 m (10’).

How Do I Know If My Palm Tree Needs Water?

The best and easiest way to notice is if the plants start turning brown and dry, this is a clear sign of underwatering, and for you to prevent that from happening, water these plants adequately, or they would also result in having a droopy and wilted look.