Chinese Fan Palms as Houseplants | In Depth Discussion

This is an in-depth guide to keeping Chinese Fan Palms as houseplants. A lot of what is discussed in this video is applicable to most houseplants, with plant care suggestions such as: keeping foliage clean, rotating plants for even growth, and avoiding fertilizing during the resting season which are fall and winter. Growing palms in the home as houseplants has varying degrees of difficulty. I personally feel the Chinese Fan Palm ( Livistona chinensis ) is one of the easier palms for growing indoors as long as they are provided enough light and warmth. While not the absolute easiest palm to grow indoors, I’d say it is easier than a Majesty palm, but more difficult than a kentia palm tree or even a bamboo palm. These houseplants are fully capable of taking full sun from a smaller size, however avoid direct sun until they are a couple feet tall, or acclimate them slowly. On average, in the home these houseplants range from about three to seven feet tall and will have a wide footprint. The gorgeous yellow-green foliage combined with weeping habit of the outer edges of their foliage makes them a gorgeous plant to have in a bright sunny room. In comparison to another common houseplant, these fan palms remind me a lot of Fiddle Leaf Figs ( Ficus lyrata ) with their behaviors and needs. Just like the fiddle leaf fig they can take a lower amount of light, but the care and outcome (growth) will be different than if they receive high light which is what they will really prefer in the long run. Overall a moderately easy to grow houseplant that I think are worth giving a try if someone wants a houseplant with a bold impact in the home and garden.
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Growing Chinese Fan Palms Outdoors/ Cold Hardy Palms
• LIVISTONA CHINENSIS BE...

[@yeahivekilledthat719]

I don't have a single question because you were so thorough. As always, I appreciate your educating the plant community.

[@TropicalPlantParty]

That's so nice of you! Thank you!

[@angelmartin7310]

I JUST GOT A 6FT CHINESE FAN PALM FOR $20!!!!!!! And then lo and behold, you made this incredible video! God is good.

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Where from!? I want! 😂🤣 thats a great deal! You're actually maybe the 3rd person to tell me they got a 6ft Chinese fan palm for that price. I'm glad the cost is going down, they used to be dirt cheap palms and for a few years the price sky rocketed for some reason.

[@angelmartin7310]

@@TropicalPlantParty Whipker's Nursery here I'm southern Indiana outside Columbus, they have a ton too, it's 6ft tall and like 4ft around at least, no idea how to fit it in my house but this was my dream plant. Anything like a fan palm or lady palm has been ridiculously priced online and not even available in big box stores, I actually saw someone charging almost 20 for basically a fan palm sprout the other day on Etsy! Really appreciate your videos, few people go so in depth and few big plant channels ever cover palms for some reason. I was born and raised in Key West Fl, saw palmetto/silver palm country so a fan palm makes me feel at home, almost see more of those in the Keys than you do the other kind. The kicker is in Florida you can get just about any palm tree you want at any nursery for so cheap! Out of curiosity, is there a more unusual or uncommon palm on your wishlist?

[@angelmartin7310]

@@TropicalPlantParty sent you a pic of it on IG. And then realized you have like, royal palms in containers?! Do you bring them in? If not, does that mean I am only 1 zone short of being able to have them?! (Zone 5a)

[@twistysunshine]

Super helpful. I agree that the length of the video is needed, and I really appreciate how you can be so thorough on so many plants

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Thank you! I know/worry for subscribers that a lot of the info can get redundant. I just like to make sure to cover and many bases as I can because i like to assume that the person who is watching may know absolutely nothing about plants and could be researching info for their first plant baby. ... I tend to overthink things 😂

[@isabelrylko3772]

Love the quality of your videos, Thanks for sharing. You have inspired me.

[@northernplantuckyplantcinc2630]

Thank you for this video. I bought a Chinese fan palm expecting to be able to bring it in for the winter and it got too big for my apartment. I gave it to a friend of mine with 20 foot ceilings and sent him this because I care guide!

