How to Care for Majesty Palm

A rare tropical wonder, Majesty Palm made its way into our homes and hearts from its native wetlands of Madagascar only in the last few years. With elegantly bright green fronds, it gracefully arches and curves to perfectly fill the space, weaving joy and life into any room. The striking Ravenea rivularis, more commonly known as the Majesty Palm, is an eye-catching tree species in the Arecaceae family. Generally growing up to 3-4 metres tall when kept indoors as a "houseplant" and potted, this majestic variety may reach heights of nearly 30 metres in its natural state!

Self-watering can be a lifesaver in maintaining a healthy Majesty Palm. This provides the same moisture level to the environment that it would experience in its natural habitat. Luckily, with easyplant, watering your Majesty Palm is effortless. Simply check the easyplant reservoir once a month and top it up when it’s empty!

Majesty Palm grows best in a space with bright direct light, where the sunlight streams inside directly, and can also adapt to spaces with bright indirect light, where the sun rays are diffused. Avoid placing it in spaces with low light or spaces without natural sunlight.

On your Majesty Palm's first few days at home, it may lose several leaves, or leaves will turn yellow. This is no reason for concern. Simply shake off or cut the leaf, and look forward to new and better-adjusted leaves. To help it grow optimally and evenly, occasionally dust the leaves and rotate the pot by a quarter turn once a month. To maintain its aesthetic shape and height, you may periodically prune it to your liking.

Majesty Palm grows slowly and steadily with about 30 cm of new growth a year, ultimately reaching about 2.4-3 metres tall. The Majesty Palm is an awe-inspiring sight when grown in its natural outdoor environment, reaching heights of up to 24 metres and boasting fronds that span 2.4 metres. The Majesty Palm can take some time to reach its full height of 3 metres, depending on the surrounding environmental conditions. Once it reaches this mark, the rate at which it grows slows down as energy is redirected into developing deep roots that will help sustain its broad frond shape. Typically around 15 years old, these majestic palms have reached their mature size and are ready to thrive even longer.

With their tropical heritage, Majesty Palms are best suited for temperatures between 18-29°C and a minimum relative humidity of 50%. Although they can get quite large in their wild habitat, these beauties make great houseplants and will be content with most thermostat settings. If you reside in an area where the climate is typically dry or hot, consider supplementing your plant's habitat with a pebble tray. Through these simple steps, you can ensure optimal growth for your Majesty Palm.

Majesty Palm is non-toxic and safe for humans and animals alike. It is often used to decorate homes with both pets and children, as it does not pose any harm. To ensure safety for kids and animals, keep the leaves dust-free to prevent accidental ingestion of dirt particles. As with most plants, despite it being non-toxic, keeping them out of reach of small children is the best way to avoid unnecessary accidents.

If the leaves of your Majesty Palm are becoming brown or crispy, it may need to be relocated to a less directly lit location. On the other hand, if the leaves are turning yellow, it could be a sign that the plant requires more direct light, so moving it to a brighter spot might help. Extreme temperature changes can also impact the plant, with browning caused by excessive heat, leading to dry and lighter spots on the leaves, while cold temperatures (below the optimal range of 18-29°C) may cause dark discoloration and even blackening. Drooping can occur in both situations. Additionally, darkened, squishy stems and spots on the fronds may indicate overwatering and potential root rot. In this case, reduce watering frequency and allow the plant to recover. If recovery doesn't happen within a month, it may be necessary to transfer the plant into fresh soil and trim any affected roots showing discoloration.