Quick care guide
Bright indirect light or gentle filtered sun.
Keep the root zone evenly moist, not waterlogged; do not let it remain bone dry.
Prefers higher humidity and distance from heating vents.
Moisture-retentive, airy potting mix.
Light and placement
Bright indirect light or gentle filtered sun. Place the plant where it can remain stable rather than moving it repeatedly. Watch the newest growth: smaller leaves, stretching or leaning usually mean the plant needs more usable light, while pale scorched patches can follow sudden exposure to strong sun.
Window direction is only a starting clue. Distance from glass, curtains, nearby buildings, trees and seasonal sun angle can change light dramatically. Move the plant gradually when increasing exposure.
Watering and roots
Keep the root zone evenly moist, not waterlogged; do not let it remain bone dry. Water thoroughly when the plant’s root zone is ready, then let excess leave the drainage hole. Empty cachepots and saucers. A plant in lower light, a larger pot or a moisture-retentive mix will usually dry more slowly than the same species in warm bright conditions.
Moisture-retentive, airy potting mix. Repot only when roots are crowded, the mix has decomposed, or drainage behaviour has changed. A modest increase in pot size is safer than surrounding a small root system with a large volume of wet mix.
Growth, pruning and propagation
Arching fronds from a dense crown. Prune with clean tools and remove only damaged or unwanted growth. Cleaning leaves helps you notice pests and allows light to reach the surface.
Propagation: Division or rooted runners.
Common problems
Crisp leaflets from dry air or drought, yellowing from wet roots, and mites in hot dry conditions. Diagnose by checking soil moisture, root condition, light and recent changes before adding fertilizer or pesticide. Damaged leaves may not recover, so judge improvement by healthy new growth.