[@countdracula5433]

you covered everything. now I have the confidence to actually keep my Chinese palm alive, which is going to be a new experience for me. Thanks again.

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Well thank you! They are awesome palms!

[@hollyhasegawa6095]

Absolutely gorgeous, I wish that I had the room for one of these beauties. Maybe when I have a green house I can experiment with one in there. Thank you Jeff for such a thorough explanation of growing these indoors, you pretty much answered every question that I wondered about and thought about. All I can say is Wow! I just love your videos, not only are they fun they have just so much useful information, thank you again, have a great weekend and I will see you soon.

[@dawnjones1471]

Beautiful palm! Thank you for being so thorough in your plant care videos - and all of your videos, truthfully. I love all the information and I always learn something new, whether it's a plant I have or one I wanna get. I confess...I actually take notes on your videos. lol I'm so envious of your Creeping Jenny, it's so gorgeous, as is everything you've underplanted your Chinese Fan Palm with. I love all of your videos, they're so helpful and I eagerly await each one. I especially love your personality, you're always so upbeat and positive. Thank you, Jeff, for uplifting me with each video you upload. 🐸

[@dawnjones1471]

@KerriNature Hey, I'll be the look out if you get some for me, too! LOL I'm so sorry you went through that, I hope y'all didn't have any damage and none of y'all were hurt! If so, I pray it was very minimal. I've lived next to rivers and swamps flooding all my life and it's *SO SCARY* ! Especially when it comes with tornadoes or hurricanes! Several years ago, our whole city flooded. My 2 youngest kids were in elementary school up the street from our house at the time. The only thing that kept me from getting in the car and driving to get them (and most likely getting myself killed before I got to the end of the street) was my sweet stepdad holding me back, telling me how stupid it would be and that they were alright. And thank goodness they were! I'd *LOVE* some of your Creeping Jenny, too! Ooo, ooo, ooo, I'll also be look out if you wanna let's get some of the lime from your neighbor! Before you know it, you and I will be Creeping Jenny thieves all around the neighborhood, then the city, then..... They'll have our faces on wanted posters everywhere. We'll move on from Creeping Jenny to Freesia, Jasmine, Azalea, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Japanese Maple, Dichondra (every kind we can find)..... There will be no plant left anywhere that we haven't snagged enough of to propagate for both of us (with maybe enough left over to propagate for others who love plants as much as we do). 🌱🌿🌱🌿🌸🌺🌼🌻😊😁😇 I've always wanted to go to Canada and this would be the perfect excuse. It would also be the perfect excuse for you to come to Alabama and Georgia, USA. lol

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Wow! Thank you so much, Dawn! Everyone is being so nice! Lol! I've actually considered finguring out a way to provide a link to care video outlines, just haven't figured out how I want to do that yet. I might have to make a website.

[@tracydycer7274]

I like love a separate video on deficiencies! It's not an easy topic to find info on, especially houseplants and you explain things so that normal people can understand it. Great video 👍

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Thank you Tracy! I'll add deficiencies to my list! Feel like that will be a long video. I'm working on a series focusing on fertilizer and plant roots, that propably wont be done until winter. I'll try and tie them in together so everything is cohesive and makes more sense.

[@tracydycer7274]

That sounds like a wonderful series to watch, it would be nice to have a more comprehensive understanding of that and how they all work together for the health of the plant. I can hardly wait to watch it!

[@dawnjones1471]

I'm with @Tracy Dycer, I'd *love* a series like this! It would help in understanding plants so much more. Another Jeff video I'll be eagerly awaiting. 🐒

[@heathersplants5708]

Yay! Jeff upload 👐 My day is complete ❤

[@TropicalPlantParty]

🤣🤣😂 thank you heather! Hope you had a great day!

[@heathersplants5708]

Yes and you also!

