Houseplant of the week: areca palm
Why will I love it?
The areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) is popular because of its great air-purifying qualities, and for its ability to adapt to different light levels. However, they can remind many workers of the office, where these fronded palms are often deployed to hide pillars and printers.
Light or shade?
Both light and shade.
Where should I put it?
In your bedroom or living room, where you’ll reap the benefits of cleaner air and the calming nature of its arching fronds.
Related: Houseplant of the week: rubber plant
How do I keep it alive?
Although this palm is flexible when it comes to light needs – tolerating light shade and bright sunlight – as with all plants, it thrives in more sun. It also prefers high humidity levels, so mist it weekly or place the pot on a shallow tray filled with wet pebbles. If the air is too dry, the tips of the leaves are likely to turn brown. Only allow the top 5cm of soil to dry out, and water once a week in winter and twice a week in summer.
Did you know …
Although you see this houseplant everywhere, it was once an endangered species in its natural habitat of Madagascar, and is on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list of threatened species.