[@juliereis146]

Hello yet another awesome video! Thank you for sharing your beautiful mind with us all, you are appreciated 🥰💖🥰💖🥰💖🥰💖🥰

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Thank you so much, Julie! You're always so nice! 💚🌴💚🌴💚🌴

[@jsandefu]

Wow, I'm glad I found this video! I have a new one of these that I've only had since the end of July and it has some yellowing and brown spots happening. Gonna give it some time to dry out a bit and then come back with non tap water and hopefully that'll help! Glad to hear it sounds like they're hardy though. I've been paranoid!

[@Pyraus]

Nice informative video and I got lots of general info which is cool

[@arabbidanimal]

So much information. Thank you for your videos :)

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Thank you! That means so much to me! 😁

[@louisecolombi6630]

Beautiful plant 😍 Thank you for the info, will have to watch again when I buy one (if I can find one)

[@TropicalPlantParty]

I hope you can find one!

[@healthyfitmom]

your Chinese Fan Palm is beautiful!

[@TropicalPlantParty]

They are beautiful palms!

[@TeedarkAngel]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you, thank you, thank you For this video, I love my Chinese Fan Palm so much and I am so fearful of bringing it in. It will have to go in my bedroom because that is the indoor version of the exact same light it is getting now. Same side of the house but indoor. I will give it a small amount of fertilizer to help it adjust once it comes in, there are a few brown spots. A general fertilizer video sounds great if possible. Love ya and all your knowledge!!!

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Smart to move it in where there's a spot similar to where you kept it outside! Makes the adjustment period so much more smooth. Few spots here and there isn't a big deal. I love how much people love their plants. I get messages on instagram all the time from people worrying that their plants are dying, then they send a pic and it's just a tiny brown spot on a leaf. I think instagram is maybe having a similar effect to plant newbies as social media has on people's body image 😂.

[@TeedarkAngel]

@@TropicalPlantParty Yes, my family and friends say I should have a home.decor page with all I have done and my plants but I dont need the drama

[@lynettebell8534]

thanks for the tips. i have a small Chinese palm i wanted to bring indoors for my atrium i hope it does well.

[@TropicalPlantParty]

No problem! They are lovely plants!

[@AndeeKiss]

Hello Jeff! I really enjoy your videos! 😊 I would like to see your houseplants. Could you make a houseplant tour video? I would really love to see them. Pleeeeeeeaaaaseeeee! 🙃😁😊

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Will do! It will be very similar to my garden tours since I incorporate my houseplants into my landscaping during the summer then pull it all up and move it inside for the winter.

[@sado1896]

hi! great vdo, i have a question, my fan palm is loosening up from the crown part, meaning its not as closesly packed together as it was in the beginning, what do you think has happened to it?

[@kathybartz4095]

I have kind of a strange question. By the way thank you for the thorough and complete video. I learned a lot. I have a Chinese fan palm and my question is can you help the palm leaves separate or split them apart without doing damage to the plant or should you just leave them? The leaves that are not separating are causing them to curve the opposite direction that they should be going. Thank you in advance to anybody that can answer my question.

[@xbabyfat]

Are the roots of this palm really thick? I can’t seem to poke my moisture meter as it is so hard. Do you also recommend using a humidifier nearby? Thanks for everything else, super thorough.

[@michaelloduca9486]

You should do a short vid on the windmill palm, when you take it in ect. Great vid!

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Will do! I actually was hoping to talk about them and the Mediterranean fan palms soon. 😁

[@xenic101]

Yes, and after that one, I'll send you a list of all my other non-hardy plants so you can do the rest of the videos I need :D Every morning I wake up and it's cool outside, I panic thinking "OMG! Is it time? I'm not ready!"

[@michaelloduca9486]

Tropical Plant Party oo that’s sounds fun

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Believe me, I know that feeling! Lol! We still have a few safe weeks here, but I'm prepping the plants just be sure they are ready to go when that dreaded forecast shows up.

[@michaelloduca9486]

Tropical Plant Party I built a indoor greenhouse kinda like what u have but in my basement. Didn’t want an outdoor one and use a LOT of electricity. I’m hoping all goes well this winter.

[@saralangley8797]

Exellent video !!! I learned something new today...always a goal! Love the thoroughness of your videos, and fun ;). Would a dish soap that is biodegradable be a better option, like the ones that are organicly based. I'm leary of the harsh detergents. Keep up the great work ! And ...yes...a deficiencies discussion.

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Thank you! I would think any soap will work as long as it coats the surface of the bugs wanting to be removed.

[@saralangley8797]

@@TropicalPlantParty Thank you, makes sense.

[@moniqueking5]

Thank you so much 😊 I was a bit worried about mine .

[@TropicalPlantParty]

How is it doing now?

[@moniqueking5]

It seems to be doing ok . I had to repot it as it was not keeping any water , it was so root bound . I planted it up but not too much . I hope it will be ok with the amount of light it is getting now . The nights have been getting too cold to leave any tropical south Sid anymore. I believe I am in zone 3 but perhaps on the edge of zone 4

[@iamlove7373]

I live in a middle, brownstone home that doesn't get a lot of natural light unfortunately. Can i buy a uv light or alternative light source for my palm btw it was humongous when i purchased it. I have 9ft ceilings and it touches my it.

[@srand07]

Hi I just bought one of these from Lowe's , all I did was repot it to a terracotta pot just 2 inches bigger than original pot, and added a bit of palm fertilizer. It's been outside and in an area with indirect sunlight. I only watered very lightly only 2 times, and I have already lost/cut off about 10 palm frawns that were nice and long, but turned yellow/brown then collapsed down and unfortunately I had to cut them off. it seems like it's dying.😥 I was so careful but I don't know what's happening to it. Any tips?

[@angienodine8539]

How do I see ur video about these as an outdoor plant?

[@TropicalGardeningCyprus]

I grow Livistonas outdoors in zone 11, and I wouldn't imagine anyone growing them inside, they get huge, but yeah, with limited recourses it's logical that they'll stay small.

[@juliegogola4647]

I think I've seen these at my local Home Depot houseplant section. With all of those trunks, eventually you might have to separate them, right? And with those spikey things on the trunk, that would be a tough job I would think. I talking about having them in a pot. The ones I saw in Home depot are in extremely dry soil, but look fine. The workers in big box stores seem to ignore watering needs of plants in the winter, in my area, houseplants.

[@richardberg735]

My fanfan plant just stays brown. Have it on table outside. Was sent to me one year ago. Is this normal for Florida environment?

[@amelietest7088]

Hey... I hope you could help me. Since a few weeks, the palm leavs of my palm are hanging to the ground. Im not sure why the plant do this. Actually it is in front of a window (south) and well watered (i do this just like you said)... I don't know what to do 🤔😔

[@GrowingSouth]

Hey Jeff, Have you ever tried PalmGain? I bought a bag for several species of palms I have in the back this year and I have to say, it seems to certainly be doing its job...

[@TropicalPlantParty]

I have and I really like it! I haven't been able to find it for sale in years though. I used to get it off of amazon but the last few times I think they were sending me old fertilizer because it didn't work well. So I just switched to using products I can find locally. I do have a 20lb bag in my cart on Amazon. But it's only $16.99 and is labeled as, "miracle grow palm tree food" which makes me feel suspicious. Hey, did you comment asking me what camera I got a couple weeks ago? I can't find the comment to reply to it and for some reason I thought maybe it was you.

[@GrowingSouth]

@@TropicalPlantParty Thats weird! I bought mine from amazon. It wasn't labeled as miracle grow. Its a 10lb bag I believe and it has a strong smell (fertilizer smell). Yes I did comment a bit ago about the camera, really liked the shoot from it. Have you sorted out all the settings?

[@boardingpassjunkie]

My Chinese fan plant tips are turning brown. Do I cut the tips? HELP!

[@TropicalPlantParty]

You could cut the tips but it's likely there would then be a brown scar line where the cuts were made. Brown tips are extremely common and usually is just an indicator of low humidity or a lot of air flow near or on the plant which blows the moisture out of the foliage.

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

One correction, potassium is a metal. (like calcium, no one ever thinks of it as a metal because it is never seen in its raw form)

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Ha! Never knew! All those years in school talking about potassium and neurons & never even thought about it. Makes sense given its purpose with conduction. Thanks!

[@griseldamoony7086]

I have stopped rot before with cinnamon. It rained every day, and several plants got a bit squishy and brown. I sprinkled cinnamon all over the squishy brown parts, and it saved the plants. Good luck to everybody trying to overwinter their plans inside. It's always a challenge.

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Cinnamon works wonderfully!

[@griseldamoony7086]

@@TropicalPlantParty and it smells much better than most other things.

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Jeff! Another very informative and well made video. One of the many reasons that I enjoy your videos when you are showcasing a specific plant is your thoroughness to cover everything necessary to help the plant do well. Like you said, better to have a longer video coving all info than a short one that leaves viewers with a lot of questions. Keep being you and doing things your way. You're very much appreciated! I love palm trees, but don't have the room for one like this one in my house. Do you recommend a different variety as a house plant that doesn't get so big, like maybe tall, but not a very wide spread? Thank you for sharing! Also, yes please do a video on deficiencies in plants. You are so thorough in explaining things that I may be able to retain the info. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If I can't, it won't be your fault! LOL! Also, I can refer back to the video..... ;-)

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Thank you so much! It really does mean a lot to me hearing when people find these useful and entertaining. Yep! These fan palms take up a broad floor space. Have you tried Bamboo palms? They are beautiful in the home and have a tall & narrow growth habit. Not to mention they are normally very easy to grow. They do get rather tall, but there is a hybrid, Chamaedorea microspadix, sometimes called the, "cold hardy bamboo palm" that is supposed to stay smaller.

[@sandyg8794]

Thank you Jeff! I'll check into these.

[@cooperbookout]

Chinese fan palms as houseplants in depth Discussion

[@marjanend]

Hi, I just got a Chinese palm and repotted it in a tall pot that has one hole for drainage. I am concerned that the drainage is not enough. Would live to know your comment. Thank you

[@carinaplatt9250]

I usually water my plants from my gold fish tank. Can I water these with that and if so should I still fertilize?? I just got this plant not knowing anything about it so Thank you for the info!!!

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Hi Carina! Aquarium water is great for plants! I don't see why it would hurt the palm as long as you never pour the water into the crown(center) of the plants or anywhere on the trunk really. That's true for fresh clean water too though, but I feel like aquarium water would culture bacteria and fungus on/in the crown quickly. If it is outdoors you don't have to worry as much, better airflow, warmth etc evaporates the collected moisture more quickly.

[@carinaplatt9250]

Thank you so much!! Will stay away from the trunk!!!

[@cupidwhisperstarot4416]

Are these good air purifier plants?

[@MarieAngeZ]

How do you propagate this plant??

[@LadyMystic]

Repotting and root needs?

[@edss7778]

i literally tip the plants in the shower.. and pour a bunch of mixture of dr bronners and couple oregano drops and water.. and then rinse it. so the water falls off instead of into the pot. i just wish there was something to hold the plants at angle. even to do it outside

[@EC4400]

I brought one home from lowes, I thought I could save it. In 2 days it was all crispy. I watered it and put in front of the patio window. 😒

[@Lee-xp3ss]

😂crispy

[@TropicalPlantParty]

Their roots are pretty hardy, hopefully with enough light and warmth it will rebound for ya!

[@EC4400]

@@TropicalPlantParty That's encouraging. Thanks

[@sldc1374]

EC4400 Did your plant rebound? My poor palm is doing the same thing. Had a few weeks, maybe a month, and it’s so sad looking

[@dewality8768]

Meganese? Huh? What’s that? Do you mean madnesuim? 😂😅😅

[@TropicalPlantParty]

😂🤣 manganese. It's a metal, i think, im not a chemist but I believe it has some relation to iron. It helps keep the palms nice and green.